Blowing Bubbles

Lumix GH3. 100-300mm lens. 250mm(500) 1/2500 at f5.3. ISO400

Its a Mute Swan feeding on weed under the surface of shallow water and blowing bubbles in the process.

A few Mute Swan portraits.

Lumix GH3. 35-100mm lens. 100mm(200) 1/1000 at f4.5. ISO200

I was in the wrong place to get the 'heart shape' correctly on this occasion. Something you would normally see in the Springtime, but this pair were in open water with other Mutes close by, so it was a form of greeting and commitment, rather than what it usually means.

Starlings

Can you spot the Starling

There are 20 in there somewhere.

I watched a flock of approximately 200 Starlings that descended on a group of Hawthorn trees. The trees had numerous bramble trails over them which were overloaded with blackberries.

Normally, who takes much notice of Starlings, perhaps when they flock and perform their aerial display later in the autumn at dusk.

Close inspection reveals a really colourful species. Most of those that I observed are already in their winter plumage which I think is more colourful than their summer.

There are 10 in the image below.

Traditionally according to folklore, blackberries should not be picked after Michaelmas (29 September).

The "old wives tale" may in reality have more to do with a mould named Grey Botrytis Cinerea which can form on the berry late in the season.

Kingfisher

A chance encounter with this elusive character.

I have certainly had quite a few brief sightings of the Kingfisher in recent times in areas that I have seen them in the past. We had a bad winter or two that reduced sightings in those areas, but they are coming back from what I have seen, which is encouraging.

Floaters and Flutters

Now this is a nice species to observe swimming about the water.

I would rather see this in the water than a Mink any day. (see my last post)

Comma butterflies are still feeding on the blackberries.

Its not my dog by the way.

Mink

Just a pleasant view (you may think) along a small river that feeds into a lake on the Parkland where I walk regularly. However, I found that there is something lurking there that is thoroughly unpleasant.

The American Mink is farmed for its fur in several countries. Unfortunately some were farmed in the UK which commenced here in 1929. However and thankfully, fur-farming was banned altogether in UK under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000.

There have been recorded breeding of Mink in the wild since 1956 in the UK. 

The existence of Mink being in the wild was either caused by some escapees from the farms (considered by some that they were possibly released on purpose) or being released during organised protest action by "Misguided" protesters, (only pleasant description I could use here) during the 1990s. 

I didn't believe there was a problem with protesting about Mink farms even to the point of blockading the farms, but releasing them into the wild was completely wrong and rather ill informed.

The Mink is not a native species to this country and has (I believe) caused considerable damage to wildlife as a result of being released to the wild. One such species (amongst many) that has suffered greatly is the Water Vole, which the Mink can pursue even into its burrow.

Below was the first sighting I had of the animal on this walk and my first sighting ever.

(The images are not great due to lighting, distance and the bloke using the camera)

It continued to return to the spot on one side of the bank that I observed it emerging from and disappearing each time. This is probably the location of one of its Dens. It can have up to 10 on a stretch of water. 

On one occasion it had caught a fish and was returning to the same spot on the bank.

There will be some that will disagree with my view about the existence of Mink in this Country. 

Some will say that its natural for the animal to hunt and kill prey, yes of course, but in the native lands to which it belongs, not here in this country. It is of course hunted in order to eradicate it from the country. All power to the Hunters I say. 

I shall return to my normal nature loving self tomorrow.

Wren

Wrens are never easy to see and photograph at the best of times. 

With most of the trees and bushes still covered in foliage, I was fortunate to find two that were hiding a low bush. I watched for a while and they both eventually put in brief appearances and it was a matter of shoot and hope for the best. I managed to get one of them.

An Early Morning Dunnock

At the start of an early morning walk I was greeted by this splendid Dunnock perched in the sunshine high in a Dog Rose bush.

As a contrast this male Bullfinch was hiding nearby as it is certainly not looking at its best just yet.