Ring Necked Pheasant.

Posted on June 17, 2018 Posted in wildlifeTagged bird photography, County Down, Ireland, Irish wildlife, mating call, nature, nature photography, nikon, Nikon D7200, Northern Ireland, outdoors, pheasant, Pheasant call, Ring-necked Pheasant, sigma, Sigma lens, wildlife photography, Wildlife uk12 Comments

Had the pleasure one evening watching a Ring necked Pheasant as it and a couple of hen Pheasants fed while crossing some scrub ground. While the hens kept under cover in the longer grasses the cock remained in the open, like me was keeping watch.

Here he stands in the warm evening sun light showing off his well tailored suit and face markings.

They make a range of sounds has they communicate with each other, from crowing to beating there wings. Sometimes both at the same time.

The above sequence of shots show the wing beating without the crowing. Below a couple of photographs from him crowing Pheasant calling

These Photographs where taken over a half hour period where I used a fence post has a make shift tripod. Shot with a Nikon D7200 and a Sigma 150 – 600 mm Telephoto lens. Processed and cropped in Lightroom. My last shot of the evening was where I caught him crossing a break in the ground cover and the warm light on his back.

I put the camera down and spent the last ten minutes just enjoying the scene.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing this beautiful bird with me and thank you for visiting.

George.

Portmore Lough

Posted on May 20, 2018May 20, 2018 Posted in wildlifeTagged bird blind, bird hide, bird photography, Bird watching, Black-veined butterfly, butterfly, common terns, damselfly, gulls, irish birding, irish loughs, Irish wildlife, lough, nesting rafts, nikon, Nikon D7200, Portmore lough, red damselfly, RSPB, Sigma lens, Sparrow, terns, water fowl, wild birds, wildlife photography5 Comments

Portmore lough is in County Antrim here in the north of Ireland. It is one of the RSPB nature reserve’s I like to visit Portmore a few times a year. Spring time brings in the Common Tern to the nesting rafts on the lough and so on a hot sunny spring day ( note these are not words we use a lot in Ireland ) I arrive at the reserve. With only a few cars parked up it meant the hide by the lough would be quiet. The walk to the hide showed butterflies and damselflies were out, but a breeze blowing made closeups difficult.

Blue Damselfly. Getting a shot of this was hard work, even this one could have been sharper.

Yep it’s a red Damselfly. These seemed to land on the ground which helped with the wind, but hard on the knees.

Black-veined white butterfly. This one is a little battered, it was the only shot I got plus a workout. Then it was into the bird hide or bird blind depending when you are from. Two women were there and after a short update on what was seen I set up the camera. There are three nesting rafts and has well as Common Tern’s there was Blacked Gulls nesting.

A Common Tern bring in lunch. I sat and watched the coming and goings around the rafts for an hour. I find by spending time studying these birds, patterns arise. This helps to get photographs, so lets meet the Common Tern and Black Headed gull.

This photograph shows the Common Tern ( left) and the Black Headed Gull.

This gull is a young immature Black headed gull. On the way back to the car park I stopped close to the feeders and shot this Sparrow.

I believe this is a House sparrow. So it was back to the car and pack my gear away and the 40 minute drive home.

Thank you for visiting.

George.

The Red Fox.

Posted on April 29, 2018 Posted in wildlifeTagged County Down, foxes, Ireland, Irish mammals, Irish wildlife, nikon, Nikon D7200, Northern Ireland, pheasant, Pheasant call, Red fox, Ringed necked Pheasant, Sigma 105 lens, Sigma lens, Vixen, wild birds, wildlife, wildlife photography11 Comments

While out visiting the other evening we were seated in the kitchen having a coffee. “Look there’s a Hare in the field” my host said. Sitting in the evening sun was an Irish Hare, I had my camera in the car so I nipped out and got it hoping the Hare would remain in his present spot. Nope he was moving away from me down the field and I watched has he disappeared into the lower lying ground. Left standing at the side of the garage looking at the country side, feeling the warmth of the sun and the sound of the birds I thought ‘ better finish my coffee ‘ when movement caught my eye. Coming from the lower ground where the Hare went into. It’s returning was my first thought but when I looked through the camera it was a Red Fox walking straight towards me.

I stood still close to the garage and got a few shots off.

These were taken on a Sigma 150 – 600 mm lens and chopped in editing.

Most animals detect movement rather that detail, so he was getting closer has he stopped to mark his territory every twenty feet or so. Turning to my left he stopped and looked where I was standing.

At this point we were around 25 metres apart and I think he caught my scent. But seeing no threat he continued on. Crossing some marsh he was now heading away from me, a sound from higher ground made him stop and gave me a chance to get another shot.

A few moments later he disappeared into some shrub and was gone.

I waited around for a few minutes and the source of the noise he heard showed it’s self.

It was a hen and cock Ringed-necked Pheasant, I shot these has they walked across the field and up into some wooded land on my right.

Here’s a better look at the hen with her duller marking that help her to blend in to her environment while nesting. They can fly in short fast bursts if in danger and give a loud alarm call. They had left my line of vision for a minute or so and I heard the alarm call. Watching the line of the wood another fox came to view. This time crossing my right to left. I got a few shots but this time at a longer distance.

This was a different fox, it’s markings and the first had a slight limp from its front leg marks them apart. I know the first was a Dog or male fox by the way he marks his territory but at no time did I see this one do that. Which makes me think it was a vixen (female fox), I was in the open taking these and when it spotted me it stopped briefly and ran off into the lower ground from which the hare gone.

I shot many more photos that shown but just to see them was great. The Red Fox is Ireland’s only wild dog. Given they were shot for their fur these animals are very shy of humans.

A quick note on camera and lens: Nikon D7200 camera and the Sigma 150 – 600 mm telephoto zoom lens.

Thank you for visiting, I hope you enjoyed the post and feel free to comment, good or bad.

Take care,

George.

Garden birds.

Posted on March 10, 2018March 10, 2018 Posted in wildlifeTagged bird food, bird photography, Bird watching, Blue tit, Coal Tit, garden birds, Ireland, Irish birdlife, Irish wildlife, nikon, Nikon D7200, photography, Robin, Sigma lens, Sparrow, wildlife photography6 Comments

So after my short problem walking I’m back to form. Earlier this week while being a little fitter to move I shot some birds in the garden. With a few feeders near by it was a matter of waiting to see where their waiting perch was. So installing myself in a large bush close by I settled in. Giving the birds some time to get used to me there, soon they ignored me. Shooting with a Nikon D7200 ans Sigma 150-600 mm lens on a mono-pod I could get some close up shots.

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So first up is a Robin which is a ground feeder and gets the seed and nuts that others drop from the feeders. They are happy around humans and come close. While working in the garden they will perch on tools waiting for you to turn up insects or grubs. Flying down around your feet for a free meal.

Here we have the House Sparrow with some hair from the ponies in the field beside me. The lining for a nest somewhere close by. Known to nest in some of the out buildings. Below are a few more different poses of them.

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The marking above the eye on this Sparrow shows its still a juvenile.

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Another Robin.

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This one is a Coal Tit, look closely and see a nut being felled between his feet. They hold it there while they peck at it.

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I could not get a shot of the smallest of the Tit family away from the feeder. So had to settle of this one of the Blue Tit.

Time for a coffee, I hope you enjoyed your time watching a few garden birds.

Thank you for visiting,

Take care.

George

Wagtail’s and sepia tones

Posted on January 27, 2018 Posted in GeneralTagged beach, Birds, Co.Down, Co.Down coast, Ireland, irish sea, Irish wildlife, landscape photography, landscapes, Nikon D7200, nikon D750, Northern Ireland, pied wagtails, sand, sea, seals, seaside, sepia prints, Sigma lens, Strangford lough, whisters, wildlife, wildlife photography8 Comments

With the sun shining and a light breeze I shouldered the camera bag, grabbed a tripod. Car locked and my first chat was with a man and his dog. Some local information is always welcome. I sit here listening to the wind and heavy rain beat it’s tune on the window. I took the following photos last weekend, what a difference this weekend.

First up are a few photograph’s of the Pied wagtail, these were taken while out for a walk along the coast.

I always hope to get some shots of seals that bask along the shore, but so far no luck. With the tide in I knew they would be out from shore. This one was around 100 metres from shore.

I got a few head shots but loved the light catching his whisker’s in this one. We have two type of seal’s around our coast. The grey seal and the common seal with this being the Common seal.

My last one is off the small lighthouses that mark the entrance to Strangford lough on the east coast of Northern Ireland. I gave it an old time look when editing it in Silver Efex Pro. Let me know what you think.

Thank you for visiting.

Take care,

George.

Natures lovers.

Posted on April 1, 2017April 13, 2017 Posted in GeneralTagged Bird watching, Black and white, Co. Monaghan, Irelands wildlife, Irish wildlife, lake, mating ritual, monochrome, monochrome photography, Mute swan, nikon, Nikon D7200, water fowl, wildlife8 Comments

There’s a different look on the lough, with the winter water fowl and duck’s away the summer residents have made a show. Back are the Great Crested Grebe, Mallard’s and the Mute Swan’s. Mute Swans pair up for life and seldom divorce. Courtship takes place in late winter with synchronised head dipping and necks and breasts pressed together. With their S shaped necks a heart shape forms during this ritual.

I shot this photograph last year and converted it to black and white. It shows the heart shape they form doing the above ritual.

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Thank you for visiting

George McNeill Photography

Tag: Irish wildlife

Ring Necked Pheasant.

Portmore Lough

The Red Fox.

Garden birds.

Wagtail’s and sepia tones

Natures lovers.