Portmore Lough

May 20, 2018May 20, 2018George McNeill 5 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.

April 29, 2018George McNeill 11 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.

Sea mist and sunshine

April 15, 2018April 15, 2018George McNeill 6 Comments

So at a loose end I grabbed the camera gear and headed for the coast. a lovely spring morning and sunshine. Here in Ireland a day of sun here in spring time is rare, well one without rain. The winds along the Newcastle to Ardglass coast was strong and still cold. Not much wild life around it was a day just to get some air. When I got around to the Strangford Lough side of the coast the wind was a light breeze. So parked up I went for a walk. Sat on some rocks and watched the world drift by. Then a Spaniel dog appeared chasing a ball down the sand. Grabbed the ball and ran back from where he came from. With great excitement he reappears chasing down the ball. Thought I would move and get some photos. I saw a lady throwing the ball , I loved the action and excitement here. So the first photograph captures this moment.

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It was time to move a little further along the coast, again not much wildlife around. So enjoyed the sunshine and chilled out. Then a Red shank arrived, prodding its bill into the mud in search of food.

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I like the reflections has it entered small pools left by the tide receding, this next shot is a little play on the reflection.

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I chopped in on the reflection and turned it 180 degrees so it looks like its feeding.

The next is common here in this part of Ireland, the Great Black backed Gull. They are the UK and Ireland’s largest gulls, around the size for a goose.

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They have a wing span around 1.7 metres and masters in flight. With the sun dropping lower in the sky and a chill returning in the wind I started for home. A few mile down the road and I spotted some seals basking on the rocks. Yes it was park up time and with camera and tripod I found a spot close to them but far enough away so I wouldn’t disturb them. We have two types of seals in Ireland . The common seal and the grey seal. Here’s a link for anyone who wishes to find out more about them. Seals in Ireland.

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This is the Common Seal.

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And a couple of Grey Seals. Please note its not the colour that gives them there name.

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A Gray enjoying the evening sun.

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Here we have Brent Geese feeding along the shallows.

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A dispute about who own’s this section of the dinner plate. With the sun low and even with a coat, scarf and gloves the cold was seeping into my body I packed up the gear and headed for home. I had been out on the coast for over eight hours, when not photographing I love to sit with a scope and watch the interaction in wildlife. think we humans could learn from them.

Thank you for visiting.

George.

Garden birds.

March 10, 2018March 10, 2018George McNeill 6 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

A short drive.

February 25, 2018George McNeill 7 Comments

I’ve not posted for a couple of weeks due to a slight injury. I’m back driving but still limited in my walking. So with the sun shining and being house bound for a while I grabbed the camera and went along the coast for a short drive. Not many shots but still a beautiful day with bright sunshine and a cold wind. A couple of shots were taken taken from leaning on the open door for support and the rest seated in the car.

This first is of the common Buzzard with a crow heading his way to chase him off.

this was shot from the car park at Cloughy rocks. These rocks become small islands when the tide is out and today there was a lot of seals around. These two where on the closest one. We have two type of seals common here in Ireland. These are Grey seals pictured and the other the Common or Harbour seal.

This little Robin sat posing in the sun a few feet from where I was parked, he kept returning so here he is. They have a great voice and if you whistle back you will soon have a duet going.

This last one is looking across the bay to Killard Point Nature reserve. Killard point

From here the coast turns into the sun so following it around to the village of Clough. I turned north and the road home.

Thank you for visiting.

George

Wagtail’s and sepia tones

January 27, 2018George McNeill 8 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.

Another one over.

December 30, 2017December 30, 2017George McNeill 4 Comments

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The above photograph was taken from my car of a Grey Heron that was meal hunting till I disturbed him. I took a couple of shots and left him in peace. It was a funny old day, I spend five days of the holidays in my bed due to illness dying with Man Flu. So not having seen my daughter or grandson over Christmas I was going to see them but they were out. So I went a few mile down the road to Dundrum inner bay. With the tide out so was the wildlife, can you see a pattern here. Yea no one home…..

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Bar this little chap here, not rare to see but not too common around here. A Greenshank. Another person I meet was called Leslie who stopped for a chat before going off to try for a shot a few mile around the coast of the sun setting.

He left me his web address so I could have look at his work, Leslie is a Photographer shooting landscapes, weddings and more. Has you will see his landscape shots are around the Mourne mountain area and well worth a look. Stunning is what I called them.

A link to his web site. Mourne Mountain Photography

Please do check out Leslie’s work. So after we parted I’m back where I started with the Grey Heron. A text to my mobile/cell informed me my daughter was home. So needing a coffee and with my grandad head on, it was off to play with whatever Santa had left my grandson for Christmas. Which I can report kept us amused till his bed time.

So another year almost gone, I want to thank you all for your support, comments and likes. May you get your dreams and wishes in 2018, leave those fears here in 2017. All the best my friends.

George McNeill.

From snow to coast.

December 16, 2017George McNeill 6 Comments

This time last week I was digging the snow from the drive, taking photo’s in the snow. A week later and bar the mountains the snow is gone, well for now. Here in Ireland the weather can change in an hour. With a cool breeze and sunshine that gave no heat I headed for the coast. With heavy rain showers and a bitter wind I sat with a coffee and watched the bird life feeding in the mud flats left has the tide receded. With the return of the no heat sunshine I grabbed the camera’s and went for a walk. Below are a few of my shots from the day.

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Relax now this is the only bird shot this week, a couple of Redshank’s feeding around the mud flats.

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Fishing boats and one of the markers at the mouth of Strangford Lough. In the back ground is the Isle of Man, Looking closer because of the use of a telephoto lens.

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Kilclief beach looking the Irish sea towards the Isle of Man on the horizon.

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Then I spotted this, photo below.

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Parked in the wrong spot…. the colour of the toy car caught my eye on the walk back.

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It was the sun hitting the seaweed and lichen on the rocks that drew me to this photo.

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My final one of the day.

Thank you for visiting my blog, feel free to comment. What you like ,dislike etc.

Enjoy your weekend.

George.

A mixed bag.

December 10, 2017December 10, 2017George McNeill 11 Comments

Went to bed Thursday night and the fields were green, woke Friday and the place is white. First snow of the year and it was evening before I could get time to head out of a walk around the local roads. There’s not a lot of great shots around here with it being just grazing and most of the old buildings pulled down and new homes replacing them. The one weekend it would have been great to be free I’m busy, snow just won’t last more that a few days here. Anyway back to a few photo’s.

Beside these trees there was a lovely old ruin, a home from over around 200 years ago with a little history.

Murder in Carricknaveagh

Scroll down the page in the above link to read the story of this spot.

Not much traffic here.

Above details and textures.

Winter sun.

These next Photos I caught at the last minute and were shot to be silhouettes has I metered off the black bird with spot metering against the bright sky.

This next shot is not something I do often but I enjoyed creating this. It was taken down by one of the many small lough’s we have around here.

And we have some visitors here at the moment, Redwing’s migrate here for the winter along with the Fieldfare both members of the Thrush family.

Above this is the Fieldfare.

The Redwing is the one in the foreground.

The next set of Redwing photo’s see the bird spit out a Hawthorn seed from the berries they were feeding on.

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Did not know till I process these photo’s I had caught this, all the bird shots where taken with a 600mm and chopped in production. One more to go.

In this photo we have three Fieldfare’s and one Starling, So spot the odd one out.

Thank you for visiting and take care.

George.

Little Egrets and the Mourne mountains.

November 26, 2017George McNeill 2 Comments

So the first skiff of snow covered the ground when I woke up this morning. Sitting looking out at it with a hot cup of coffee in my hand it was where will I go to today. With the sun breaking through I headed for Dundrum inner bay. A quick look at the tide tables lot me know the tide would be out. With the mud flats clear you never know what will be about. This morning was going to be about landscape shots and some close ups. I love walking the shore and looking for any interesting subjects, the feel of the sea breeze on my face. I reality it was a biting wind that chilled you and the sun that looked great lying low in the sky but gave no warmth.

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Dundrum bay with the Mourne mountains in the background.

The stone embankment on the left is the remains of an old railway line which is now a short walking trail running along the shore of the bay. A place I have walked many times over the years.

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One of the stone and brick bridges that the railway run over.

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Spotted this shell on a rock and loved the contrast in the white against the green on the rock. the shell was about the size of my thumb nail. I shot this with a Sigma 105 mm macro lens.

I sat down on the stone embankment to just watch the bay with the sound of the birds on the flats and a buzzard calling somewhere behind me. I spotted not one but three White Egrets feeding in the river that run across the flats when the tide is out.

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This were still a fair distant away and has I watched one flew off. While looking else where I discovered another one had gone. Scanning the area I soon spotted it, there around 50 feet away feeding. Right in front of me, these birds will usually flee not come closer to humans. So very slowly I put a mono pod on my camera and was rewarded with some of my best Little Egret shots to date.

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Leaving the flats and climbing up onto the trail I got this shot.

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A Trush feeding on the trail which is grass cover most of the way.

From here I drove into the Dromara Hills which lay north of the Mourne mountains. I was hoping to get a few more bird shots but it was not to be. Where it was cold on the shore it was freezing here in the hills. the winds stronger and a storm front making its way in. I took a few images from a view point called the Windy Gap which believe me was living up to its name today. These are all looking into the Mourne mountains. Most taken at 150 mm using the car door has a tripod.

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