This weeks shot come from my Sunday walk around Hillsborough Forest Park, County Down, Northern Ireland.
The Mute Swan.
This was edited in Lightroom then finished in Silver Efex Pro 2 which is a B&W editor.
Thank you for viewing and feel free to comment.
George.
This weeks photograph was taken while taking photo’s of a Little Egret. On a bridge a photographer was photographing the same bird from a different spot. So my shot this week is of the lesser spotted photographer.
Dear photographer, if you happen to read this please contact me, would love to see your shots of the little Egret.
Comment’s welcome and have a great Wednesday.
George.
This weeks shots comes from the Co.Down coast. The Little Egret and the Grey Seal.
Thank you for visiting.
George
So I’ve been a little quiet on the blog, I’ve been busy moving to my new place to live. So for the first in a month I had a few hours to spare and it being a beautiful autumn day here I took a drive to the County Down coast. A few gentle walks and just parking up in other spots, it was an easy day. Chatted to a couple of other photographers and those just out for a stroll. So a few photos from today, Think the title might give a clue…
Grey Heron ( Ardea cinerea )
A Curlew ( Scolopacidae ) I spooked from its resting place.
Black headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in winter plumage.
In full song a Robin ( Erithacus rubecula )
A couple of Cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae )
Not a 100 percent but I think this is called a Skiff. So if any person knows what they are could you let me know. Check this link
The Grey Seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) and they are not all grey in colour.
Heading back towards Strangford.
Next a few shots of the Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta )
these birds flying in the photo’s are Lapwings ( Vanellinae )
Peace at last..
Unless he know’s different..
Don’t like the look of him..
So like my flying friend it’s time to go, hope you enjoyed the day out and you will join me another time. Thank you and take care.
George.
This week its a B&W butterfly the Pieris rapae, small white or Small Cabbage White.
This was shot using a Nikon D7200 and Sigma 105 macro lens. Converted to B&W in Lightroom.
Thank you for visiting and please feel free to comment, like or dislike.
Have a great day,
George
It’s been a while since I last posted, I had planned to stop this blog due to a number of things. Number one on the list was no motivation, so now having rested and with the support from friends plus followers from the blog, let’s continue. Thank you all.
Bee’s and Butterflies.
We have had a hot summer here in Ireland, not much rain. Hosepipe ban’s and a lot of native people with a tan. Both rare in Ireland. With all this sunshine the butterflies are around in large numbers. The other thing I have been photographing is bee’s. Not to hard a subject has they flirt with the Blackberry flowers in the hedgerows.
I liked the fly which was captured in this shot.
This is a Ringlet which is getting a little worn looking.
So I decided bee’s flying would be a good subject to try, have you ever tried to photograph them in flight. It great fun and the hours disappear. So armed with a Nikon D7200 and a Sigma 105mm Macro lens fitted, a nice sunny day to keep shutter speeds up into battle I went.
Why do bee’s always take off facing the wrong way, this kind of shot was the flavor off the first hour or so. I don’t give in easy. A coffee break and it was back to the front line. I started to notice bee’s lift the rear end up slightly before take off. Which didn’t help when they are going the wrong direction. So in between the bee’s I got some other close up’s ( these a chopped in post).
Hover fly.
Clover flower caught in a light breeze. Yes it’s the effect of the slight movement that I like in this shot.
Not a hundred percent on this plant but I think it’s English Plantain. These plant shots were taken by lying on the ground with the camera. Focusing in live view, use the self timer and press the shutter release. Right back to the bee’s.
After about two hours my success rate way getting better. I enjoyed this little challenge and will give it another try. Might try flash the next time. Now on to some butterflies. The next shots are Large Cabbage whites.
The large cabbage white from different angles. Was going to try shooting these in flight but did not get one sharp shot. Bee’s are easy compared to butterflies.
For the final photo I’ll leave you with my favourite, a close up of one feeding.
Thank you for joining me in the garden, please feel free to comment. I would love to hear your thoughts or tips on shooting these subjects.
George.
Drifting clouds
–
Small feet follow the secret paths,
Paths that lead to adventure’s,
played through the scrub and trees.
In the small glen where freedom was everywhere.
–
The secret tree hut, watch tower.
Shelter from the enemies that pursued me.
A place to see the wildlife
which the imagination transformed into monsters.
–
To lie in the fallen leaves and watch the clouds.
Faces and being’s formed in their shapes.
Drifting by where time mattered not.
A stick , a magic wand.
–
Bird song a code only I could know.
Know which plants to eat.
Berries that were sweet.
Secrets I would keep.
–
The dead forest, the swamp land.
Newts and frogs lived there.
Witch’s, swamp monsters kept watch’
Not a place to linger.
–
To know where the Sparrow hawk nested,
Sit beside the rabbit’s in the wild.
See the Hare play on the open hill.
Mice scurry around the dry stone wall.
–
Today I sit an older man’
Memories drift like clouds.
Wild berries in my hand.
Birds speak and I understand.
–
GeorgeMcNeill
07/05/2018
Photo: The Mourne Mountians, rain clouds passing.
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.
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.
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.
I like the reflections has it entered small pools left by the tide receding, this next shot is a little play on the reflection.
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.
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.
This is the Common Seal.
And a couple of Grey Seals. Please note its not the colour that gives them there name.
A Gray enjoying the evening sun.
Here we have Brent Geese feeding along the shallows.
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.
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
George McNeill Photography 
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