Phil McLean Nature Photographer Blog » Uncategorized

Frosty mornings.

Phil Mclean — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:09:39 +0000

Here’s just a few little images that caught my eye as Ollie and me were walking along the banks of the River Whiteadder last month.

Woodpigeon feather and frosted leaves.

Frosted grasses.

Frosted shapes,patterns and textures.

Frosted leaves.

More frosted leaves.

Frosted death and decay.

More frosted textures,patterns and shapes.

Frosted plants.

More frosty feathers and leaves.

More frosty grasses.

The handsome Red Grouse.

Phil Mclean — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:38:01 +0000

During a trip up to the Lammermuirs in the car last month,me and Ollie came across this rather handsome red grouse feeding on the heather.He had very distinguished looking white markings around his head,throat and across his back.A lot more white than I’ve ever seen on a red grouse before.Maybe he thought the ptarmigan had the right idea and was turning white to blend in with the coming winter snow.Or maybe it’s more common but I just haven’t noticed before.

Anyway,here’s a few images.

The handsome red grouse with those distinguished white markings.

Red Grouse in the heather.

Red Grouse with droopy moustache and goatee beard.

Red Grouse searching out that tasty new shoot.

Red Grouse feeding.

Alert Red Grouse.

Listening to other grouse calls.

Walking down through the heather towards me.

Another red grouse at the end of the day.

Another red grouse in the late afternoon sun.

Back Garden Birds.

Phil Mclean — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 13:29:45 +0000

Grey Partridge.

Blue tit.

Cock House Sparrow on the fence.

Great tit on mossy branch.

2 Grey Partridge.

Sparrow on mossy branch.

Robin.

House Sparrow m.on fence.

3 Grey Partridge.

Ice and Leaves.

Phil Mclean — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 10:22:44 +0000

Walking Ollie,my springer spaniel, down by the River Whiteadder at Edington in the Scottish Borders my eye was drawn toward the colourful autumnal norway maple leaves amid the drab, decay of previous fallen leaves.

Later,on another walk with Ollie,we were upriver following a track and this time I was attracted by the patterns in the icy puddles.

Colour and decay.

Ice patterns.

contrasts.

Icy shapes.

The end of a life.

Ice hook.

Red on black/brown.

Cooling down the white balance in lightroom,to exaggerate the frozen ice.

Warming up the white balance in lightroom,exaggerating the mud below the ice.

Autumnal colours.

The Peregrine.

Phil Mclean — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 10:28:50 +0000

The third and final posting on my day out with the falconer.This time a few images of a peregrine falcon.

Beautiful Peregrine.

Settling down.

Looking out.

All shook up.

Peregrine falcon.

Fanned out tail.

Looking out from the rock face.

Over the shoulder look.

Peregrine falcon.

Peregrine looking back over its’ shoulder.

Falconers’ birds,Part 2.

Phil Mclean — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:22:47 +0000

Here’s a few more images that I took on the Duns C.C day out with a ‘falconer’.

Kestrel,m on gate end.

Little Owl and the nail.

Kestrel,m.

Little Owl on old disused feedbin handle.

Male Kestrel on the lookout.

Little Owl in a hole in the wall.

Male Kestrel on gate end.

Little Owl and the spruce cones.

Male Kestrel.

Fluffed up Little Owl.

Barn Owl.

Phil Mclean — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:04:43 +0000

Last month Duns camera club had their annual ‘let’s book a falconer’ day.We met just outside Greenlaw,in the Scottish Borders and here is a selection of Barn Owl images that I took on the day.

”Oot and Aboot” with a camera.

Phil Mclean — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 10:02:44 +0000

Here’s a few images from my recent travels as me and Ollie slowly get back into our photography.

Baaaahing in the Lammermuirs.

Burn running through the Lammermuir Hills.

Feral Pigeons on an old roof in the Scottish Borders.

Contrasty Mute Swans on the River Whiteadder,Berwickshire,Scottish Borders.

Bee Hives amid the flowering heather in the Lammermuir Hills,Scottish Borders.

Black faced sheep,through the grasses, in the Lammermuirs.

Bales through the mist in Berwickshire,Scottish Borders.

Feral Pigeons on a slate roof in Berwickshire,Scottish Borders.

The long and windy road over the Lammermuir Hills.

Red Grouse through the heather in the Lammermuir Hills,Scottish Borders.

Back into the garden.

Phil Mclean — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 10:38:52 +0000

One of the first things I did when I moved house,back in June,was reassemble my garden photography hide.It hadn’t been used for 3-4 years and just looked like a pile of firewood stacked up in my wheelbarrow.Now it’s up and hopefully will get some use through the winter.I’ve dug out a small wildlife pond in front of the hide and so it’s only a matter of time before the kingfishers,otters and ospreys move in…..I wish! Ollie and me have sat in the hide for about an hour so far and already he’s complaining about the lack of comforts.No sheepskin rugs and why can’t I rip the sitting room radiator off the wall and pipe all the heating out to the hide.And no,he’s not a spoiled brat….He says.

Anyway I digress.Here’s a few more images from the back garden.

This cock pheasant came in to drink from the pond while we were in the hide.

Fem.House Sparrow.

Dunnock on the garden fence.

Robin on the garden fence.

Young male house sparrow,in need of some grooming tips.

Backlit female house sparrow.These are by far the most common bird in my garden.

Rabbit feeding on the lawn.Hopefully they’ll stay with the grass/clover and not venture into the flower beds.

Robin singing on my personalised weather vane.

Same Robin as above.

Song Thrush bathing in my little 5 foot square wildlife pond.

The Back Garden.

Phil Mclean — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 18:44:38 +0000

Here’s a few images as I slowly get back into my photography.All taken in my new back garden.