Phil McLean Nature Photographer Blog

The shower.

Phil Mclean — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:00:43 +0000

Ollie and I met one of our regulars down by the river the other day and decided to all hang out together for an hour.There are 3 grey herons that we see on our walk along the river bank,although we don’t often see all of them on the same day.One of them is generally more approachable and on this day seemed to want to join us on our walk.The bird posed in several different locations as it flew ahead of us,landing,waiting for us,posing and then repeating the process several more times.The final session was during a heavy rain shower when I was hoping for a successful fish hunt but the bird suddenly took off and disappeared for good this time.’It wasn’t me’,said Ollie,sat next to me.I turned around to see a fisherman approaching along the path.’Getting some good pictures of the heron’,he said.

‘I WAS’,I said,through gritted teeth.

Bye Bye from Ollie.

Hen Pheasant.

Phil Mclean — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:03:37 +0000

I came across this hen pheasant while driving up in the Lammermuirs recently.It was hunkered down in the grass,just the other side of a fence,and seemed unconcerned with my presence.I thought I would take the opportunity to take some close ups,showing the pastel colours and delicate patterns around the head and body.It is obviously nothing like as colourful as the cock bird but still very attractive when you get in close like this.

I passed the stone wall where I had photographed the cock pheasant from a previous blog and there was another bird up there again.Couldn’t resist and so there is another image from that location,as well.

That’s All Folks.

Wagtails.

Phil Mclean — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:10:33 +0000

In the days before all this rain came Ollie and I spent some more time down by the River Whiteadder photographing the Pied and Grey Wagtails.We sat quietly on the bank,focused on a couple of rocks protuding above the river and waited for the birds to stop off, on the rocks, as they went about their foraging for food,for themselves and their young in the nest.I’m not sure where the Pieds’ are nesting but the Greys’ nest is only about 25 yards from where the Peregrines are nesting.Either very brave,foolish or they come under the umbrella of protection of the peregrines,as they scare off all other predators,like the crows and jackdaws,in the area.

Anyway here are some images of these very attractive little birds.

Preening.

More preening.

The End.

Westruther Moor.

Phil Mclean — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:04:59 +0000

Here are a few images taken from the car as Ollie and I drove along the Westruther road.It had been raining hard the previous day and this temporary puddle in the field was being used by an oystercatcher to bathe in.The young rabbit was still a little too timid to venture far from home and the lapwing was busy feeding and going about its’ business.

On its' way to bathe.

Bathing.

Having a splashing time.

A spot of preening.

Bye Bye.

Lammermuir Shorty.

Phil Mclean — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:14 +0000

Ollie and I took a drive up into the Lammermuir Hills last friday evening,but for a couple of hours we hardly took a picture.It was dull and cold and Ollie was in the back of the car,moaning about being bored and’ were we going home yet’.So we slowly made our way back down from the hills,back to a warm house where according to Ollie there was a dentastick waiting,with his name on it.

And then the sun broke through and we spotted a short eared owl sat on a fence post.The light was really nice,the owl sat and then performed for a short while before disappearing over the horizon,just like the sun moments later.Neither disappeared as quickly as the dentastick when we got home though!

Into the golden light.

‘Til next time.

Dippers.

Phil Mclean — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:30:20 +0000

Ollie and I walk alongside the same stretch of the River Whiteadder,here in the Scottish Borders,most days.In time you get to see the same wildlife going about their lives on a regular basis.Wether it’s the swans setting up their nest site,the peregrine sat on its’ nest or the occasional otter hunting in the river margins.

One of these regular sightings is the plump,little dipper zipping up and down the river or sat on a rock at the waters’ edge.They are nesting on a rock face,behind some grassy tussocks,overlooking the river and have just succeeded in raising their first brood.With the first set of young fledged,helped on their way,they are now repairing the nest for the second brood to come.It’s wonderful to see this lovely little bird doing so well and long may it continue.

Here’s a few pictures.

Gathering food for the young.

Bringing food back to the nest site.

The young have now fledged and are always hungry.

Back to have a look at the nest site.

With some nest repair materials.

That’s All Folks.

Brown Hare.

Phil Mclean — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:42:57 +0000

Here’s a small collection of brown hare images that I have taken recently,as I have been driving around the countryside with the beanbag on the window and my spotter Ollie in the back.He’s a terrible backseat driver,doesn’t know his left from his right but of course ‘He’s never wrong’.'I should let him do the driving’.'Why don’t I give him the camera’.'Who gets more mentions in the comments ‘You or me’.And so he goes on and on and on and on….

In the rain.

One eyed.

On a dull,wet evening.

and on and on and on and………..

Vanellus vanellus.

Phil Mclean — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:14:22 +0000

For those of you who don’t speak fluent Latin,I refer to the Lapwing or Peewit.This is the very attractive bird ,of the plover family,that you can see over the fields and around the Lammermuirs,where these pictures were taken.The two names are derived from the sounds it makes.At this time of the year it performs a striking aerobatic display,wings making a throbbing/lapping sound as it climbs and also uttering its’ peewit peewit song as it plunges down,rolling and twisting,before pulling up at the last minuet.

Here’s a few images,taken from the car as Ollie and I have been driving around the countryside.

Female calling.

Female on the nest.

The male,with the darker face and longer crest.

The Pheasant and the Swan.

Phil Mclean — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:13:09 +0000

Walking down by the River Whiteadder with Ollie,we came across this swan having a splashing good time on the water.Then two different cock pheasants provided more photographic opportunities, as we were driving slowly through the countryside looking for wildlife.

Here’s some of the results of our recent adventures.

Bye Bye.

Red Grouse in the drizzle.

Phil Mclean — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:00:49 +0000

‘Hey Oll,’ I called,’Fancy a trip in the car’. ‘No need to shout’,he said.I turned around and there he was sat by the door,waiting to go.So off we went, for a drive up into the Lammermuir Hills.

The weather was a bit dull and drizzly but I figured if we found anything it might look good in the rain.The male Red Grouse looks very photogenic at the moment and we found one that posed for a while and even his wife showed for a short time.

We had an enjoyable couple of hours up in the hills and even Ollie had a grin on his face when we stopped at the river on the way home.

Feeding in the rain.

The 'wife'.

Shaking off some of the rain.

Preening.

A bit more preening.

Final pose and off he flew.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures,and if you did,why not leave a comment.Bye bye.