Saturday 28 March 2015

Feeding Station (2)

When I get the chance I will be back at the feeding station to concentrate on the Yellowhammers, but just to prove there are more than just one species coming to feed ..... here are a few others.







Thanks for looking

Sunday 22 March 2015

Down at the Feeding Station

In between the workshops I have (with some help) modified the reflection pool down at the feeding station. As the 'pool' was on legs I have been able to use the space underneath enabling me to photograph some of the species that prefer to feed on the ground.

I was mainly concentrating on the Yellowhammer as I have noticed and I am sure a lot of other people have the sudden drop in numbers; so much so that the Yellowhammer's status has put it on the Red List.

It is one of those birds that cannot really be mistaken for anything else in its bright yellow plumage and the females are not that bad either, and then there is the song and if you don't know what that is well.............











It is estimated that between 1980 and 2008 there was a 93% loss of Tree Sparrows, more recent data suggests that they are on the increase albeit slowly


The Reed Bunting, here we have a male bird nearly getting his black cap, both the male and female in Winter have a streaked head pattern, this species is also in decline but is on the Amber List


Thanks for looking


Sunday 15 March 2015

First Workshop

The first Harvest Mice Workshops went ahead without any problems, although I was chasing a mouse round the studio (shed) for 10 minutes at one stage!!

I have had some good feedback from the participants and if I was any better at using these damn machines I would probably put in what they had to say!!!!!! Perhaps at a later date.

Anyway here are a few shots that I took during the time the workshops ran, I actually took 43 shots compared to one person who took over 1500!! Told you it was addictive!






New Workshop dates will be announced at the beginning of each month through Spring and Summer

Thanks for looking

Friday 6 March 2015

Harvest Mice Workshops

I am now ready to put together a few dates in March for the first of the Harvest mice workshops; these are

14th and 15th March

18th March

21st and 22nd March

Each of these dates there will be two slots available the first starting at 10:30 and the second starting at 13:30.

Both sessions will last for 2.5 hours no longer, this is due to the Harvest Mice themselves that seem to work on a 2 hour rota!!!

If you are interested and would like further details on equipment etc. then email me on this address


alanheeley59@gmail.com








You will need plenty of memory cards photographing Harvest Mice gets very addictive!!


Thanks for looking.









Monday 2 March 2015

Tree Sparrow

Personally I think the Tree Sparrow is doing better than people think, especially in Derbyshire, unlike let's say the Yellowhammer.

I just think that they are overlooked as another L.B.J.!! And yet they have a charm and a character all of their own.

Down at my feeding station there must be upwards of 20 plus individuals that are coming to feed on a daily basis. Here are a few shots from today.





This last one got a little wind swept.


Thanks for looking.