Common Toad Photography

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Common Toad Bufo bufo

Isle of Lewis

A very brief trip to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides for work.  Unfortunately there was little time for wildlife viewing or photography.  However, I did manage a brief visit to my favourite spot one evening at sunset.  A good viewpoint sits high on the bend of a small track, overlooking Loch Seaforth, flanked by steep mountains on both sides.  It's stunning and is one of my favourite places.


Red deer stags

Shortly after arriving and switching off the engine, a juvenile white-tailed eagle flapped laboriously up the valley.  Scanning the shoreline revealed an adult white-tailed eagle sitting on a large boulder at the tip of a headland.  An otter was fishing just a few feet away and the eagles head turned slowly to monitor the otters progress.  I was hoping the otter would catch something.  Interested to see the eagles reaction.  Alas it didn't and it was time to depart. The following day, on the way back to airport, I saw several red deer, raven, and the ubiquitous oystercatcher.   

Loch Seaforth



Christchurch Harbour - Peregrine and Otter Spraint

On the Stour at Christchurch Harbour

I joined my girlfriends family today for the maiden voyage on her Dad's new boat.  Ian has been restoring the boat for months so today was pretty exciting. We'd just boarded the vessel and whilst brushing 'dirt' off the seats I suddenly realised I was staring at a big pile of otter spraint! The boat hasn't been covered with tarpaulin and the cavities in the bow of the boat had been providing a nice shelter for an otter.


The trip was a quick one,as the light was fading, but we had great views of peregrine falcon perched on a fence post close to the shore at Stanpit Marsh.  I'm looking forward to a bit of fishing and otter spotting in the summer!





Toads on Roads

Spring is fast approaching in Kent and with the recent mild wet weather, toads have started their annual migration towards breeding ponds. In Paddock Wood toads have always been common, but every year huge numbers die on the roads. Particularly because they struggle to climb steep kerb stones. This is happening throughout the UK and toad numbers are rapidly disappearing from previous strongholds.

I've been out and about with my bucket and torch to help as many toads as possible cross the roads safely. This season, the migration is just starting but despite helping 31 toads to reach the breeding ponds, I've sadly already seen plenty of squashed toads.

The charity Froglife runs a National 'toads on roads' campaign which provides advice and support for volunteers, to help reverse the decline in our toad population. Anyone wanting to get involved should visit http://www.froglife.org/toadsonroads/



Releasing the collected toads at a nearby breeding site



Dungeness - Glossy Ibis and Bittern

A stunning day at Dungeness RSPB reserve, with hardly a cloud in the sky.  My family came with me today so I was hopeful that we'd see something interesting.  We weren't disappointed!  The Hanson hide at the ARC pits was the first point of call.  A male smew, several red heads and a few golden eye were present on the ARC but the real highlight was a bittern just 10ft from the hide. 

We watched the bittern creep through the reeds, before submerging its entire head and probing deep into the base of the reeds.  We watched this unusual (or at least rarely observed) behaviour for several minutes.  A sudden splash and the bitterns head emerged, a large pike speared on its beak, bloody and thrashing about wildly.  The bittern took several minutes to swallow the fish, only to regurgitate and start all over again.  It was a breathtaking spectacle and something I wont forget in a hurry.

Later on at the rspb reserve, numerous ducks included a female scaup and lots of pintail.  Large numbers of wigeon, across the site, regularly rose into the air to evade the attention of persistent marsh harriers. Other birds of note were a firecrest and cetti's warbler.

The final highlight of the day was the sight of a glossy ibis.  This rarity was observed feeding on pasture close to the access track.  The bird was surprisingly inconspicuous amongst a group of coots.  The ibis finally sought solitude from the many lenses and green anoraks, flying west and out of view.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

A good day of birding on a rather overcast day at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve included fantastic views of bittern and water rail in front of the Castle Water Hide.  Other birds on Castle Water included several snipe, large numbers of common duck species plus several pintail.  

Raptor sightings included several marsh harrier over the reedbeds and a common buzzard passing over at height.  A peregrine perched for several minutes on a fence post across from the castle water hide for several minutes before departing unnoticed.  A male sparrowhawk was observed actively hunting along the gorse fringe to the water whilst a female of the same species attempted to flush birds from the reed beds in the distance. 

Finally on the walk back to the car I was treated to wonderful views of a barn owl quartering the rough grassland.  The owl hunted for several minutes, before catching and immediately swallowing a field vole.  Small mammal specialists such as owls must have struggled during the recent cold spell so it's reassuring to see one hunting so successfully.  The owl continued to hunt before plunging rapidly into the edge of the reed bed.  It remained there for several minutes before emerging with a water vole grasped in its talons.  The vole looked far too large to eat as the owl carried its quarry off over the reed bed.  A pair of kestrels looking for an easy meal harassed the owl several times in an attempt to steal its prize.  The barn owl eventually found solitude in a lone tree on the horizon before the light faded to dark and it was time to head home. 

Hengistbury Head

29/12/2010.  I love this place! There can be few places in the UK which support such a variety of habitats.  Looking out to sea I recorded four velvet scoter, several red-throated diver and a couple of eider whilst the harbour supported a mass of birds including a female scaup and a couple of golden eye.

Signs of otters are becoming
 more frequent in Christchurch



  

Other birds of note included several avocet feeding in the harbour lagoons and a sparrowhawk hunting along the footpaths.  However, the highlight of the day was a male kingfisher fishing along the edge of the harbour at high tide, a mere 2m from the busy footpath and scores of visitors.  

Also of note was the presence of three otter spraint sites.  Two were recorded along the harbour shoreline and a further site was located on the bridge near the Solent Meads golf course.  It's exciting to know they're about and when the weather improves I'll be taking the kayak out to see if I can spot one.