Kinlochewe… and a bit of a disaster!
Filed under: Articles, Diary EntriesTagged with: Landscape, Scotland
Kinlochewe -Torridon and Gairloch 2
The afternoon of our first day around Kinlochewe saw us move up to Gairloch and to Red Point overlooking the islands of Raasay and North Rona.
Kinlochewe -Torridon and Gairloch 1
We had three nights at Kinlochewe and this diary extract from our first day there gives some sense of our mounting frustration with the weather.
Scotland 2011 – Sheil Bridge to Kinlochewe
This set of images takes us from Sheil Bridge to Kinlochewe. We briefly touched Skye on this journey crossing on the Kylerhea ferry. Again we had some appalling weather but it cleared for an hour at the very end of the day and Beinn Eighe slowly showed itself.
Scotland 2011- Nevis to Sheil Bridge
The next series of posts will all be about time we spent in Scotland during may of last year (2011) We had chosen to visit the high North West in May for a number of reasons.It’s generally reckoned to be midgeless, quiet, good for birds and wildlife and the most favourable time for weather that gives a clarity of light with fine visibility. On all those counts it never delivered. Birds were few and far between, in two weeks we didn’t see a single deer let alone anything else in the mammal line, the midges showed up earlier than usual and visibility was, on the whole, very poor! The Met Office weather summary for the time we were up in Scotland says it all.
Calendar 2012 – New 2013 Calendar Planned
I’m back posting for a while! Still have a big op to come up in the early spring but will try and move things on a little by then.
The 2012 calendar has been out since January 1st and has been met with enthusiasm from all quarters. The quality of the images we had to choose from was very high and I’d like to thank all those involved and for sending their images on to me. It was a lovely project to have worked on and as a result of its success we’ve been asked to do another one for 2013!
A Quiet Time
I know the site has been inactive for a good few weeks over the summer and apologies for that. It will remain a little quiet for a while yet as I have to have a major operation coming VERY soon. Once in proper recovery I’ll begin again and things will start moving in a positive direction. So for now a bit of a signing off.
Final Calendar Walk
Nikon D300 v Nikon D3s – When To Use Which One
Tawny Owl by Torch Light – No.2
The owl was around again last night and with another fine evening the conditions were very good.
Tawny Owl by Torch Light
There’s been a Tawny Owl around our area lately and last night it was flying from ariel to ariel just across the road.
Grasshopper Warbler and Corn Bunting – Red Listed Birds
A couple of difficult birds to locate and photograph; the Grasshopper Warbler and the Corn Bunting.
Update on the Calendar Project
Another walk, another set of images, and we are moving at a pace towards creating the 2012 calendar from the work generated from all those who have come on the walks.
Edgelands Birds – Seaforth 2
Little Gulls used to be regular and in good numbers at Seaforth but in recent years they have fallen off considerably and apparently are now gathering in significant numbers on the Wirral. Something to do with a change in the salinity of the marina, which is just on the other side of the reserve, and has affected the insect numbers that predominate on the surface of the water.
Edgeland Birds – Seaforth 1
Getting access to the Seaforth reserve took a little bit of time and effort, particularly as I’m not on the spot. You’ve got to apply to the port authority police and then have an a short interview with them and get passes for the car and yourself. The previous post looked at the site itself and framed it with respect to the book ‘Edgelands’ This post will look at some of the birds I’ve photographed at the site during a few recent visits.
‘Edgelands’ Seaforth
Edgelands
There’s been a lot of coverage lately relating to a new book by two North West poets, Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts. Its entitiled Edgelands. As they state in the introduction it’s not a new concept but the interest in bringing the whole idea of this ‘unruly and chaotic’ space back into the public arena has generated a lot of creative activity.
A Few Photographs Taken in Atrocious Weather Conditions
Following on from the last post here’s a few images that have been taken in pretty appalling weather…..
Photography in the rain: What to do and how to cope.
I’ve a presentation that I’ve given to various groups over the last couple of years entitled ‘Light Land and Rain’ It’s really an acknowledgement that without rain, or the near presence of rain, the landscape can often be a bland, and at certain times of the year, difficult place for exciting photography of the natural world.
Calendar Project Moves On
The second ‘Nature’s Calendar Walk’ was a success, despite a poor forecast. We had expected heavy rain for a good portion of the day yet nothing materialized. Sixteen folk, some new, met at Markham for a round trip via our lunch stop at the ‘Rocking Stone’ The collection and collation of images has begun and the ethos of creating something fresh and exciting continued today with those involved looking at the landscape in a different light. It seems the project now has legs! and is moving along nicely.
Catching up – Part Three
Down to Labrador Bay (RSPB) for the Cirl Buntings on the way to Falmouth where my daughter is studying on the BA Press and Editorial photography course. Then up to Scotland with my mum and brothers for a long weekend to visit the loch where we scattered dad’s ashes.