A spring in Natures step...

It's been a wonderful few days here in Cheshire as I spent a few hours on the coast last weekend and ended soaking up some early Spring sun and one place I head to when by the sea is not the beach but the sand dunes. I always head there as it's the warmest place when sunny especially behind the dune grasses and there's slight a wintry breeze blowing from the sea. It was lovely to see so many people enjoying the weather and I even loved seeing a pair of Turnstones walking by my feet while furiously trying to be the first to get all the goodies left by the sea. 

Once I returned home and headed off to my local wildlife hot spots it was amazing to see and hear so much of spring kicking off. From Ravens cronking, Nuthatch calling, Swans building nests, Toads and frogs laying frog spawn and today the smell of Fox filled the narrow wooded trails as I walked along and as the sun beamed down on me it created such a wonderful scene that made me feel so happy. Even in my garden the Blackbirds have built a nest behind my garden shed, the female has been very busy collecting moss from gravestones and the pots where I grow reeds in the summer months as they love to use the roots to bind there nests.

More to come I hope as I can't wait to get going as I really love this time of year!!!

Regards

Mike

Sharing locations of wildlife signs and activity, Good or bad?

Every now and then I get asked by locals and wildlife groups where and when is the best place and time to see wildlife locally. I have in the past seen and experienced the effects of sharing this information so in this post, I'll be sharing a few incidents which happened within the last 10 years.

The first experience that went wrong when sharing information was with a fellow wildlife photographer that I took to photograph a family of Badgers over one summer. I asked the person not to go there without me and not to take anybody there as this may draw unwanted attention to the sett and if the wood was entered incorrectly and left with no disturbance, this was before the Badger cull was ever put into action. One summers evening when the light was perfect I went to have a few hours of peace at the sett. I arrived hoping for peace and Badger cubs chirping but I was met with peanuts littering the area and the trusted photographer had taken another person there without my knowledge.

 My trust in the person was lost and it took me years to relax back into my routine at the sett as I felt that at any moment when the Badgers had trusted me enough to feed and relax sometimes a meter away from me could be disturbed at any moment. I felt like through trusting somebody else with the Badgers location I had put them in danger and would never get the special moments I once had before telling the trusted individual. After a few years, the Badgers and I relaxed as the individual that was trusted moved away and the wooded sett were returned back to me and the Badgers once again.

After this experience, I knew I would have to be selective and think about who and what information I shared with people or wildlife groups as this can have effects on Nature beyond our thinking.

A few years later another person was trusted as I asked for help when gaining evidence against person/persons committing wildlife crimes. This person then went to a relative without being asked who turned out was an acquaintance of the person/persons I was gaining evidence on to give to a wildlife crime officer. I'm guessing the relative of the person I trusted went to the person I was gaining evidence against and told them they were being asked about. So because of the person Id trusted did not think about the consequences of there actions the evidence stream we were using was lost and the trail we were following went cold. More recently I have managed on my walks to capture and begin building evidence from the field on a few individuals committing wildlife crimes ie. linked people, car reg, places visited, times active. It's through the experiences above and a few others I have not mentioned that I have shown me I cannot take the risk of trusting people with too much of my local knowledge as it can be turned around agasit the creatures I have vowed to protect. Now I follow a new set of rules and over the past 2 years, it seems to be producing results which should come to fruition this year.

I trust people in everyday life and use the idiom "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"  I'm not one to distrust everyone I see or talk to but if it's regarding nature unless I see the protection of a creature/habitat to much for me to protect myself then I manage it myself or make use of a trusted family member to solve a situation. For example, let's say if a sett comes in danger from people involved with the cull and I can't disturb them or distract them from there awful acts then I would get more people involved within the field of the Badger cull preventers to aid me.

So I can choose who I trust but I cannot control who they trust and who they trust because who knows somewhere along the chain they may just have a relative or friend who  is an air rifle wielder and like staking shots at nature for there own gratification and for me I'd rather not take the risk.

I hope this makes things a little clearer to those people who ask me to share my sightings and locations. When I'm not working I spend most of my time outdoors with nature so its a big part of my life so I don't take my decisions lightly when it comes to protecting Nature and our beautiful countryside.

Regards

Mike

Drone no more!!!! plus a few photographs

As I am sure you might have noticed that I have not uploaded any footage from my Drone as yet. The reason behind that is after a few test flights it seemed to be not the best quality item and was too hard to control but it was cheap and the battery life was awful even with spare batteries they were hard to take out. I had a few ideas of what to do with the item as I have a wild imagination as you can see from something I made a few years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LN9ye7nbk

 The positives from testing the drone showed the camera quality to be quite good as well as the app that see a live view from the camera. I found the distance of the wifi transmission was excellent making the camera something I could utilize if I could increase the battery life and recording time.

So I thought it was now or never and it was time to begin modifying my drone. I got my desk cleared and my lamp on. I undid all the screws separating the main body and revealing the wires. I left the battery in with the camera powered on and the video feed displayed so I could see if separating the camera from the rest of the circuit affected the feed and if it did then I could repair quickly. Then I began to cut all the wires one by one as I thought removing the lights the motors from the circuit would increase the power available for the wifi camera and it did. 

After removing all the unneeded wires, lights and motors without damaging the camera I took my soldering iron and melted the motor arms off the plastic casing. Hopefully, I can get a few pounds for the parts I removed including propellers, RC remote and other bits as the single parts are not available for this model after doing a bit of research.

So know I have a perfect little wifi camera which records 720 videos without audio with a good app to connect to. Now I need to fill in the holes with some plastic resin and test the distance my iPad can be from the camera to maintain recording but I will only need a large distance for when I am filming on the water and in the woods it will be less than 30m.

I am going to be using on lots of projects over the next year. Below is a few ideas I have been thinking of using the wifi camera on.

-Kayaking  -Nest monitoring -fox cubs -Badger sett hole observation -RC WIFI duck cam

My main aim is to use the camera to observe vulnerable wildlife locations where I have seen evidence of wildlife crime as this new cam can be easily camouflaged with green netting I have.

I may even use on my Otter photography project as I really want a clear landscape photograph of an Otter on my local river not a blurry shot of one disappearing down the river. I'll be testing the camera on mice and feeding birds to show the quality of the video in various weathers and light qualities.

A few days Winter camping to come and I've got some new gear on its way to keep us extra warm.

Keep reading my posts if you can as its most appreciated

Mike

Archive blog I forgot to post Waxwings still around in Spring!!!!

With Spring in full swing and I have begun to visit my Badgers setts to get ready to photograph the Cubs first emerging from the setts. This year they must have been born late as last year we had 2 bouncing around one of the sett holes.

On the way to the Badgers the other evening I had heard a strange but similar call and as I went to look where it was coming from we spotted 30 plus Waxwings. They were in a high tree on the edge of Middlewich town but they flew off further away from town. Later that week my brother found the flock perched up and relaxed in a tree feeding on the new spring buds.

I got a few photographs but the best I got was posted below and as I had 2% power left on my DSLR I was pleased with what I managed to get especially as its so late in the year to see them.

Seeing so many Waxwings still here makes me wonder that in a few years will Waxwings be breeding here and after seeing them quite happy and healthy makes me think that it could be sooner than we think with summer being just around the corner.

Stay wild and enjoy the Spring while it's here

Mike

Memories from Summer Badger cubs bounding

With Spring and Summer 2016 well behind us and Winter not far away, I took a look back to my memories of summer and one wild encounter I don't like to miss. On many a warm evening during the months of May to August I would head off through the countryside by canals and lakes to my secret Badger glade where I have spent many years protecting and photographing the clan here.

This year was so special as a pair of fluffy cubs seemed to be always out playing and looking for food while there parents slept and would often come out four a minute or two then return to the safety of the sett. Sometimes the sow would call the cubs underground if they started to go to far from the sett.

 Here is a few of my favorite summer photographs of the cubs before they became wary of these 2 legged creatures around there sett which I am always glad about as I know that human dangers may never be to far away.

 Sometimes they would stay hidden and a Badgers arse would be the only view as the sun fell

 They came close enough to film on our phones some days which was Amazing!!

I love the image below as it captures the Teen Badger cub on a moonlit night just emerging for a few hours of mischief and fun plus learning all the skills it will need to become an adult Badger.

Thanks for reading my blog
Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

A new local find :-)

With local wild places becoming crowded and closer to becoming developed with housing and various other plans. I decided to search in some new places outside of my usual wild places to find some quieter and more undisturbed places. I spotted this Fly agaric Mushroom at Shakerley Mere last Tuesday and the area is becoming one of my favorite weekly places to visit.

I have even found this perfect picnic bench by the lake with a perch where I can place some bird food and enjoy the birds coming back and fourth while I relax and enjoy the outdoors.

 I found this hidden spot which I will be exploring more the next time I visit and I will take a few more photographs of my wildlife findings and habitat.

I love wooden bridges over trickling streams

 Tonight I am trialing a new WiFi camera setup tonight in the garden. I am powering on 12vt mobile backup battery which is nearly lasting an hour which is perfect. I may even see some of the 16+ hedgehogs that pass through my garden looking for food each night which may be a record. A few are hibernating in the hedgie houses in the garden already but more are visiting lately. Luckily not many get squished very much on my concrete island and there main predator the Badger whose numbers are 0 on my local urban patch. As well as filming wildlife I'm hoping to use to catch a few poachers out with this new kit if I can run on a 3G network created my Iphone.

Thanks for reading my blog
Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

First Badgers of 2016 #cutebadgercubwarning

If you have been following my blog for a while now you'll know I visit a Badger sett at this time of year to see if the Badger family has any new additions. At this time of year the Badger cubs are taking there first steps  away from there setts with the rest of the family. I have been trying to see the cubs earlier each year and a few days ago I was treated to some short but sweet views of Brock woods newest youngsters. While out in the warm summer evenings over the past few days the family have gotten used to my scent after a long winter of not really visiting the sett other than to check the area had been undisturbed by those idiots who commit awful wildlife crimes.

The 2 cubs were chuckling away by the entrance but did not want to leave the entrance

Cheeky Badger faces the opposite way of my camera

A quick look before the little one disappears off back to bed

Badger cub looks right at me

Hiding in the undergrowth the second cub appears from a different hole

Hopefully this won't be the first or last time this Spring/Summer I get to photograph them more. Watching the Badgers is one of my highlights of the lighter and brighter days of the year.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe
 

Mike

Slow arrival of Spring

With Spring being held back by the sudden arrival of cold winds and rain. I have been waiting for the sign of Toads breeding which has not taken place yet this year as when this begins it means the Otters will be feeding at a spot where I discovered them hunting Toads in the early mornings. It's lovely to see the reeds and plants growing back alot slower this year in my local countryside.

Misty sunrise at a local lake

 Bridge of light on my local canal at sunrise

The green slowly coming through

 Mallard and her Ducklings on the canal tow path

Back in my garden the Blackbirds first brood of chicks have just fledged from the hedgerow. They are now on there second brood with eggs laid a few weeks ago. The Robins have returned to there nest in the Ivy after there eggs were predated by Mice. They laid 5 eggs a week or two ago and hopefully this brood will make it to fledgling. To make sure the eggs are not predated this time we are keeping out the live mouse trap near to the nest which we will check daily so any more mice caught can be released in a local meadow.

We had a few dry days last week where I finally got to visit my Badger sett to see if I could see the cubs playing around the sett. We managed to see 2 Badgers but they were quite wary at being out in the early evening light. I'm hoping once the warmer and lighter mornings return I can get out more in my kayak on the river to get some low level shots of some of my favorite seasonal events.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe
 

Mike

Badgers filmed on my action camera

 Here's a quick clip of some Badger cubs I filmed on my action camera from this summer. As I have worked with this protected sett for many years they know my scent and have no fear of my camera gear. They are more curious than scared as you can see but as soon as they hear a stick snap or a rustle there off back down there holes to safety.

Cameras are available here:
1080P HD DV ACTION Camera
www.Gowildlifewatching.co.uk

Thanks for reading my blog
Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

River Birdbox and the first Badger off the year

On my way to see if the Badger cubs were emerging from there sett I decided on checking on one of my nearby bird boxes. This bird box is in a tree next to a river and on this particular day had a look inside and I was pleased to find 8 Great tit eggs in the box. I will be keeping an eye on this box as it's in a nice quiet spot near to where I am trying to film Otters plus it has a nice sandy river bank to lie on in the sun.

After leaving the peaceful river bank to head into the even quieter location of a woodland where I visited for years as the Badgers there no me and my scent very well and each year I like to meet the cubs. The evening was perfect as there was no wind, it was warm and very sunny so plenty of light left and as I arrived I felt in my gut that the night would deliver. Within 5 minutes out came one Badger to feed on a small amount of treats I placed on the edge of the sett. Once the treats had gone the Badger started to forage and have an itch and a scratch as the mossies flew around him/her.

As I was up a tree with my camera it was very difficult getting the camera out for starters then focusing was tricky but well worth it to get my first 2015 photograph of my lovely Brock wood cubs.

 Hopefully this was the first of many lovely warm evenings with my Badger clan and a few days later I got my best surprise of the year so far as you can see below with this photo teaser.

 Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe
 

Mike

A quiet start to Spring on my local patch

It's still very quiet start here to Spring regarding mammal and bird nesting/breeding wise. Our local breeding Swans and Grebes have not returned yet and in the past they are usually back and beginning to start displaying and finding a suitable nest site. I am hoping to find an area with a Fox den for filming cubs playing and other behaviors. I will be visiting my local Badger sett this week as I have a gut feeling that with this warmer weather and lighter nights, I may be able to catch them out in the low light and have a nice Spring evening encounter.

I know its still very early but I'm ready to get filming and start enjoying the new beginnings that start off the busiest months of the year for most of our British wildlife and I for one just enjoy Spring so much.

Hopefully it will pick up very soon and I'm sure there will be lots of exciting wildlife encounters to come.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe
 

Mike

Good times with the Badgers

Just love my Cheshire Badger sett and the summer evenings and early mornings when the sun is blazing, the mozzies are buzzing and the Badgers are 1 meter away from me snuffling around!!!

 One from the archives of daylight Badgers with some happy music showing the beauty of these animals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naTGq4Yn1RM

Thanks for reading my blog

So stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

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