Cuckoos on Conwy mountain

While walking up one of the hills on Conwy mountain I heard a Cuckoo and after listening to it's cuckoo call we managed to pinpoint it's location. We found the male bird in an area of trees close to a farm and after 5 minutes of waiting the bird flew out and headed up to higher ground. It returned 10 minutes later being mobbed by another male bird.
I managed to get 2 flight shots and this one seemed to be the best one

 Mobbed

Only the male Cuckoo calls with the Cuckoo call and the female uses a bubbling call so it was quite interesting to see them competing for any females in the area. The 2 males kept getting mobbed by pipits that did not want them any where near there nests. It was great to hear my first Cuckoo and to see 2 on my second visit was a great result. Now I know there up there at this time of the year hopefully I can get back there next year or maybe in July before they leave as I would like to photograph one perched in a tree. 
I spotted this Pipit with food in it's mouth so it must have had a nest nearby

 Buzzard chased by a Crow

 This Fox was hunting in one of the fields near to where the cuckoo called

The views from Conwy mountain are beautiful as you can see by the photographs below

As this is my second and last visit on this trip it was nice to get a few photographs of a bird I've never photographed before and to find a new wild location to relax is a bonus for me. Since returning home I have heard my first Cuckoo on my local patch down by the river.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

Little baby Hedgehog in the cemetery

A few days ago I was walking back through my local cemetery at last light and I stumbled upon a baby Hedgehog next to a hedge. It looked in good condition and was calling for it's mother so I got a few photos/footage then placed the Hedgehog under a hedge a meter away where the nest is probably located, as there is no where else nearby where it could have been. I checked the roads surrounding the cemetery and saw no dead Hedgehogs around so I'm guessing it's mum is looking for food in the hedge but this little one must have tried to follow mum on her nightly feed. Sometimes you have to evaluate the situation and in this instance I felt the need to step and give the baby a chance to return to it's mum and other siblings. Hopefully she will hear her baby's calls and take it back to it's nest.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

A nest on the ground

While searching my new wildlife area my brother found a nest on the ground in long grass. We found the nest while searching for Foxes and on this visit I nearly stepped on a young Badger cub snuffling around in long grass near it's sett, once it noticed me it gave a big sniff and ran off into cover.

After abit of research I found out that the nest belonged to a _____ and hopefully over the next few weeks before I go on holiday I will get to see these eggs hatch and fledge.

Hidden in the thick grass

 6 Little eggs but will they all hatch

 The nest was well hidden in the undergrowth which got recovered with more grass when I left

As the nest is right next to a Badger sett where there are Foxes and Badgers I'm not sure whether they will make it to adulthood let alone hatch.

2 of the 3 adult Foxes I have seen in the area and hopefully there may be cubs nearby :-)

A lovely part of the river which flows under a bridge where I like to shelter when it rains when I am heading back from my new area.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

The return of Flash

As it was very warm the other day we decided not to head out to far. We ended up going to a local stretch of river so if we got to hot we could cool off in the water. We were mainly looking for a Swan family or Sand martins .After walking a few miles along the river we ended up finding nothing but the river looked beautiful with it's clear and sparkling water. 

There were plenty of Damselflies zipping up and down the river and mating on the river weed. On the way back though from a high bank over the river we spotted a pair of Swans with one cygnet, I did the call that some of the pairs I photograph know to see if they would respond. The female reacted and raised her head to my call and this so it got me thinking was this Flash and his mate Whisper. 

 Staying together and doing quite well with the faster speed of the flowing river

 

We could not see the family properly or leg tags so we fought through the nettles to get onto the sandbank where they were resting. Once we got closer we saw it was them and they had 4 Cygnets not just one.  When we approached calling like we have to Flash for years he came over without any aggression and tapped my bag to see if we had any food for him and his family. I took a few photographs and left them in peace heading down river closer to the unsafer area nearer to the town. The things that worry me at this time of year are the increase more Dogs off leads playing in the river and a few people who find entertainment in harming nature. Hopefully I will be able to keep an eye on them but nice thing was Whisper seemed to be wary of us which means she will be keeping her Cygnets very safe and she will lead them to safety if needed.

 I think Flash on the left is moulting but I think he's quite strong even if he can't fly

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

A walk through the Bluebell woodland

With all this warm spring weather were having at the minute I decided on taking a walk through one of the only Bluebell woodlands on my local patch in Cheshire. It was lovely to see all the reeds and pond marigolds growing up to the sun before the woodland canopy thickens up. 

While sitting with my back against an old Oak tree looking into a patch of Bluebells I spotted a Fox running off into the undergrowth. I think I may return to this woodland this week just to sit in silnce with my camera and hopefully something may wander my way if I'm lucky.

 One of my photograph areas for Weasels fingers crossed

 Lovely Bluebell photograph taken on my I-phone

Quite a relaxed afternoon out in the Cheshire wilderness at one of my favorite times of year when the birds are singing and building nests the Bees are buzzing and the outdoors has the smell of flowers but most of all I love the sudden rise of the greenery from the stinging nettles to the reeds. I just love the British countryside in Spring when everything begins a new and Winter is giving it's last few frosty fresh mornings before the heat of spring finally kicks in.

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike