As promised I have chosen a different subject today having posted pictures of fungi for the past three posts. But if you want more fungi you could always check my instagram today (chipster_63)
The first of todays pictures shows the path through the forest on the way to Ouimet Canyon in Ontario. It is a spectacular sight however on the day we visited there was thick fog or low cloud obscuring much of the view although it was really atmospheric.
The canyon itself is 100m deep, 150m wide and 2km from end to end. The origin of the canyon is glacial erosion but the erosion continues as a result of wind and rain.
One of the rock features that you can see in the above photos is known as the "Indian Head" which eerily peers through the mist.
The bottom of the canyon is out of bounds because it is of special scientific interest due to the many species of arctic flora found there. Normally they would only be found 1000km to the north but the conditions at the bottom of the canyon allow these species to flourish.
It has been a month since I have been out with my camera, a bout of tennis elbow caused I think by lugging my gear around has meant I needed to take things easy so with a bit of respite I was desperate to get out and snapping again.
So today I headed over to the WWT reserve at Martin Mere, I have always had a great time whenever I have visited in the past and today I was hopeful that in between the rain and snow showers I would be able to get some decent shots.
I was sat in one of my favourite hides where there is a small pond but also lots of bird feeders. In the past I have seen lots of finches and other small birds as well as Sparrowhawks and today I wasn't disappointed as there were lots of finches and tits and a Reed Bunting as well as Magpies, Jackdaws and pigeons in the mix. None of these however compared to the magnificence of a most unexpected visitor the Great Spotted Woodpecker.
I have often heard these marvelous birds and seen them at a distance so to be able to get a few decent images has really made my day. In the last shot you can see him (it is definitely a male) in the sort of setting you would expect to see a woodpecker; up a tree. In the other shots however you may be surprised as I was to see that he was sizing up and eventually helping himself to the sunflower seeds in a bird feeder apparently having learned of the nutritional value of these seeds.
It was a rare privilege to see this bird up close, I was so excited and I wanted to share that excitement and these images with you... Enjoy!
I have been on a bit of a mission recently; to get a good shot of a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).
I was lucky to see one at Burton Mere earlier this week but it was too far away to get a shot so today I went to Mere Sands Nature Reserve where this little chap is often spotted. I have seen it a couple of times but I have only been able to photograph it once before.
Today it settled for less than 10 seconds on this small branch. As you can see from the first image it was quite a way off and hard to spot between the reeds so getting a clear shot was out of the question. Nevertheless I was thrilled to get any sort of image and happy to share it here. I will keep on trying and one day I am sure I will get the perfect shot.
There is something really special about these birds and it is always a thrill to see them. They are quite rare in the UK with between 3,800 and 4,400 breeding pairs spread throughout the whole of the UK (source RSPB) so any sighting however brief is definitely a treat.
These beautiful birds are so rare I thought I would share three pictures .
The Bali Starling is a native of, yes you guessed it Bali where they are critically endangered. I knew very little about them until I spoke with a keeper at Chester Zoo who told me about the conservation program at the Zoo. In 2005 there were just 5 pairs of these birds in the wild in Bali but following a captive breeding program Chester Zoo and others were able to release birds into the wild taking the population up to 500 which was a promising start to help the preservation of the species. Sadly greed has resulted in a further decline in numbers to around 100 birds thanks to poachers who take the birds for private collectors. It really is so sad that some people have so little respect for nature that they would risk the total demise of a whole species.
I know that there are many people who dislike zoos for keeping animals in captivity but the Bali Starling is a great example of the value of zoo breeding programs.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Mere Sands Wood and I sat for what seemed like ages to catch a glimpse of the elusive bittern which has taken up residency on the reserve. I had a really lovely time and no doubt I will go back for a similarly good time but sadly on that occasion I didn't get to see the bittern.
Last weekend when I went to Chester Zoo I was lucky enough to see and photograph this beautiful Sunbittern from South America. It was lovely to be able to get so close to see the stunning plumage. I really love the intensity of the expression as it searches the pool for a tasty treat.
After a couple of days without posting I wasn't sure what to share today until Facebook came to the rescue. Well it was the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park facebook page (Which is definitely worth a look, both the page and the park!) because they posted a photo of an unusual little plant which I recognised as one I had photographed while on a walk along the trail to Middlebrun Bay which is in the park on the shore of Lake Superior. I was unsure what the plant was (although one of my friends had identified it from my description the following day, but I've been asleep since then and had completely forgotten) so I asked the page administrator what it is and was very quickly reminded that it is known as Indian Pipe or Monotropa unifora. It apparently draws its nutrients from the plants around it in order to survive and grow.
It is only a very small plant growing close to the ground and this specimen was growing just off the main trail. I think it is quite eye catching and a lovely little thing and definitely worth sharing. I hope you agree.
For anyone growing up in the UK in the 1960's will know about the Tufty Club hero of numerous road safety "films" and information leaflets. He was created in 1953 and by the early 60's there were more than 2000 Tufty Clubs nationwide with a membership of more than 2 million by 1972.
I was never a member and I didn't realise that Tufty still exists but apparently he does and in 1998 the character was "immortalised" in a ceramic figure.
So apart from the fact that Tufty was a Red Squirrel why am I drawing attention to this particularly British phenomenon? Well there is a real irony that a creature such as this is used to represent road safety, because from my observations of the squirrels at Formby they dash across the paths and roads without bothering to Stop Look or Listen or to Look Right, Look Left and Look Right Again relying on their speed to keep them out of danger, so they are hardly the best example to follow, no matter how cute they are.
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I got up nice and early to get some shots of the squirrels before the crowds arrive. The red squirrel population at Formby was decimated in recent years due to a virus but with careful management the numbers are increasing and so I didn't have to wait too long before a these little beauties showed up.
