Bowland June 2020...Big Ears and Barnie

Over the last week or so there has been a dramatic change in the weather.The long hot and sunny days have made way for some very unsettled weather.It has been a relief with some much needed rain and much fresher conditions.In fact it has been very Autumnal with heavy rain and strong winds.I have welcomed the change as it has been more bearable for getting about.I have not been out much with the camera and this post refers to my last outing into Bowland a week or so ago.

It was a hot day in prospect but I was up and away by 4am.It was a slow start but was to improve.I was thinking of returning home as I was being attacked by clegs on the legs giving painful bites.However suddenly this barn owl appeared close by and presented some very nice opportunities for flight shots as it passed in front of me.I fired off a salvo of shots the best of which are shown below. On the way home I saw this brown hare having his breakfast in a sunny meadow filled with summer grasses.He posed nicely for me in the warm sunshine and I duly obliged with more nice images to add to the day's tally.Hope you enjoy my efforts with the camera and I hope to be out and about again soon.Thanks for looking in and stay safe and well.

Bowland.Summer Solstice 2020

I was keen to get out to Bowland again on the longest day of the year.I was away by 4.30am to arrive at my preferred location in around one hour.It was to be a beautiful morning with blue skies and warm sun.The owls in particular were very active hunting the moorland to feed their youngsters.Barn owls and Short eared owls were busy returning with voles they had caught.I was presented with many opportunities for action shots but it is never easy to capture the perfect flight shot.I am though well pleased with the shots below which have I hope captured this wonderful morning in Bowland.

There were a couple of other photographers present and we all enjoyed the action and beautiful weather on this Midsummer's Day.I hope you enjoy my efforts below and thanks for looking in.Take care and keep safe and hopefully I will be back soon with more from this wonderful part of Lancashire.

Bowland..A Deer and a Barn Owl

This week I had another early morning foray into Bowland.This week the weather has been warm and muggy.On reaching my usual location I found that visibility was very poor and definitely I was not able to use the camera.So I decided to head for another area at a lower elevation.The visibility was much better but still misty.Not long after driving a short distance I saw a hunting barn owl close to the road which obligingly perched on a roadside fence post.Obviously the camera was kept busy for a few minutes before the barn owl departed.Within another few minutes I spotted a roe deer on the road a few hundred yards in front.

The deer was eating some roadside vegetation and was not too bothered by my careful and cautious approach but this changed dramatically with the approach of a car from the opposite direction.The deer panicked and crossed the road trying to find a way out.The roadside walls and gates were too high and the female roe deer was very uneasy.Fortunately the oncoming driver had stopped and eventually managed to drive slowly past the deer.I then later followed the deer down the road until it found a way out jumping over a low section of wall into a nearby meadow.So alls well that ends well and I hope you enjoy my images from the memorable encounter

Thanks for looking in and I will be back to Bowland next week for more wildlife encounters.Stay safe and well.