Sore toes January 16, 2014Farming with Wildlife, Norton Suffolkmike Where have they all gone? At the beginning of November I knew I could reliably see at least 15 Brown Hares in one of the uncultivated fields at Halls farm. They were especially active in the early morning and the hour before sunset. Then, suddenly over a just a few days in mid November they just disappeared. It is not hard to understand why Hares have traditionally been attributed with mystical powers, how can such a large animals just disappear? Tempting as it is to run with the mystic powers there must be practical explanations. Robert Honeywood says that as winter sets in Brown hares move into the woodland round the farm to shelter from the harsher weather, I will admit our spaniel has found more Hares in woodland during December. There are other explanations, the simplest is that the Hares still come out at the same time but the shortening days mean that it is dark. The colder weather and poorer food make Hares more solitary, they focus on eating and then rest to conserve energy. Finally, the winter cereal crops continue to grow and during the days some Hares are still in the fields but lying low and very difficult to see. Look very carefully and some of the small brown dots in the “tramlines” turn out to be Hares resting in a low scrapes. It is now mid January and things are starting to change, the days are getting longer and a plus side to the wet Atlantic weather are mild temperatures. The hares are starting to reappear, on Saturday morning we saw four playing and starting to box each other . They are coming out on the Suffolk lanes during the day, I suspect they are getting away from unrelentingly wet fields that make their feet sore, as I have seen in some of the close photographs I have taken recently, the fur falls out from between their toes. Over the coming weeks I am looking forward to seeing groups of ten or more Hares in day-light socialising and playing together in the open fields. I will try to predict where they will meet so that I can watch and hopefully photograph them more closely.
rats in thetford November 22, 2013Life in the British landscapemike Thetford Town center is great for watching wildlife including Otters and Kingfishers but, just as interesting are Brown rats that live by the river. The rats have their life made easy by the people feeding the ducks. Rats can be seen in and by the river catching and eating the bread missed by the ducks. Brown rat sitting in leaf filled river, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat reflection, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat jumping over a riverside plant, Rattus norvegicus Wet Brown rat walking on river filled with autumn leaves, Rattus Two Brown rats climbing by river bank, Rattus norvegicus Two Brown rats together Rattus norvegicus Brown rat trying to keep dry, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat drying in the sun, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat eating amoung autumn leaves and rubish in river, Rattu Brown rat eating amoung autumn leaves in river, Rattus norvegicu Brown rat sitting in rubish filled river, Rattus norvegicus Brown rats having a disagreement by a river, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat up a drain pipe, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat pulling a leaf from a river, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat holding a leaf, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat running, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat climbing carefully over a thistle, Rattus norvegicus Brown rats inreflective mood, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat pulling weed from river, Rattus norvegicus Brown rats drinking, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat sitting in leaf filled river, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat in drain with over hanging plant, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat pair feeding on river bank, Rattus norvegicus Brown rat eating by river, Rattus norvegicus
Brown Hares at Halls Farm Norton October 1, 2013Farming and wildlife Norton Suffolk, Farming with Wildlife, Norton Suffolkmike April is a great time to watch Hares, the day are getting longer and the fields although green are still short. I have added series of photos taken in the April spring light. I often see a Brown hare, usually alone, out on one of the wide Suffolk fields where I live. However, Hares need shelter to rest during the day and to hide their young when they are small and helpless. Halls farm in Norton Suffolk is one of the best places I know to see Brown Hares; it is not unusual to see large numbers on the Halls Farm fields. This is because Robert and Steve Honeywood, as well as running a profitable arable farm, also actively encourage wildlife. 10% of the farm is not used for crop production and is actively managed to encourage wildlife. The 10% of the farm managed for wildlife allows the hares to thrive. The photographs on this page will follow the Brown Hares of Halls farm through the year. I will show a series of images showing them in different seasons. Brown Hare close nose washing. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare close foot up. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare low down in spring growth. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair running on the turn at sunset. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running close sunset eye. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare back leg stretch at dusk. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair on standing at sunset. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare waving at dusk. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair close chase at dusk. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare sitting early spring morning, Lepus europaeus Brown Hare sniffing grass blade early morning light, Suffolk Lepus europaeus Brown Hare morning light in early spring meadow, Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running early spring morning, Lepus europaeus Brown Hare intimate portrait Lepus europaeus Brown Hare in Borage Lepus europaeus Brown Hare and Red Legged Partridge running early morning Lepus Brown Hare running early morning Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running close at sunset. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare leaping to the side Lepus europaeus Brown Hare about to leap early morning Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running on the turn early morning Lepus europaeus Brown Hare eating at field edge, early morning Lepus europaeus Brown Hare emerging from field edge, early morning Lepus europae Brown Hare washing in early morning light Lepus europaeus Brown Hares having a disagreement Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running side on close Lepus europaeus Brown Hare jumping Lepus europaeus Brown Hare dropping food Lepus europaeus Brown Hare in field verge early morning Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running in afternoon light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running facing afternoon light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare trying to hide Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running side on Lepus europaeus Brown Hare jumping through Borage, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running with Red Partridge, evening light Lepus europ Brown Hare foot in mouth, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare toe cleaning, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare watching, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare close and intimate, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running at field edge, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare jogging along field edge, evening light Lepus europae Brown Hare running away looking back light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare, big stretch Lepus europaeus Brown Hare stretching on the ground Lepus europaeus Brown Hare looking, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running close up, evening light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare selecting a leaf Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair, above and below Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair in mid air fur fight Lepus europaeus Brown Hares, inconsiderate foot use Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair on back legs Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair fight and flying Lepus europaeus Brown Hares boåxing, fur upper cut Lepus europaeus Brown Hares flying fur fight Lepus europaeus Brown Hare retreating from boxing, Lepus europaeus Brown Hares boxing in the sun on the skyline, Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair squaring up for boxing, Lepus europaeus Brown Hares boxing on the skyline, Lepus europaeus Brown Hares boxing in late winter sun, Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair colliding Lepus europaeus Brown Hares in a morning chase Lepus europaeus Brown Hare fur fight in the sun Lepus europaeus Brown Hares in chase at field edge in early spring afternoon light Lepus europaeus Brown Hare with low flying pheasant. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare dealing with itchy ear. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair on the turn at sunset. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair close at sunset. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare pair running in tanden at sunset. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare leveret sitting and waving. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare in the undergrowth. Spring Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hares tag and jump. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare game at dusk. Spring time Sufolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare close landing. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare framed by spring plants. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare licking its back. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare sitting behind groundsel. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare on tip toe and low, Spring Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare leveret back lit by spring sunlight, Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare leveret eating on Easter day, Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare leveret having a private moment, Easter day. Spring time Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare running in spring growth. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare close nose covered. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus Brown Hare close and low. Morning light Suffolk. Lepus europaeus
Farming and wildlife Norton Suffolk September 17, 2013Farming and wildlife Norton Suffolk, Farming with Wildlife, Norton Suffolkmike Four Barn owls and two Short-eared owls hunting a meadow at the same time, a large flock of Yellowhammers taking off in a golden swirl, watching brown hares from a track and loosing count because there are so many. These are a few of the high lights that stand out for me so far this year. These incidents were not the result of visiting nature reserves or responding text message alerts, I saw all of them on the same intensive Suffolk arable farm a few miles from where I live. I have visited Halls farm Norton owned by the Honeywood family for many years to get horse food produced on the farm from chopped straw. Father and son team Robert and Stephen are passionate about the wildlife on their farm, this is typified by the large modern barn used for straw for the Honeychop feed production. The back of the barn is filled with old worthless grey straw bales contrasting with new bales at the front, this is because a pair of Barn owls and Kestrels live and nest here, the old straw will not be moved until the bales disintegrate or the birds leave. The Honeywood family intensively and profitably farm 900 acres including neighbouring Little Haugh Farm, run a feed business and employ more than seven people. Intensive arable farming has a strong impact on wild life, some farms near me are almost wildlife deserts compared with Halls and Little Haugh Farms. In these pages I will show you some of the birds, animals and plants living on the farms and describe the management used to maintain the high wildlife population and diversity. 1032
Untidy and neglected? September 17, 2013Farming and wildlife Norton Suffolk, Farming with Wildlife, Norton Suffolkmike Halls farm, Thick untidy hege full of berries and nuts Halls farm, uncut field margin and thick hedge Halls farm, Thick untidy hege full of berries and nuts 1040 Halls farm track egde with seed laden verge and hedge full of au Tidy farm Suffolk neatly trimmed after harvest Tidy farm Suffolk, Oak tree sprayed, trimmed and ploughed to the Tidy farm Suffolk, fotpath sign nicely sprayed neatly trimmed he 1039 Tidy farm Suffolk Bridle path edge growth and hedge cut back har Tidy farm Suffolk, Path and conservation verge of Italian rye gr Untidy and neglected is probably the reaction of some people seeing Halls and Little Haugh farms for the first time. Field margins are uncut, hedges large and unruly and some fields are un-cropped with long grass, thistles and nettles. This is particularly noticeable after harvest when many neighbouring farms closely trim their hedges and field margins before stubble is cultivated and next year’s crops are sown. But the apparent untidiness is a deliberate management choice. Walking around the farm early September to take these photographs I saw dozens of swallows, house martins and dragonflies hunting insects over the un-cropped fields. Linnets and yellowhammers were feeding in the field margins, a large group of brown hares panicked when I appeared, and hundreds of partridges exploded into flight around my feet. Of course the management of both Halls and Little Haugh farms is partly influenced by the game bird shooting that takes place autumn and winter but whatever the motivation, the sheer quantity of wildlife living on these farms is striking. Over-wintering birds need to be able to feed every day and find shelter at night. Uncut field margins contain seeds and insects and uncut hedges are heavy with berries. Farms where margins are cut back and sprayed and hedges tidily trimmed provide little food and shelter for overwintering wildlife. Public financial support for farms over recent years has shifted from supporting production to an environmental focus with most farms receiving payments depending on the level of environmental work they do. However the effectiveness of these environmental payments can be compromised by unsympathetic management, with field margins of non-native rye grass having a similar wildlife value as domestic lawns. The very neat and tidy farm near my village is a complete contrast to Halls and Little Haugh farms. However, this comes at a cost that does not increase production and reduces profit. The contractor who cuts the field margins and puts neat corners on the edge of the few hedges presents an invoice of thousands pounds a year and the spray that kills the ”weeds” at the base of the trees and telegraph poles on the farm costs well over £100 litre. The result is a wildlife desert, and when the farmer does want a days shooting there are no game birds on his farm so he pays to shoot a few pheasants on “untidy” neighbouring land. Excessive tidiness is expensive whichever way you look at it; perhaps we should get more comfortable with the “neglected look”.
Roe Deer in the British Landscape September 9, 2013Deer in the British landscape, Latest and favourite photos, Life in the British landscapemike Roe deer at dawn stepping from hedge. September Suffolk Capreolus capreolus Roe deer at dawn walking from hedge. September Suffolk Capreolus capreolus Roe deer at dawn side glance from hedge. September Suffolk Capreolus capreolus Roe deer at dawn stepping out from hedge. September Suffolk Capreolus capreolus Roe deer looking at dawn. September Suffolk Capreolus capreolus Roe deer paused at ditch. Cloudy April morning. Capreolus capreolus Roe deer stepping across ditch. Cloudy April morning. Capreolus capreolus Roe deer looking at sunrise July Suffolk. Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer looking out of summer flowers, early morning August Suffolk.Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer in summer flowers, early morning August Suffolk.Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer in tall summer flowers, early morning August Suffolk.Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer Buck looking in wheat,. Sunrise July Suffolk. Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer Buck walking in wheat,. Sunrise July Suffolk. Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer Buck in wheat,. Sunrise July Suffolk. Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer curious in wet Barley field Suffolk Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer standing in wet Barley Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer curious in wet Barley Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer looking out from wetq Barley Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer Buck in early morning light. Spring time Suffolk hedge. Roe Deer in wheat 583 1019 Roe deer family in evening light Capreolus capreolus 1021 Roe Buck crossing ditch Capreolus capreolus Roe Buck about to jump ditch Capreolus capreolus Roe deer fawns in evening light Capreolus capreolus Roe deer pair running in evening light Capreolus capreolus Roe Buck running in evening light Capreolus capreolus Roe deer pair grazing in evening light Capreolus capreolus Roe Buck looking Capreolus capreolus Roe deer family grazing in evening light Capreolus capreolus Roe Buck leaping in Suffolk field Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer running in winter field Suffolk Capreolus capreolus www Roe Deer in running motion winter field Suffolk Capreolus capreo Roe Deer, doe and last years young buck in winter field Suffolk Roe Deer in flight winter field Suffolk Capreolus capreolus www Roe Deer pair taking flight winter field Suffolk Capreolus capr Roe Deer in running stretch winter field Suffolk Capreolus capre Roe Deer resting and watching winter field Suffolk Capreolus cap Roe Deer in Suffolk winter wheat field. Capreolus capreolus www. Roe Deer getting up under a Suffolk hedge after a wet night. Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer resting under a Suffolk hedge after a wet night. Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer half asleep under a Suffolk hedge after a wet night. Capreolus capreolus Roe deer at sunrise July Suffolk. Capreolus capreolus
Beavers at Knapdale, mid Argyll July 28, 2013Life in the British landscape, Life on the wild west coastmike The Beaver absent from the UK for over 400 years has been reintroduced to trial sites in Scotland. One of these sites is Knapdale Forest mid Argyll where the Beavers are been monitored carefully to assess their impact on the environment before a possible permanent reintroduction is considered. It is possible to see the beavers at Knapdale especially in the early morning and in the evening. There is an excellent visitor centre and walks are organised by staff round the lochs where the beavers live. All these images where taken over a couple of days in July. On one beaver tags can be seen so that it can be tracked as part of the monitoring program. More information on the beavers can be found at this website: http://www.scottishbeavers.org.uk/ Beaver swimming across loch in late afternoon sunshine at Knapda Beaver swimming in late afternoon sunshine at Knapdale, mid Argy Beaver swimming past lilly at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver swimming at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver with tags at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver slipping into the water at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fi Beaver eating Bracken at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver feeding on Bracken, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver swimming away in late afternoon sunshine at Knapdale, mid Beaver lodge Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver dam flooded loch at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver dam on loch at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver loch at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver + Kit 2 Knapdale forest, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver + Kit Knapdale forest, mid Argyll Castor fiber Beaver + Kit at Knapdale, mid Argyll Castor fiber
Ospreys fishing in intimate detail May 29, 2013Life in wild Scotland, Ospreys in the Caingorm Landscapemike These images were taken at Rothiemurchus fishery during May 2013. Although Ospreys dive very close to the hides I used a 500mm lens to try and capture the action close up and in intimate detail. This year Rothiemurchus fishery has built new low hides and this has reinforced its reputation as one of the best places any where to watch and photograph fishing Ospreys. To get more info on Osprey watching at Rothiemurchus click on the link below and then click “On Land” www.rothiemurchus-activities.co.uk/Activities.aspx Osprey, trout and spray in initmate detail. Pandion haliaetus Osprey at full stretch with fish just out of water Pandion halia Osprey close side on with trout Pandion haliaetus Osprey emerging after a dive Pandion haliaetus Osprey coming out of water in rain and spray Pandion haliaetus Osprey close in the rain with trout Pandion haliaetus Osprey draging trout from the water Pandion haliaetus Osprey leaving with trout in sunlight Pandion haliaetus Osprey turning to leave with trout Pandion haliaetus Osprey fishing close in rain and spray Pandion haliaetus Osprey after missed dive Pandion haliaetus Osprey with trout and spray Pandion haliaetus Osprey low over water with trout Pandion haliaetus Osprey with sunlit trout Pandion haliaetus
Otters in the Norfolk Landscape April 6, 2013Life and Landscape in East Anglia, Life in the British landscape, Otters in the East Anglian landscapemike I saw an otter on the Blackbourne river in Suffolk 25 years ago and there have been signs and sighting of otters living in North Suffolk and south Norfolk since then. In the last few years the otter population has increased but seeing them has always been a challenge, usually involving getting up ridiculously early and standing about for hours with only a small chance of success. However, recently in Thetford a group of around four otters has been seen regularly in the rivers that flow through the town centre. Otters can be seen during daylight hours fishing, playing and on the river-banks. The following images were taken in and around Thetford. Otter feeding south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter chewing on a duck wing south Norfolk river Lutra lutra Otter on river bank south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter busy with a duck wing south Norfolk river Lutra lutra Otter swimming on its back river south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters playing in a south Norfolk river Lutra lutra Otter swimmimng with sore nose on river south Norfolk Lutra lutr Otter swimming to river bank with fish south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter about to dive south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters at river edge south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter feeding under bridge south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter looking back in a river south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters greeting at river edge south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter looking back on a log south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter by river early morning south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter by stick in river south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters playing near river bank rubish south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter at spraint site south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter close up swimming south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter swimming mouth open south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter searching the river bank Thetford south Norfolk Lutra lut Otter walking on the river bank Thetford south Norfolk Lutra lu Otter trying to clean its river south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter diving and fishing Thetford south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter about to enter the water south Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter eating fish under old bridge Thetford south Norfolk Lutra Otter collecting dry grass by river Thetford south Norfolk Lutra Otter investigating plastic bag Thetford south Norfolk Lutra lut Otters playing close up Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters rolling in the water Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter with large eel swimming Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters playing close in river Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter eating crayfish claw Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otters water wrestling Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter running towards me Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter swimming away with large eel Thetford south Norfolk Lutra Otter with just caught crayfiish Thetford Norfolk Lutra lutra Otter going down river Thetford early july morning Lutra lutra