SIX LEGGED CRITTER SINGING IN THE TREES*: 2009-08

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Butterflies, Dragonflies........

Here are a few 'nature' images I was extraordinarily luck to catch on a walk in the 'hills' whilst on holiday in Scotland. It was by sheer good fortune I captured the images of the butterflies. The dragonfly especially, is a bloody miracle as far as I'm concerned.

All images are best viewed by clicking on the image, especially the dragonfly. Enjoy.

Labels: loch goil, lochgoilhead, nature, scotland, wildlife

10:47 PM | Permalink |

So much for the squirrels

Anyone who says wildlife photography is easy is not being totally honest. It isn't, not that I didn't see any, it's just that by nature, anything 'wild' isn't going to pose for you. You have to find it first, lure it, or in my case not scare it away. More later.

10:42 PM | Permalink |

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Dusk over Loch Goil

This image was taken at 8.30pm on the Thursday evening of my holiday. I was drinking a pint of 'Highlander' ale (lovely drink) in the beer garden of the 'Shore House Inn' a lovely pub / restaurant, the midges were about as the wind had suddenly changed direction. This didn't spoil my good mood.

6:04 PM | Permalink |

Compare and contrast

Labels: bt, hdr, loch goil, scotland, telephone box

5:58 PM | Permalink |

The shore houses

Labels: hdr, hillside.scotland, landscape, loch goil, lochgoilhead

5:55 PM | Permalink |

The big house

Labels: Architecture, argyle, Castle Carrick, coastal, hdr, loch goil, scotland

5:51 PM | Permalink |

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Images under the forest canopy

I took these on the way home from Dunoon. Loch Eck, deep within the Argyle forest park and taken from within the forest canopy. One of the few days it didn't rain during my holiday. Not that it mattered, we'd just had a great Italian meal in Dunoon and I was as relaxed as hell, soaking in the beautiful scenery.

Labels: green, hdr, landscape, loch eck, loch goil, scotland

10:17 PM | Permalink |

Loch Goil at dusk, in colour

Labels: dusk, hdr, landscape, loch goil, scotland, sky

9:42 AM | Permalink |

Carrick Castle, Loch Goil

Labels: black and white, hdr, historic, landscape, loch goil, scotland

9:38 AM | Permalink |

Monday, August 17, 2009

Space alien influence in Scotland?

Looking like space invaders rolling down the Scottish hillside, these lodges are slightly bigger than the 'A' frame lodge I stayed in on the Drimsynie estate.

Labels: landscape, lochgoilhead, scotland

10:51 AM | Permalink |

Saturday, August 15, 2009

I've just got back from Scotland, I'm tired and hungry.................here's a taster of what I saw. The view, or to be more accurate, part of the view from our lodge. It was raining, the glen beckoned........................ a monochrome treatment, HDR to bring out the bleak beauty of the view.

Labels: black and white, hdr, landscape, lochgoilhead, scotland

10:02 PM | Permalink |

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The hills are alive........

......with wildlife. After 4 or 5 days around Lochgoilhead, I still haven't seen any red squirrels, but I've spied lots of insects, butterflies, bees, birds I don't normally come across back home. The bracing walk around the estate I took this morning yielded some interesting photographic opportunities.

I was disappointed thus far with the lack of opportunity for nature photography. There are a multitude of different plant varieties growing wild at the edges of the footpath, teaming with many different species of bee and butterfly which I managed to capture in the wild despite my feet making a racket on the gravel and disturbing my subjects. The wonder of a telephoto lens.

There are a lot of small streams up in the hills, home to of all things, several species of dragonfly, one of which I was able to photograph, much to my surprise as I really didn't think I'd find one that wasn't flying around. But fortunately, one alighted on a rock in a fast flowing stream and I managed to take a number of images. It was rather beautiful.

When I get back home I'm looking forward to posting my images, until then you'll have to make do with my text only post. Hopefully more later.

Labels: lochgoilhead, scotland

3:53 PM | Permalink |

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Having a recharge

I'm writing this blog in a rather secluded part of Scotland, sipping a cool beer in splendid, scenic surroundings. Outside our lodge it's raining in the glen, mist obscuring the view of Loch goil and the village of Lochgoilhead. The Scottish highlands are notorious for changeable weather, this morning / afternoon the weather was glorious, warm and sunny so I'm not complaining.

Having escaped the evil empire for a fortnight, I'm trying to recharge my batteries via the medium of photography, fresh air (lots), exploring the local area on foot and generally having some unashamedly and well deserved 'me' time.

I've been drinking in some glorious scenery today, visiting nearby Lochgoilhead on foot, talking to some very friendly and convivial 'natives' gearing down to a much slower and more natural pace of life. I'm envious, though the area is remote, internet access is slow to non existent, radio and television reception is limited or very poor (no FM or AM) I'm not complaining. All the better for navel gazing, which is something I haven't been able to do for months. They should put this on prescription on the NHS.

There seems a wealth of things to do in the local area, from hiring bikes to boats, pony treking though I've yet to find where to go, evidence of equine activity is obvious on the local single track road. I haven't seen any red squirrels (I'd like to photograph some) though I've observed an abundance of lapwings, a single solitary heron, some unusually coloured and tame finches, magpies and hooded crows along with the usual butterflies and the odd crane fly lingering outside the lodge at night. The midges haven't been a problem, which makes a very welcome change to previous years when I've been the midges main course.

Due to the unpredictability of the weather, planning trips etc isn't on the menu. I'm going out and about on an ad hoc basis, with my ever present camera. I'm rather pleased with the images I've captured so far, mainly landscapes. I'm hoping to also capture some wildlife in the remainder of the week, weather permitting. That's it, time to sign off.

Labels: landscape, lochgoilhead, scotland

5:53 PM | Permalink |