Dennis Bell Wildlife Photography and Art

Tufted Duck Sleepover

2010-03-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

What a life, sleeping all day! The Tufties on my local lake at Pugneys Country Park spend most of the day dozing, so I have to sketch them like that.

They could sleep for England but I know of a duck that can beat them in the sleep stakes.

The Pochard can sleep anytime, anywhere. This one was one of the rarities, awake!

Sketching about

2010-03-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Bittern spent a while up the reeds looking for the other one present. It's amazing how he/she can climb up them.

The Ringed Plover are back from overwintering in warmer climes. Nice to see them.

The swans are getting very frisky with each other. The male really goes for it.

There have been a dozen Redshank overwintering this year and they must have has a hard time with all the dogs in the area being walked around the Calder Wetlands where they like to be.

What a Load of Bull

2010-03-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Lots of Bullfinch around at the moment. My local lot seem to be interested only in stripping the buds off Willow branches. Stunning birds they are too. This one was sketched as it sat with its mate near the hide.

Grebes Getting it On

2010-03-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

The Great Crested Grebes are doing their thing. Did a couple of sketches .

Parklife

2010-03-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

On my third sketchbook of the year so far!!! I hate drawing in gloves but it is a necessity at the moment. Roll on Spring.

My local country park is getting a bit of my attention at present. The reserve lake has an island or, two, a few rafts, some posts hammered into the lake bed and a lot of Phragmites reed and shedloads of bird disturbing, smelly, dirty dog owners and their pooches. Commercial dog walkers use the site and I counted 3 vans full of their charges today.

The Coot cannot get on with each other. They are having a really violent time at the moment.

At least I can get into the hide and get myself tucked away in relative peace and quiet.

Painting kit

2010-03-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Thought you might like to see the vast array of kit I use to sketch birds. An old metal palette filled with colour from tubes. A few old brushes, piece of rag and a water bottle. This, alongside my sketchbook, pencil and scope is all I need. Makes a change from carrying a rucksack full of heavy photo gear.

This lapwing was sketched after all its 100+ mates had flown off. It must have been either fast asleep or a bit under the weather as it remained on its own most of the afternoon. Tried to get an idea of the iridescence of the plumage with the purples and greens in the feathers. Hard to do with watercolour. It sat on a raft entirely oblivious to me and anything else.

A Day In the Freezer

2010-03-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

Another cold, cold day in the hide. The Ring-necked Duck must have had a hard night as it spent most of the morning asleep in the Pochard flock, but keeping a keen eye on the females from time to time. It has been displaying to the female Pochard with both the neck stretch and head back display. The male Pochard do not like it at all!

There are at least 20 Cormorants on the lake daily. The 'net tells me that they eat about 1lb of fish per day. That's 140lb per week or 7280lb of fish per year!!! No wonder fishermen are not keen on these skilled hunters.

Sketching in the cold is hard work but I love the direct contact with the subject and sketching through the telescope in real time. The scope really pulls you into the bird's world and you feel connected somehow. I love it but it is so hard. Practice does not make parfect but helps, as does a copious supply of sketchbooks.

Here's a pic of one eating a Pike it had caught in the lake. It took a while to get the fish down but the bird managed it.

Ring-Billed Gull

2010-02-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

Caught up with the Ring-billed Gull at Mirfield. A lifer for me and a superb bird. It obligingly sat on an island in the middle of a gravel pit for me to make quick sketches. Freezing cold but enjoyable. Wonder how an American Gull got over here?

The yellow iris was a clincher but the lighter mantle, white tertial tips, stouter and larger size than a Common Gull were noticeable. The bill was much heavier and the legs were yellow-green which ruled out Herring Gull.

Red-necked Day

2010-02-26T08:52:00.000-08:00

Managed to see the Red-necked Grebe through the mist at Pugneys CP. 20+Great crested Grebe made its life rather difficult. Did a quick sketch of it through the scope from the small hide at 50x!! Luckily there were only two canoes on the lake and the safety boat kept away. I would think Saturday will see it getting ousted by the windsurfers and sailing boats.

Smew Time

2010-02-25T01:41:00.000-08:00

Caught up with the Smew wintering on the River Calder today. Managed to get close enough to sketch and paint it but it was soooo cold. My hands were freezing and the brushes got a bit crackly with frost in the NE wind. It was worth it though. I usually photograph these birds but drawing from real life is much harder and a lot more rewarding.
The problem is that you can't trade your hand in for a new and better model when it won't draw properly like you can a camera or lens-yet!!!

My Studio

2010-02-23T12:26:00.000-08:00

I've got this plush studio to work in at the moment. It's got a window, a roof and a howling NE wind, but at least its under cover. I've been learning how to draw with gloves on (not easy).

Bought a Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook and its the best I've ever used.

The reserve my studio window looks out on is part of a country park in Wakefield. It's been graced with a Ring-necked Duck for a few weeks now. This yank bird is a bit of a 'Jack the Lad' with the ladies but got his come-uppance yesterday when he displayed to a female Pochard who instantly jumped on him and gave him a good beating-up!!

Pugneys hobble

2010-02-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

Managed to hobble to Pugneys Country Park hide now and spend a lot of time sketching any bird thst comes into view. We have been blesses with a drake Ring-necked Duck for a few weeks now and managed to sketch it a time or two.

The Goldeneye have started their fantastic display but remain at range. I love drawing what I see through the scope but it's not easy as the birds have a habit of moving!! I used to draw from my photos but I now find that sketching and painting from real life is more rewarding - and harder.

What's afoot!

2010-02-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

Since damaging my foot I've been unable to carry the heavy photography kit so I've got the sketching kit and telescope out again until it gets better.

I fastened the hide clamp onto the windowsill and can sketch birds at the garden feeders. Not done much drawing for a year or so so I'm very rusty.

The view from my garden includes an ash tree and it's surprising the different birds that land on it . 50x magnification gets me into the tree with them That's the beauty of a telescope.

Laid up

2010-01-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

After damaging my foot in the summer I've been unable to carry the photo gear at all. Put my foot down a rabbit hole while carrying the full monty - 50lb+ of gear and a 10lb tripod- ouch. The ligaments did not take too kindly to this treatment and trying to walk or drive is very painful and will take a long time to recover. Never mind, I've re-discovered my sketchbook and will use my time productively sketching through a telescope which I love.

Squirrel Time

2009-04-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Just come back from the Lake district with some nice shots of wild Red Squirrel. Had to use my old camera as my normal one developed a loose strap lug. First Nikon fault in 40 years!! It took them 13 days over Easter to get it back to me - well done Nikon!

One Flash Good, Two Can be Better

2009-03-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with flight shots this winter and as the light is so poor I've used balanced fill-flash to improve things. This shot used a Nikon D3 with 600mm f4 lens and two Nikon SB800's with the main flash to the Left of the bird and the fill flash on the camera. Getting the right balance of flash to background light was interesting and seems to have worked. Photographing birds in flight is not easy. Wait untill the Swifts arrive!!!

Let There be Flight

2009-02-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

At last the light is picking up, 2 whole stops better for photography than in December. Nice to be able to get a few flight shots at long last.

All the birds are in new plumage and beginning to display and sort out their territories. The Robins are battling it out, this time for feeding rights on the peanut butter and other food I and another two photographers have been leaving for them all winter.

Here's a nice flight shot of one of the tough guys. Taken with fill-flash to lift the shadows. Had to use a high ISO of 1600 and a shutter speed 1/3200s to freeze the wings. Luckily, my Nikon flash will synchronise with the shutter up to 1/8000s instead of the usual 1/250s of other makes which helps with fill-flash at high speeds.

Birstall Beauties

2009-01-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist going to look at the 60 Waxwings invading the industrial estate at Birstall in Bradford. I just love looking at these graceful birds. They were feeding on a variety of Mountain Ash called 'Pink Pagoda'. Some landscaper had luckily decided to plant them when building offices.

The birds were quite wary and didn't seem to like white vans for some reason (who does)! Fancy coming all the way from Scandinavia for the second year to eat berries at the Mars Petfood factory near Ikea!!!

Waxwing Wunderland

2009-01-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

These Scandinavian beauties descended on apple trees and had a whale of a time just south of Wakefield.

They would eat 5 or 6 berries and then retire to the top of a tree to digest them. Hard work getting good pics of them with all the twigs about but we got there in the end.

Driven to Art

2009-01-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

Found myself driven to do a watercolour sketch of Waxwings that were being unco-operative for the camera. At least the telescope allows a much closer view. These were in a tree today at Cold Hiendley near Wakefield. They then dropped into a garden to feed on apples.

2008-12-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

I've beens setting up a feeding station with photographer friends. It's really paying off during the cold spell we are having. Peanut butter is a firm favourite with all and the nuthatches particularly like peanuts pushed into holes drilled in a stump. Gets a bit cold waiting though.

The light at this time of year is so poor that a little balanced fill-flash is required. The nuthatches seem to love it and pose shamelessly.

Lakeland Red

2008-10-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

Found the Lake District closed when I went on my hols this week. Police had closed the roads from the south and had to sneak in via flooded roads in the north. It was worth it though to get photos of Red Squirrels playing chase in the trees. They allowed me and my camera very near and even posed for a portrait.

Make Hay

2008-09-27T02:52:00.000-07:00

This friendly Nuthatch must have taken and hidden a huge amount of sunflower seeds during the course of the two hours I watched it. It came every 30 seconds or so, filled up and shoomed off. Make hay while the sun shines!!!

The local kingfisher also put in an appearance so I took its portrait as well.

A Dull Day Brightened

2008-09-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

Twas a dull, dull day. One of those drizzly, overcast and windy days you get in autumn. Poor light for photographers.

Then along came a party of Long-Tailed Tits to the feeders in the garden and out came my long lens. Fill-flash did not bother them, they were too busy fighting the Blue Tits for a place at the fatball. Managed to get a portrait of one of them despite the weather. They made my day.

Egret Time

2008-09-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

4 Little Egrets at Old Moor now, they went up to 13 last year! This individual liked catching sticklebacks and was very good at it.

Hard Work

2008-09-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

The birds were not in a co-operative mood today. Dull and overcast with a horrid scum on the water, I don't blame them. Got an interesting pic of the Kingfisher and another of an obliging juvenile Little Grebe.

Deli Wrap

2008-09-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Doing the garden, I noticed a female Garden spider really getting it on with local fly population, so out came the macro gear. She was spoilt for choice in takeway food. She caught and wrapped a wasp and then went on to catch and feed on a hapless housefly.

The pics were taken at 60th sec at F22 on a Nikon D2Xs and 105mm macro VR lens with balanced fill flash - if you're interested.

Shanks for the memory

2008-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Not a lot about at Blacktoft RSPB near Goole. Another dull day with occasional highlights, such as this Redshank. Fill flash had to be used but waders are never bothered by it and the bird continued to feed ravenously.

Feed me Mummy

2008-09-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

A late Great Crested Grebe chick was ravenous today at Bretton Park. The parents could not catch fish fast enough.

Ah Grasshopper, you have much to learn

2008-09-08T12:22:00.001-07:00

There I was, sat on the lawn when a gang of grasshoppers moved in from the fields behind the house. One was a real Star, climbing up the flowers to bask in what little sunshine was to be had. He loved having his picture taken.

Disgruntled Kingfisher

2008-09-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

A very muddy day at Bretton Park after the rains. The river and lakes were a milk chocolate colour and very unfriendly for kingfishers to go hunting. This adult looked so forlorn on her perch, trying to look into the muddy water for fish. She must have had a good meal yesterday as she promptly regurgitated a large bolus of undigested fish bones.

Don't Badger Me

2008-09-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Late nights and loads of peanuts were needed to get these badger pics. This is a youngster who allowed me to take his portrait. He was totally obsessed by the nuts I put out for him and left the sett early to be first there, except when it rained. He did not like the rain at all. The sound of him crunching the nuts was sooooo loud. I felt really chuffed to be allowed to come so close to a superb animal as this in his own environment. Long live fieldcraft.

For the teccies amonst you, the photos were taken using a 105mm macro lens, Nikon D2Xs and SB800 flash. He was not bothered in the slightest by the flash but I had to keep still. Any sideways movement or sharp sound was a no-no but he took no notice of the camera shutter.

Hot foot to a Red-footed Falcon

2008-09-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

A phone call from a friend alerted me that a Red-footed Falcon was at Pugneys Country Park in Wakefield. I hot-footed it down there and, sure enough, there was the falcon flying around above the reserve lake hunting dragonflies.

I got the camera out and spent a deal of time trying to capture this speedy little bullet as it hawked above the willows. One hour and a very stiff neck later, I had managed a couple of 'keepers'.

What a stunner the bird was.

Sparrowhawk Ahoy

2008-01-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

Had a visit to the garden from our local Sparrowhawk. Chased and lost a Goldfinch and went to sulk in top of one of the birdtables. Grabbed a shot from the bedroom window.

Waxwing wonderland

2008-01-27T12:15:00.001-08:00

Who would think Waxwings would set up winter quarters near Ikea and a petfood factory. Photographed these 2 stunners gorging on 'Sorbus' berries between Batley and the M62.

Real eating machines these. 5 berries in and a quick evacuate and 5 berries more, every couple of minutes for the three hours I studied them. Making quiet calls to each other continually, they were quite confiding and gave all who stopped by a spectacular show.

The light was terrible and the wind was as strong as a strong thing . The pics took some getting as the birds spent a lot of time in the middle of the tree with no clear views. Eventually, patience won and I got a few good images.

The Security guard at the Mars petfood factory came over and asked what the birds were. Apparently he had seen them for a couple of weeks around the factory and was surprised when I told him they were Scandinavian waifs seeking shelter from the cold.

A Bit of a Blow

2008-01-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

What a windy day. Went to Newmillerdam for a walk round. Branches falling everywhere. One even hit a couple a glancing blow as it fell. Kept my eye on the old oak trees as I passed under....quickly!!!

In a little pocket of calm, a family of Long-Tailed Tits were feeding on the oak trees. Gave me a chance to photograph them. Had to keep hold of the camera and tripod at all times as the wind was vicious.

Called in at Bretton Park on the way home. A greedy magpie stuffed himself at the feeding station, taking all the goodies away to hide and coming back for seconds!! Very clever birds.

Tried out a new bigger beanbag for the camera today. It took nearly 8lb of birdseed to fill it! After years of using a 4x4 as a portable hide I've gone greener and bought a smaller car. Not as easy to use as a hide but I can get the tripod up inside-just. Easier to use the beanbag but the old one was too low, hence the new one.

Went to the local RSPB meeting last night - Geoff Trinder talking about his beloved Lincolnshire wildlife. The conservation work he has done is legendary.

Grebe gourmet

2008-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

What miserable weather. Even the wildfowl at Pugneys CP are hunkered down and trying to sleep through it.

This hungry GC Grebe seemed to be getting a lot of fish in front of the hide. It averaged one fish every three dives.

Potteric Portraits

2008-01-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

At last, a lovely sunny day at Potteric. Spent some time getting portraits of some of my favourite birds and watching for the reported redpolls in the area. Nice to be out on such a nice day.

Pugneys pugilist and RIP pike

2008-01-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

Pugneys CP was the venue for 10 rounds between rival coot. Lots of low punches and kicking. It's amazing how violent the coot are at the moment. They have paired up and are copulating already and defending territory against all comers.

An industrious cormorant caught a pike tail first so it threw it up in the air and caught it head first to swallow.

Siskin surprise

2008-01-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

Had a fantastic surprise yesterday. After a gap of 3 years, Siskin appeared in my garden. Well chuffed!!. I spent two very cold hours in my hide to get a good pic of the little stunners and managed a bonus Coal Tit as well. The Siskin loved the sunflower hearts and Niger seed especially. Remind me to make up a flask next time, and take a blanket, and a water bottle and ...................

2008-01-07T12:50:00.001-08:00

Titivation

2008-01-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

At Potteric today there was that most rare of species - the sun!! Spent ages looking for the Lesser Pecker but had to settle for Siskin and Water Rail.

The Great and Blue Tits were disporting themselves in the car park and begged to have their portrait taken.

Bittern a Tench

2008-01-04T03:27:00.000-08:00

Another trip to Potteric resulted in 3 Bitterns showing from the same hide!.

One obligingly posed and then went off hunting. It caught a small perch and then a much bigger Tench. It had trouble swallowing the fish and repeatedly shook its head and neck from side to side while trying to swallow it.

They are such enigmatic birds and draw a great number of admirers. I have been told they breed in Holland and come here to overwinter. The Wildlife Trust (Yorkshire) is trying everything to make them stay to breed.

On the Rails

2008-01-04T03:21:00.001-08:00

I love Potteric Carr - no dogs!! As a wildlife photographer, they are an annoyance. Owners let their dogs 'run free' and off they go chasing birds and weeing up against my bag hide with me sat in it!!! Urgh!

The feeding station at Potteric is a worthwhile place to spend a few minutes. You never know what will appear. This peanut-eating water rail kept coming back for more but was put off a bit by some of the other residents.

Fickle Flamborough

2007-10-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

Was going to Flamborough to see the Brown Flycatcher MEGA bird but typically when I got there, it had flown!!
Had a few consolation prizes of an Isabelline(Turkestan) shrike which I could not get near enough to photograph without disturbing it, a Yellow-browed Warbler deep in bushes and an obliging Red-Backed Shrike which happily caught wasps and posed for the many admirers fron atop a distant perch. A late Barred Warbler was looked for in vain. Not many photographs but a good day. If only my wife's car hadn't broken down the day before, the Brown Flycatcher would have been mine!!!

Dipper Delight

2007-10-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Went up the Calder Valley today in search of Dippers. They took a couple of hours to find but after much walking found a couple feeding on Caddis Fly. They caught the caddis and then thumped the case on a stone or piece of wood to dislodge the grub from the case. They seemed to be getting a lot of food. Stunning birds.

One Good Tern deserves a Slavonian Grebe

2007-10-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

Anglers Country Park near Wakefield has a superb juvenile Arctic Tern flying around today. Spent an hour getting a good flight shot of it as it flew over the shallows.

There were two Slavonian grebe also on the lake but the dog-walkers dogs made its life a misery as it tried to find food in the shallows. Lots of Blue-green algae in the water. Wonder if it affects dogs? I managed to get a photo of one the grebes by sitting quietly under a bag-hide by the side of the lake and waiting for the grebe to come to me. Good job I'd taken a flask of coffee with me.

Strange looking Canada Goose with the semi-resident flock. A rather leucistic individual.

Gold and Black

2007-03-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

Had a short time photographing in the garden as the sun was shining on the feeders. This Goldfinch seems addicted to the sunflower hearts on offer.

Had a walk around Newmillerdam lake in the afternoon. The Coot are common birds but fascinating. They fluff up their plumage and see off all comers into their patch. I just love their feet.

Marvellous Martin Mere

2007-03-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

Had a visit to Martin Mere in Lancashire on the way home from the Lake district. Lots of interesting birds to see, captive as well as wild. Feeding wild Whooper swans daily certainly keeps them there in winter. I found a group of them discussing the merits of the place.

The other photo is of a drake Smew. Lovely birds but this one was in the wildfowl collection and not wild. I liked the way the water flew as it has a wash.

Life in the Lakes

2007-03-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Had a few days in the Lake district recently. It rained evvvvvery day. Took a few photos of birds coming to the feeders at the house I was staying at. The Nuthatch was the bully, the Coal Tit the victim who was always getting pushed off the food. The Willow Tit was the opportunist who was hooked on sunflower seeds. Camera wet, me wet - situation normal for the Lakes then!

Garden delight

2007-03-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

Spent a little time photographing birds on the garden feeders today. Set the camera up inside the lounge with the patio doors open slightly and some camouflage scrim over the lens. Much warmer than in my hide but if I put the central heating on, the warm air going out of the door mixes with the cold and creates a shimmer that does nothing for the photos.

The sunflower hearts are the best attraction and this Great Tit loves them. He comes for one at a time and then rushes away to eat it, never staying on the perch I've clamped on a pole for more than a second or two.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

2007-02-14T13:27:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 13th February 2007

Had an hour to spare this afternoon so went my local patch, Pugneys Country Park. Bitterns showed briefly from the hide but my favourite duck of all time, the Red-Crested Pochard was primping himself up on the main lake. I've never seen a duck spend so much time bathing and preening. He's learnt to move the swans out of the way by nipping at their tail feathers. The swans do not like that and get out of the way quick. The local lifeguards then decided to do some work and remove part of the floating jetty I was using to take my photos. Typical.

Used my usual combination of Nikon D2Xs/ 600mmf5.6 manual lens and for those technically minded the settings were RAW, ISO 200, 1/320sec f5.6.

I still love using my old long lens. Although its a manual focus, its crisp and a delight to handle. No one seems to want manual lenses any more and they are going or a song on e-bay. It's a real challenge keeping a moving bird in focus!!

Bittern to death

2007-02-14T00:35:00.000-08:00

Monday 12th February 2007

Had the day at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve near Doncaster. Chose a day when the cafe was shut to avoid the crowds.

Had a close encounter with a Bittern which had caught a huge perch and was trying to swallow it. After much straining and gyrations, it gave up and flew off into the reedbeds to sulk.

It started pouring down so I went to the feeding station where a Grey Squirrel amused those there with its antics.

Bittern encounters -Part 1

2007-02-14T00:24:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 6th February

Spent a while in the hide at Pugneys country Park in Wakefield, my local patch. 2 bitterns came out to play on the iced-up water. One (Laurel) tried to walk on the ice and kept falling through. The other (Hardy) looked on from above. They seemed to like the sunshine. They were a long way away for photography, even with a 600mm prime lens +1.4x converter.

Also present was a Red-Crested Pochard, by the jetty on the main lake. Posed for photos whilst having a wash and brush up. I love action photos but they are so hard to get!

Little Grebe at Cannon Hall

2007-02-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

Thursday 1st February 2007

Nice place to be with a camera. Found this little grebe skulking under tree branches which had fallen into the water during the gales. It's amazing how many people passed by without spotting the grebe. I was sitting with the camera against a tree, and the grebe gave a great show, diving for sticklebacks.
Lots of Teal preening in the middle of the lake too.

American Robin in Bingley

2007-02-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 30th January 2007

Went to see the Juvenile American Robin today. What a poser. It commuted between Holly bushes in house gardens and open scrubland where it proceeded to pull up worms. It posed for a few photos before retiring to a Hawthorn to digest its meal. Met some friendly birders there and people were sensible in not trying to flush the bird.