BROWN HARES BOXING.

I`ve seen brown hares boxing in differnt locations over the last few years but never been close enough to photograph them.That all changed in early May when I saw four males and one female running,chasing and boxing in a large field in the Fylde countryside. I was lucky enough to watch and enjoy these antics for three hrs or more and opportunties for photographs came thick and fast.I felt so  privileged to be in the same field as these wonderful mammals and long will the memories be with me.I`ve posted a few of my better images below.

LANCASHIRE BROWN HARE PHOTOS.

I decided to drive round the Flyde countryside looking and listening for any sign of yellowhammers,down a quite lane I saw a hare in a field the binns were out and scouring the field margins I saw another four hares.Camouflage gear on camers tripod and stool at the ready I climbed the gate and crouching and crawling yard by yard along the fence and ditch line for about 80yds I came to a dogleg in the field.Setting my gear up and waiting  the hares carried on chasing and boxing oblivious to my presence.I spent 3hrs in the field catching images of their antics and have posted a few below.I will post images of the hares boxing soon.

MORE FROM NEWTON MARSH.

First of all I must apologize for not posting any images for a while,the weather has been better and I've been out and about at every opportunity.I'm still not happy with the colours and brightness of my new computer even though I've played about with the settings,I'll have to have it properly calibrated.I've posted a few more images of the birds around Newton Marsh seen from my early morning visits,Goldfinch,Heron,Shoveler,Lapwing and a flock of black tailed godwits.I hope to catch up with more postings soon.

THE HUNTING HERON.

I've been to Newton Marsh early morning and seen a heron fishing the pools but ever time I got within 100yds it was off.I decided on different tactics and drove past the heron returning slowly as one of the large trucks overtook me.It worked and I was in position  to capture images of the heron as it fished for sticklebacks,it seems such a lot of effort for such a large bird to capture prey so small I saw it catch 4 fish in a twenty minute spell.Well there's a lot of lapwing chicks about and I'm sure a few will end up down the herons neck.I've posted a few images of the heron as it fished for its breakfast and was back home for 7.30 am for mine.

SANDWICH TERN AT PRESTON DOCK.

A rare if not first record of a Sandwich Tern sighted at Preston Dock on friday at aprox 6.15 -6.35 pm.I've posted a couple  of very poor record images of the bird to confirm the sighting. I would like to apologize for my earlier post of the Gannet at Preston Dock,the unfortunate bird was found dead the next day and if I had known I would not have posted the images.I have wiped the images of the Gannet of my computer.

GANNET AT PRESTON DOCK.

On Tuesday lunch time I found a Gannet on Preston Dock,the bird looked exhausted and kept quiet in the middle of the dock until it was harassed by the LBBG'S and attacked by the cob mute swan.It was still present at 3.15 when I left.I posted a couple of images of the bird as it's a rare visitor to this area.I've also posted a couple of images of the female mute swan sat on her nest.

GODWITS IN FLIGHT.

The Godwits at Newton Marsh have been putting on a wonderful show over the last week or so and I've been down early morning to try and and capture the action.I was  after the Godwits in flight and have managed to capture lots of images a few of which I've posted below.