Can anyone recommend a good supplier of either frozen chicks or mice

[Stuart Philpott]

Simply the above really I have a couple of targets one in particular at home a weasel I'd like to try and get to stay here and also get to know a bit

many thanks

stu.

 

[Solo man]

Simply the above really I have a couple of targets one in particular at home a weasel I'd like to try and get to stay here and also get to know a bit

many thanks

stu.

Honeybrooks or Kiezebrink ...they are who I've used for bird of prey suppliers.

 

[hunnymonster]

Normally I'd say the local pet emporium catering for reptiles... In my case that's the garden centre but they're closed for CoVid

 

[Mozthecat]

I would ring around local pet and reptile shops, they will likely have them but may be out the back in a freezer (obviously as a Saturday lad I would never have chased the girls round the shop with them back in the day....)

 

[pooley]

Give @den a shout, this could get interesting!

Simply the above really I have a couple of targets one in particular at home a weasel I'd like to try and get to stay here and also get to know a bit

many thanks

stu.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Lee many thanks,also just brief and off topic loving the roe videos,I've seen elsewhere,utterly amazed at how early that kid has been born,just fab Lee!!

Jason John cheers lads,I keep phibs not reps but obviously aware of the herp sector. I sort of wanted to go to a supplier that someone is using ,but huge grats lads

Mike, I nearly did already ( I'm me I sort of didn't want to bother him:banghead but you have given him an option so I'll wait,My other target is Kez, I know Den knows about Kez i'm as sure as I can be I have Kez breeding within 150yards from my lotty say say 250 from me house. I should be shot for being so slow Mike . I know they haunt that corner I just never put two and two together!! I've backed right off from the suspected site, I don't want to disturb , it's all but impossible to make images anyway but more just being careful.............. them first piccies later.



Guys, i'm climbing the walls to get out,i'm a country boy living surrounded by fields,this lockdown is tough. I have hares and deer I can see from my window and can't access because of C19 So yesterday morn I set off for me exercise,I have a little patch of old railway next to lotty so had a little walk did me watering and came home. I came home to find my lady with a phone in her hand cursing like a good un. She had tried to shoo a baby rat off a pile of builders (ME) wood,by my back door. It turns out little fella just stood there on the top at eye level,utterly unphased by Shaz's efforts,( utterly unbelievable.) She then realized it was a weasel and she spent the next half hour trying to get a pic while our little mate hunted said wood pile without a care in the world for her presence. ?????? I guess I've been clattering about in our garden unaware I'm being watched and the weasel has just got used to us,fella should have seen her and been gone !!

I've got a shed on the allotement which I'm just about to put up, and make into a hide.....i'm figuring on a pool and maybe trying to get the kes family interested. The pair are already visiting all around my plot especially early morns. We are seeing coming and going from the plot to the supposed site in the day aswell, everything points to a nest

So that#s basically what's behind the question many many thanks fr the replies

take care all

stu

 

[Solo man]

Lee many thanks,also just brief and off topic loving the roe videos,I've seen elsewhere,utterly amazed at how early that kid has been born,just fab Lee!!


stu

Hi Stu... Honeybrooks are very good suppliers of food. Kiezebrink do supply rabbit, your weasel might take that?. Weasels make great pets if you get one young enough.

The doe with her fawn. it's interesting that Roe does normally have more than one fawn, but all those that have had an early fawn are only having singles. This will be the second time I will have seen a doe with a single fawn. Must be climate change?
My luck with the trail cams are a bit hit and miss, however I have no problem with videoing the buck with my video camera.
One of the benefits of having our own private woodland is I can wander around all day. I follow the buck in plain sight he is perhaps 20 feet away from me, and is aware I am following him .

 

[Stuart Philpott]

I've kept ferrets a weasel would be wonderful,but I best not go there,life is too hectic already. I'll get on to honeybrook shortly Lee thanks again

Regarding Roe .I see singles regularly here Lee I'd expect around 25.30% as you say mainly twins. You know more than I . I started to get on reasonable terms with a buck here lat year Lee but not to the level you have ,just wonderful mate great craft ,time is my issue I pretty much loose the winter months toggin wise and this damn virus has stripped me of the roe this year.just as I was getting my head around them. I have a vast new plantation on my doorstep.

Must dash thanks for the video we have both just watched you are very lucky Lee ( I count myself the same) cherish it in these tough times

 

[sphexx]

Hi Stu... Honeybrooks are very good suppliers of food. Kiezebrink do supply rabbit, your weasel might take that?. Weasels make great pets if you get one young enough.

The doe with her fawn. it's interesting that Roe does normally have more than one fawn, but all those that have had an early fawn are only having singles. This will be the second time I will have seen a doe with a single fawn. Must be climate change?
My luck with the trail cams are a bit hit and miss, however I have no problem with videoing the buck with my video camera.
One of the benefits of having our own private woodland is I can wander around all day. I follow the buck in plain sight he is perhaps 20 feet away from me, and is aware I am following him .

I’m sure I’ve posted a link to a Ozzy the Desk Weasel before but some may not have seen them, and they’re good fun

View: https://youtu.be/d2CTVqt2wxU

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Buddy ,you can't post vids like that i'll never get anything done Seriously though thanks I can't remember seeing Ozzy, I probably have who knows?

Rich a couple of things,one an apology............... I felt awkward about derailing roger's thread hence no reply on gardens I wrote a big post and deleted lets just say we are very similar in the way we garden. But yeah i needed to sat that

Second up I sort of presume ,you are aware of Robert Fuller,if not Rich have a dig,the combo of art togging and mustelid is right up my street but i'm as sure as I can be it will interest many here. I haven't any resourses do do anything really, anything at all. I'm questioning each penny I spend,'cause of C19 an all. So something like Robert has done is completely out of reach. But that won't hinder me a set up like that would be for most of us.

Thanks again!!

 

[sphexx]

Buddy ,you can't post vids like that i'll never get anything done Seriously though thanks I can't remember seeing Ozzy, I probably have who knows?

Rich a couple of things,one an apology............... I felt awkward about derailing roger's thread hence no reply on gardens I wrote a big post and deleted lets just say we are very similar in the way we garden. But yeah i needed to sat that

Second up I sort of presume ,you are aware of Robert Fuller,if not Rich have a dig,the combo of art togging and mustelid is right up my street but i'm as sure as I can be it will interest many here. I haven't any resourses do do anything really, anything at all. I'm questioning each penny I spend,'cause of C19 an all. So something like Robert has done is completely out of reach. But that won't hinder me a set up like that would be for most of us.

Thanks again!!

Stu, having de-railed @gramps thread I thought I’d de-rail yours. Robert Fuller, yes, stoatallly impressive!

 

[Solo man]

Stu, having de-railed @gramps thread I thought I’d de-rail yours. Robert Fuller, yes, stoatallly impressive!

Yes... I de-railed @gramps thread too oops!.
Anyway Stu, here's a slightly longer clip of the buck... I am stood on the track in full view. As you see by the woodland, placing a trail cam is quite challenging as there are very few clear areas.

Ps... Roger Fuller, very nice!

 

[Stuart Philpott]

I think you'll be fine here lads,to derail a thread of mine would imply I#m on track wouldn't it,. Never gonna happen.

Lee tell me about your interactions with this buck have you known him a long time is there any background info to why you think he is so tolerant? . Lee I mainly make images of hares and deer,more recently almost all roe. they are very highly strung scatty animals . I'm learning alot as I go Lee,but I've never really felt I've cracked being with roe like I can a hare. Maybe that simply isn't possible ,but your words and vids sort of make me wonder. Cheers for sharing the above. I spend hours and hours tracking this species, hence the deep interest in what you are doing.

Lee I shoot stills I have gear very capable of video a 1dxii and my little 400DOii but I'm yet to explore this side,so my knowledge of video is zilch. Is your gear completely silent while physically shooting??

Sorry for all the questions Lee ha all off topic i'm here to learn and have a crack. I'm fascinated by roe my true lowland native deer. Fascinated by what you are doing

Lads sorry slow I wanted to get the shed up on the lotty before the rain hit. I'm pushing to have a set up in place asap.

Oh Rich stoatally,I love that I wish I could see things like that so cool ,hey ho we are all made different. I have no ducks or chucks for the first time as an adult so having this little chap about is of no concern . Ha mate I'm so thrilled .

PS I've just found honeybrook,lol they are local my best mate buys rats for his snake there...I guess i've been a bit distracted of late:banghead:

cheers again both

 

[Solo man]

Hi Stu...

Not sure I have all the answers to your questions... ps, I am a female
We have owned the 4 acre woodland for about 16 years, so we know deer hang out, and it's on a route to more fields and woodland that they use.
We only have one main track that runs the length of the woods, it's about 400 metres ish, as its a bluebell wood we try not to stomp about everywhere. The deer though have a track in the middle of the woods.
I have only seen 3 deer in the woods at the same time, which I'm assuming were a buck, doe and older fawn, they did not hang around!.
I did have a hide for some time and have photos of deer and fox. I no longer use a hide.

I first saw that buck on the 12-4 this year whilst walking the track. It takes me about an hour to walk the 400 metres, I take a step then stop for a time, repeat etc, I do not wear camo, and stay in the open. It is time consuming. I do not always see him. The video above is an afternoon video, I will include the morning one where he first saw me... he did run off at first...it's a longish clip, but, he was very curious and stuck around. Since then I have followed him without him running off. And, I do literally follow behind him wherever he goes. I can get to about 15 feet of him before he decides he's had enough and saunters off.

I use a handycam for videoing(Sony FDR AX 53). I have photographed him...I have no long lenses, hence using a handycam, I used a Fuji XT2 with a 90mm f2 lens(it's a portrait lens, equivalent to a 135mm full frame lens).

A few clips of him put together

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eI9U-sTSfo&feature=youtu.be


Some photos with the Fuji XT2

 

[sphexx]

I can’t tell from the videos whether you are down or upwind of him, ordinarily I would have guessed he could see but not smell you from his actions.

However, my suggestion relating to Stu wanting to ”be with” deer is that since it’s your private wood I guess your scent will be be familiar to the deer that visit and that may be a factor in not spooking them.

 

[Solo man]

I can’t tell from the videos whether you are down or upwind of him, ordinarily I would have guessed he could see but not smell you from his actions.

However, my suggestion relating to Stu wanting to ”be with” deer is that since it’s your private wood I guess your scent will be be familiar to the deer that visit and that may be a factor in not spooking them.

Both... although, it is fairly sheltered at times, but, on the days when I follow him as he strolls around the whole area, I'd have said that I could not have been downwind of him the whole time.

On your second point, yes, possibly. I have over the years photographed birds and voles there.
However, it is also normally myself that takes my dogs(or my son and his friends) there for a run around(and as we know the dogs do chase the deer, we have stopped them for now going up there).
He is though very chilled considering previous years the deer have run off as soon as we walk around.
I have not yet managed to locate the female, she is clearly there as the trail cams show. Nor I have managed to locate the fox, other than previous years when we have stumbled across each other by accident.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Opps sorry Lee lads 'n' lasses, then .................that embarasing forgive me. I have my DO chicks now thank you very much iindeed

The first sighting video is exactly what I see Lee . Everything about it is familiar ...they circle me they have this high sort of raised leg action,always looks like a dressage horse to me and they sidle up behind things to stare at me. This may go on a while but only on a handful of times does the buck or doe stick around. The hiding bit is funny,I really believe they think because there is something between me and them they are hidden. It's exasperating as a tog the veggies are always in just the wrong place, but also really funny, they all do it. I think you have answered many of my Q's here Lee it seems fella is just that bit more chilled than the average roe,it's wonderful to see it really is. The way you are moving so damn slow is a big player aswell

Rich the scent thing is possible :the closest I got to this ( on a semi regualr basis) was a lad I nicknamed the dude. For a few months last year I knew where he would take a late afternoon nap,say within a 100 yards or so I'd find him maybe with ladies one too 4 in number He would have known my scent and gradually he was starting to relax I just couldn't put the time in I needed to take it further. Scent is the primary thing I use to modify an approach,i'll go way out of my way to come in on a deer with the wind in my face, I can get past their eyes fairly easy but not that nose. Rich the dude was moved from his spot for 2 weeks by a 4x4 ,I was extremely careful in not visiting too much as I feared i'd impinge on him,scent is a big player in all this a good point to raise I just don't know whether one can clam down an individual or whether it's simply they have to be a bit calm already for what ever reason

Lee I don't get to talk to many folks about Roe so I'm always interested in what others are doing and how I might learn and be better. Genuine appreciation of your time thank you so much.

Must dash I want to source a bit of wood to make a perch for kes that I can bait. I have a couple of chicks thawing for weasel on the woodpile that I can see from where I type

cheers both

 

[sphexx]

Opps sorry Lee lads 'n' lasses, then .................that embarasing forgive me. I have my DO chicks now thank you very much iindeed

The first sighting video is exactly what I see Lee . Everything about it is familiar ...they circle me they have this high sort of raised leg action,always looks like a dressage horse to me and they sidle up behind things to stare at me. This may go on a while but only on a handful of times does the buck or doe stick around. The hiding bit is funny,I really believe they think because there is something between me and them they are hidden. It's exasperating as a tog the veggies are always in just the wrong place, but also really funny, they all do it. I think you have answered many of my Q's here Lee it seems fella is just that bit more chilled than the average roe,it's wonderful to see it really is. The way you are moving so damn slow is a big player aswell

Rich the scent thing is possible :the closest I got to this ( on a semi regualr basis) was a lad I nicknamed the dude. For a few months last year I knew where he would take a late afternoon nap,say within a 100 yards or so I'd find him maybe with ladies one too 4 in number He would have known my scent and gradually he was starting to relax I just couldn't put the time in I needed to take it further. Scent is the primary thing I use to modify an approach,i'll go way out of my way to come in on a deer with the wind in my face, I can get past their eyes fairly easy but not that nose. Rich the dude was moved from his spot for 2 weeks by a 4x4 ,I was extremely careful in not visiting too much as I feared i'd impinge on him,scent is a big player in all this a good point to raise I just don't know whether one can clam down an individual or whether it's simply they have to be a bit calm already for what ever reason

Lee I don't get to talk to many folks about Roe so I'm always interested in what others are doing and how I might learn and be better. Genuine appreciation of your time thank you so much.

Must dash I want to source a bit of wood to make a perch for kes that I can bait. I have a couple of chicks thawing for weasel on the woodpile that I can see from where I type

cheers both

Regarding seeing through vegetation, there is the "net curtain effect" which also is affected by direction of light.
I've usually found I can sort of see through vegetation when I'm using binoculars, maybe its the differential focus helping one to "concentrate. I don't know if this would be factor but if you are looking through a telephoto lens it may be.

Otherwise I can only suggest you skin a roe deer and don the skin, but it might work too well and you could get some "unwanted attention" from the Roe, not to mention the risk of getting shot

 

[Solo man]

Otherwise I can only suggest you skin a roe deer and don the skin, but it might work too well and you could get some "unwanted attention" from the Roe, not to mention the risk of getting shot

 

[Tringa]

Simply the above really I have a couple of targets one in particular at home a weasel I'd like to try and get to stay here and also get to know a bit

many thanks

stu.

I can't vouch for the mice from here - https://www.livefoodsdirect.co.uk/ - as I have only ever bought mealworms form them, but the mealworms are always in good condition and their delivery is excellent.

Dave

 

[Rustydon]

....I presume ,you are aware of Robert Fuller,if not Rich have a dig,the combo of art togging and mustelid is right up my street but i'm as sure as I can be it will interest many here....

Hi Stu
I noted your reference to Robert Fuller - I have visited his farm studio in N Yorkshire on a couple of occasions and can say that his setup and gallery is just fantastic! He really cares for the wildlife that he studies/photographs/paints. On our last visit I was lucky enough to be bought a Red Squirrel print of his for
my recent birthday, and WOW, the detail is unbelievable.

Russ

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Pardon my mate Lee he's a tiny bit strange......I love him to bits cause he's so clever but yeah Rich you're fun hang about

David i've got some DO chicks for the mo,local supplier that Lee recommended . many thanks though always useful to have alternatives.

Grat's Russ, ha you are lucky he's a talented guy,

Cheers for stopping by can I pick you brains mate...................... with you having been there can you tell me anything about weasel town? anything about the size of nest boxes Robert uses for weasel? i've picked up on a hole size to stop stoats accessing ,but little else dimension wise so far. It's the size of boxes that might appeal to weasels I'm after I know it won't be anything like Robert's scale but it's an animal worth popping a bit of blind hope at. I'd love a few images

many thanks

stu

 

[Solo man]

Pardon my mate Lee he's a tiny bit strange......I love him to bits cause he's so clever but yeah Rich you're fun hang about

David i've got some DO chicks for the mo,local supplier that Lee recommended . many thanks though always useful to have alternatives.

Grat's Russ, ha you are lucky he's a talented guy,

Cheers for stopping by can I pick you brains mate...................... with you having been there can you tell me anything about weasel town? anything about the size of nest boxes Robert uses for weasel? i've picked up on a hole size to stop stoats accessing ,but little else dimension wise so far. It's the size of boxes that might appeal to weasels I'm after I know it won't be anything like Robert's scale but it's an animal worth popping a bit of blind hope at. I'd love a few images

many thanks

stu

Stu, I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of this weasel if you can manage to get him comfortable with you being around. I think the kestrels will be easier to be honest.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

We''ll see Lee nowt is certain with wildlife,we have seen nothing of him/her (please) since,but I'm not terribly surprised i've been distracted . I've got the shed water tight now first temp perch for kez in place and back over in a mo to give shed a good old wire brush . Also pondering a reflection pool. Trying to work out how to feed chicks without other lotty holders really being aware of what I'm doing, I think I have a ruse but need a bigger stick so I can use a hole saw. If it comes off I'll explain later on. I am also tentitively getting a group of badgers used to me. very close to home. It's funny a fair bit of setting up going on but little in the way of image making . Unusual for me all this .

Lee it's struck me you probably haven't seen anything I do , roe or even hare wise.....let alone a weasel. I'm desparately slow at processing, don't post alot but i'll try and get something up here shortly

 

[Solo man]

We''ll see Lee nowt is certain with wildlife,we have seen nothing of him/her (please) since,but I'm not terribly surprised i've been distracted . I've got the shed water tight now first temp perch for kez in place and back over in a mo to give shed a good old wire brush . Also pondering a reflection pool. Trying to work out how to feed chicks without other lotty holders really being aware of what I'm doing, I think I have a ruse but need a bigger stick so I can use a hole saw. If it comes off I'll explain later on. I am also tentitively getting a group of badgers used to me. very close to home. It's funny a fair bit of setting up going on but little in the way of image making . Unusual for me all this .

Lee it's struck me you probably haven't seen anything I do , roe or even hare wise.....let alone a weasel. I'm desparately slow at processing, don't post alot but i'll try and get something up here shortly

Wildlife watching is incredibly time consuming isn't it
We used to have badgers in our woodland, we still have the set, but have not seen any for years. I think the foxes might be using it now. I used to photograph the voles but again it took up so much of my time.

 

[FromTarn]

Interesting stuff on here folks and not jealous of Solo man's ownership of some woodland at all ( he lies ) and great footage of the Roe deer, Stu I hope you some images of the weasel mate, it will be interesting to follow how you get on

 

[Stuart Philpott]

I'm not keeping up well martin cheers for the thoughts me I'm not jealous of Lee's wood either

No chix taken so far,but someone has trashed bluetit box right by our front door, WE can ID the male blue tit ,he has lots of black of his face,we noted him and the female checking out a box by the back door this morn. Lee I am trying for a vole probably short tail ,that lives by our front door, yeah time consuming I noted male BT distressed this morn. then them round the back. So while Shaz kept watch I checked out the box by the front door...utter carnage eggs smashed. I can't see much else predating that box,the hole is tiny the blue tits barely get in,so maybe just maybe the weasel got up there last night?? If i'm right then weasel is still here if not who knows . So there might still be hope although this wasn't quite the way I hoped things might progress.

Nature is tough huh!!

 

[Solo man]

Hope the weasel is still around Stu...shame about the blue tits though...

Voles... I followed them for ages

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Ha nice those are lovely Lee. cheers so much for sharing them I have finally got an image of one myself so that's a start, I'm not terribly enamoured with it (them ) though ,I need to set something up a bit prettier, I can't get the low POV I want and nab focus grass too long Waaay too many hours lying in the front doorway ,,,lol madness I like these frames of yours much more so natural The joys of front door images and a lawn huh,work to be done. Great to finally get a frame or two though!!

Blue tits are unphazed building fast in their new box. I guess they were hit early morn as no parents harmed. It's a shame nature is tough ,but maybe they'll still rear some kids and as always the circle of life,but all is not lost. Blackbird has nested in a gutter and blocked it silly bird. . Wren has scuppered me plans to tackle a big climbing rose blummin wildlife

 

[FromTarn]

Nice to hear the wildlife keeping you busy Stu its what keeps us toggers all sane mate, should have been in Forest of Dean today if it wasn't for that darn'd Covid 19 thingy, I'll just have to potter about local though and see whats about. Found a nesting pair of Ring necked parakeets in an old tree so that might give me sommat to focus on pardon the pun, I'll try and get some to post on here but for now I'll catch you all later

 

[Solo man]

@Stuart Philpott any update on the weasel?

The roe fawn finally made an appearance today...

View: https://youtu.be/DdPWpysCSD0

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Nothing Lee not a sign , I've not given up,but no joy so far. Sorry i've not been about ,I need to apologise to me mate Martin who I haven't even replied to yet (sorry mate) . As ever I'm charging around like a mad thing. I'm just off to see if I can catch up with a fox. I've had a bit of luck with voles Lee but spent too much time lying in our front doorway. The kestrels are still about but i'm treading softly there for the moment.

Lee the fawn( actually I'm almost certain it's a kid with roe not a fawn I'll have to check that but think so,) video is lovely shame the light is so harsh,but a such wonderful find and cool to see more of it thanks so much for sharing was it in the same area you made the last vid??

I wish I could get at mine rut is close now it is frustrating but no complaints

must dash thanks again for the video

 

[Solo man]

Nothing Lee not a sign , I've not given up,but no joy so far. Sorry i've not been about ,I need to apologise to me mate Martin who I haven't even replied to yet (sorry mate) . As ever I'm charging around like a mad thing. I'm just off to see if I can catch up with a fox. I've had a bit of luck with voles Lee but spent too much time lying in our front doorway. The kestrels are still about but i'm treading softly there for the moment.

Lee the fawn( actually I'm almost certain it's a kid with roe not a fawn I'll have to check that but think so,) video is lovely shame the light is so harsh,but a such wonderful find and cool to see more of it thanks so much for sharing was it in the same area you made the last vid??

I wish I could get at mine rut is close now it is frustrating but no complaints

must dash thanks again for the video

You're right...I checked, they are called 'kids'.
It is the first time I've seen it since that first day...it was just unfortunate that the light was so harsh. My woods is becoming like a jungle and have had to do some judicious pruning as I only have one clearing in my woods where the other camera is sited. I do have one of the buck in better light who hung around.

View: https://youtu.be/lQJt1rjjHHY

 

[Stuart Philpott]

I find deer names fascinating Lee not being pedantic at all. They are so specific pricket switch fawn kid hind doe, and the rest it's all nuts but I love it. No idea why I'm hopeless with words. We have deep thick hedges some 4/5 yards impenetrable black thorn. The roe does keep their kids tight in these hedges when very small. I'm utterly convinced I walk within feet of those kids with no idea thy are there. I had a doe pinned down last year,I did finally sneak an image but it was almost dark. So the fact you have managed to catch this rascal in a clearing is so cool Lee,all credit. to you Lee I live in the middle of nowhere,I mentioned I have a fox earth a couple of fields away,jeepers they are wary,they had me behind a camo net half a field away last night. I'll keep nibbling away at them but they are a tough gig,I have so little cover to work with.

Since we last spoke I became aware a tiny scarce butterfly might be on the wing so devoted my bit of not a home time to that . I finally found some. Sadly my DO is not the right tool so I got my old cheep macro lens out and had a field day. I came home and was thrown into panic it turns out lens has fungus and it's bad,I salvaged one frame to share with Paul here who helped me so much. They are called grizzled skippers .wonderful little things. I've known they are here for years so it's great to have finally seen them.

_S2I0931 Grizz 1 smj by Stuart Philpott, on Flickr


While stalking the butterflies i've stumbled into a BIF photo op. So i'm doing a couple of hour workout each day with some hirundines,hit rate is shocking but it's breathtaking. i'm sort of up on a ridge with swift coming past my ears at head height so close it's untrue. . I don't do much BIF ,i'm so obsessed with my hares and deer,so i'm hoping to hone my skillset abit in readiness for kez. i've been at it a couple of days now ,it's amazing how muscle memory works I can see my camera mounting getting more accurate,but wow they are fast. I think it's probably the most intense wildlife photography i've ever done. So different to what I normally do.It's an utter oposite actually lots of frames fired no fear in subjects (they have actually been so close me hair moved,it's nuts) no real field craft. Normally I sneak up on something and that might be the one and only chance of firing the shutter.

Jeepers the DO is light to use built for this but couple in the 1DXii and i'm still bunging the best part of 3kg about. Ha ha my arms and shoulders are falling off ,but it's probably the best BIF photography practice i've had in years. So hard and yet so many chances and so much fun

Nice to hear the wildlife keeping you busy Stu its what keeps us toggers all sane mate, should have been in Forest of Dean today if it wasn't for that darn'd Covid 19 thingy, I'll just have to potter about local though and see whats about. Found a nesting pair of Ring necked parakeets in an old tree so that might give me sommat to focus on pardon the pun, I'll try and get some to post on here but for now I'll catch you all later

Martin sorry mate I miss things for a pastime. Lovely to hear from you buddy i hope you got something of the ring neck parakeets. A strange spring really,all the projects halted by lockdown,so finding new subjects in a limited area but yes making the best of it I s'pose. Such a shame about your trip the Dean I love the place and have visited for years ,it's only an hour or so from home. I do struggle now though with the boar/ human interactions. Folks just don't have a clue. But the place is wonderful hopefully you'll be able to get down there later in the year

take care folks

stu