Pete Skyrme - windy-isle-photography

Stonechat perched in reeds side lit by setting sun giving a warm glow to the image

Had a run through to @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social yesterday in the hope of catching a look at the Bearded Reedlings, nowt doing thankfully as I’d left my batteries in my bag and was almost out of power…durrrrr!!
The evening was redeemed by this lovely little female Stonechat and the setting sun.

Female Stonechat perched atop the last blackberries.

Skein of Canada Geese flying overhead

Female Red-breasted Merganser

Been a few weeks since I visited @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney which sounds daft as I live half way up the island but it is landscape photography season and my attention has been elsewhere.
Here’s a few images of a quiet day.

Stand of small pines side lit by the sun illuminating light green. To the bottom right is an old drystone wall.

A quick I-phone shot of a scene out the back of out hotel in Ibiza. A brief glimpse of sunshine between the storms that have been rolling in this weekend.

Image is of the lower branches of an oak tree backlit by the sun breaking through the morning mist. The tones range from warm yellows to cool blues

Image of lower branches of an oak tree backlit by the rising sun on a cold, frozen morning. Tones are cool blues

I think I will photograph this oak at every visit to the Brathay. These were just over a year apart.

Split toned edit emphasising warm yellows of a view of a stand of oaks reflected in the River Brathay. The conditions are very misty

A split toned edit of the Brathay Oaks.

Sunrise lighting the Langdale Pikes as the mist breaks and reflecting them in Elterwater. Foreground rocks and read bed illuminated in warm golden light and lingering mist envelopes the mid ground and much of the sky.

The Pikes reflected in Elterwater.
Often photographed this scene with differing levels of light. Sunday morning as the mist began to lift was a bit special.

Sure was Peter. Just wish I’d carried my chair and a flask of coffee 😂

Tree clad hillside lit by the rising sun and displaying a change to autumnal colour. Rising in the background are the Langdale Pikes still wrapped with mist.

Some lovely conditions at the Brathay this morning…..eventually. Thick mist persisted for a couple of hours.
Great to be out on a dedicated landscape shoot, really enjoyed the morning.

Camera set up to take a shot. The background is thick mist……so we wait and wait and wait a bit more

It’s thickening as the minutes pass so we wait and wait and look about a bit and wait a bit more…..wish I’d brought my flask

View of the Langdale Pikes in the far distance. A small stand of silver birch frame the right hand side of the image with some soft light illuminating the midground.

A view of the distant Langdale Pikes across Tom Heights from a stand of silver birch.

View of Tarn Hows. Trees lining the tarn shoreline showing some autumn colour, orange and yellow. The sky is cloudy and moody.

Some autumn colour showing at Tarn Hows.
Out with the family celebrating Gooses birthday and enjoying a weeks stay at her ancestral seat, Outrake Farm, Coniston.

Otter surfaced on oyster pool, side lit and water running off its whiskers. Blue grey background is the pool.

Otter diving

Close encounter and eye contact with the otter. Surfaced just below the hide

Inquisitive and playful otter exploring its surroundings

The wildlife gods were smiling this morning at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney. An otter dropped into one of the oyster pools. An hour well spent watching its antics.

#ukwildlife

Small Tortoiseshell

Large White

Red Admiral

Peacock

Butterflies seen yesterday between the showers at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social Smardale Gill.

#insects

Chaffinch sat on branch, leaf and sky background

Great Tit looking over its shoulder back towards the camera. Surrounded by foliage

Little Blue Tit deep in the foliage

Not sharp shot of a Blue Tit in motion between perches. The blur of the wing emphasises the movement

A bit of a wet and showery visit to @Cumbria wildlife.bsky.social Smardale Gill yesterday.
Shout out to Leanne at Smardale Mill Farm for another wonderful stay at their Shepods.
I’ll post another set of images of the butterflies seen.

#birds 🪶

Heavy grey sky and distant shower out in the Irish Sea. Warm light catching the foreground and mid ground beach.

Not a great deal to document yesterday at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney. There were a few Curlew knocking around (I love their call) and Cormorant. The showers rolling in contrasted nicely with areas of strong sunlight. I love this place.

View from Sea Hide looking out to the Irish Sea. Heavy dark clouds out to the horizon. Warm tones of the wooden hide window camera, lens and flask of coffee.

Quiet morning here at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney. More activity with the weather than the birds. Not many other places I’d rather be though. Brew time ☕️

Grey Heron nestled amongst the reeds

Northern Shoveler on the pool

Grey Heron and Northern Shoveler from Causeway Hide yesterday at @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social

#birds 🪶

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly. Black abdomen with blue spots and yellow irregular stripes on the thorax. Here it’s resting on a grass blade set off against a green background

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly showing the distinctive golf tee marking between the rear wings.

Yesterday I had another visit to @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social
A hot day and the dragonflies were out in force. Here’s a couple of a Migrant Hawker one at the right angle to display the distinctive golf tee marking between the wings.

#insects

Little Egret fishing at the edge of a pool with rocky shoreline. One leg is raised showing the birds distinctive yellow feet

Saturday at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney was similar to Thursday at @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social There was an abundance of long leggy big sharp beaky birds. This time Little Egrets. Clocked half a dozen on one pool. Here’s one showing off its golden shoes

#birds 🪶

Grey Heron stalking in a shallow pool

Grey Heron nestled amongst the reeds

Great White Egret flies into RSPB Leighton Moss

Great White Egret fishing (with catch) on shallow pool

Yesterday at @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social was mainly about these guys. I’ve not seen so many Heron and Great White Egrets around one pool. Fishing must be good due to the low level of the pools.

#birds 🪶

Tiny Long-tailed Tit looking to jump from a lower branch to a higher one. I watched a group of these little birds use the shrubs and trees alongside a causeway as a thoroughfare to move from one woodland patch to another. Safety first little friends.

Northern Pintail on the water

Two new additions to my tiny life list from my visit to @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social yesterday evening. Late visit after dropping Mrs Skyrme at Oxenholme for the first leg of her London weekend.

Long-tailed Tit
Northern Pintail

#birds 🪶

Red Veined Darter. Red bodied dragonfly with red veined wings with four red wing spots

A Red Veined Darter warming up by the reed bed at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney

#insects

Common Blue resting on yellow ragwort

Small Tortoiseshell feeding on thistle

Small Tortoiseshell feeding on thistle head

Small Copper. Small orange and brown butterfly with spotted markings feeding on yellow flower heads

…….and here’s the butterflies

#insects #ukbutterflies 🦋

Grey Heron stood at edge of oyster lagoon

Meadow Pipit well camouflaged against the beach pebbles

Barn Swallow perched on power cords to visitors centre

Hot day yesterday at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney. Nowt but cows on Gate Pool.
Did capture a few images on my wanderings, mainly fluttery things.
Here’s the birds…..

#birds 🪶

Hard enough to keep an eye on them never mind a long lense

So quiet down here today @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney. Time for a sarnie.

Woodland path flanked by soft green bracken twists down through trees to a gate.

The path down to Boon Crag Farm in Guards Wood, Coniston.

Blew my head when you first posted….forty frames 🤯
It’s f@@king stunning

Common Blue (male) on yellow ragwort

Gatekeeper and Wall

Small Tortoiseshell on thistle

Two male Meadow Brown

Took Mrs Skyrme butterfly hunting this morning at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney. Think she was happy.

#insects

Juvenile Ruff reflected in a patch of water

Juvenile Ruff feeding at Gate Pool

A number of people interested in Gate Pool this morning at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney………Why? Juvenile Ruff.
I love this place, always something different showing up.

#birds 🪶 #ukbirds