travel – Sarah's Wildlife Watch

On Coll

We’re not long back from visiting one of our favourite islands, Coll. This island is a treat for the senses, as its not just the sights of wildlife that thrill but the sounds. Every morning and evening in our campervan we heard the pee-wit call of lapwings in the field next to us. They lookedContinue reading “On Coll”

The Wild West -Mammals

Last month we visited first Colorado and then Oregon in Western USA. I went armed with my less cumbersome middle lens. The first wildlife that I photographed were these comical prairie dogs. They dug out big holes in the prairie earth and could be seen popping in and out of them. They were about theContinue reading “The Wild West -Mammals”

Seal Pup Season

I’ve seen lots of images of white fluffy seals on cards and on television documentaries. When my son was wee he used to have a pillow sized cuddly seal toy called Snowy which accompanied us on holidays. But until today I’d never seen a seal pup in the wild, let alone photographed them. It mightContinue reading “Seal Pup Season”

Bonkers Bonxies and Greedy Gannets

Recently on Shetland I went on a boat trip to the sandstone cliffs of Noss, home to a gannet colony and many other seabirds. On the way past the Isle of Bressay we got close up views of the great skua, known as a “bonxie” (meaning big breasted) in Shetland. This one had its eyeContinue reading “Bonkers Bonxies and Greedy Gannets”

Tammie Norries!

Last weekend I was lucky enough to see puffins for a second time this year, this time on the Shetland Islands. Here they are known as “Tammie Norries,” probably because in the old scots language a tammie norrie is foolish looking man. They are also known as clowns of the sea, because of their clownContinue reading “Tammie Norries!”

Goosy Ganders

The other day we witnessed a wee gaggle of greylag geese and eleven fluffy goslings trying to reach the pond for a swim. We first came upon three adults and one gosling on the path in front of us. The adults seemed to be encouraging the youngster to go back to the group it hadContinue reading “Goosy Ganders”

London Exotics

I went hunting in the centre of London for ring (or rose) necked parakeets and then realised I didn’t really need to hunt as they seemed to be everywhere! They originally come from Africa and Southern Asia but were kept as pets in the UK. However many escaped and they are living in the wildContinue reading “London Exotics”

Hoping for a Hoopoe

Whilst in Mallorca I was always on the lookout for an exotic looking bird called a hoopoe. It is nothing like any bird we get in the UK. I’d seen one in France years ago but never photographed one. I’d read that they could be found almost anywhere in Mallorca. Whilst hunting them I gotContinue reading “Hoping for a Hoopoe”