Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A quick garden update!

Despite the wind and a burst of rain, I managed to get my wireless bird box camera up and running in my wildlife area! 

All the wires are tucked away and waterproofed and the bird box is securely in place. I put a branch (seen below) in front of the bird box hole, so that the bird can perch. 

I also got this new frog/toad home set up directly next to my pond and bog area. Im quite sure this will be full of frogs soon, and maybe some insects too.

The photo below may seem boring, but if you look close enough there is something extraordinary. In the background, on the hedge (near my tree house) there is a sparrow hawk!

I have never seen one before, certainly not in my garden. The only camera I had on me at the time was the one on my phone, meaning i could't zoom. 

I got a few shots, ran upstairs to grab my Canon DLSR and managed to get back in time to take some more photos!...............the memory card was not there. By the time I got everything ready it was flying off into the nearby wood.

When I uploaded the pictures I zoomed in on Photoshop.

 

If you look closely you can see it perching on top of the hedge.

I tried to tempt it back by playing Sparrowhawk calls on a speaker, but I only heard replies.

I really hope it will return soon so I can get some proper shots!

However, I have now got a new bird to add to my patch bird count!

DuckCam! Inspired by "SpyInThePod'

After watching 'Spy in the pod' I was really eager to try and make my own animal camera!

 I bought this fake duck from a garden centre a while ago to place in my pond. I started by cutting a whole in the front of the duck, and placing a plastic cup in the hole to keep it open. I then thought I could insert my new waterproof GoPro inside. To finish it off, I needed a way of controlling it. So I used my remote control boat!

Cutting the cup to the right size. 

I will be able to use the GoPro wireless remote to control the camera and the RC boat remote to control the direction and speed of the duck. Hopefully, this will help me to capture some more up-close footage.

The Florida Everglades!

The Florida Everglades:

‘The Everglades are a natural region of tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The Everglades are shaped by water and fire, experiencing frequent flooding in the wet season and drought in the dry season.’

We went on an ‘Airboat Ride’ for 1 hour deep into the everglades; we went on numerous trails and even went to the Everglades National Park. I took my Canon DLSR and my new GoPro camera! I got some lovely shots and some great footage.

Here are my two favourite photos:

I was taking a photo of this beautiful (ibis?) when an alligator appeared! It got a amazing depth to the photo.

This photo of a white ibis is very unique due to the heart shaped lily-pad in the background!

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We even saw these freshwater turtles. At first we thought they were fish!

On a trail in the everglades!

I think this is a white-chested cormorant!

Wild Brazil!

WOW! Wild Brazil is amazing! I have only been watching it for 10 minutes and I’m already blown away by some of the outstanding photography the camerapersons have got! I loved the way the tufted capuchins used sticks to try and catch the lizard. Also, the aerial photography is really good! I really hope they do a ‘behind the scenes’ part at the end! If you’re watching it, make sure your watching it in HD! 

Florida's full of wildlife!!

After 2 weeks in Florida, I gathered some amazing footage and photos! I took my Canon DLSR and my new GoPro (which I got for christmas!) It will take a while to sort through all my photos/footage but when I have finished I will upload the best of it! :)