Charnwood Forest butterflies

October 18, 2012 by Michael

The English summer never really happened this year and I was reminded of this on a wildlife walk this week through the lovely Leicestershire countryside. Autumn is my favourite season, the crispness of the air, yellows and golds of leaves, blackberries in the hedgerow, but little compares to the beauty of our autumn butterflies the Comma and Red Admiral.

Look on the underwing, bottom left for the little white comma , which gives this butterfly its name.

Red Admiral butterfly

I am very fortunate to live in the Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire, Charnwood Forest is itself part of the National Forest. In the National Forest there are countless nature reserves and areas accessible for people to walk. In May of this year I was near the centre of the National Forest at Moira. I was photographing a female Orange Tip butterfly, the split second I took the photograph a male flew into shot – how lucky can you get !

A male Orange Tip butterfly flies in to an awaiting female.

With such a great start to the butterfly year I was expectant for more. Not so, the weather has been awful. Butterflies need sunshine and warmth, this is the ‘elixir of life’ for butterflies, only this enables them to fly and fly they must, to find a mate. The only butterfly that has done well this year to my knowledge is the Meadow Brown and on a local nature reserve, the Lea Meadows in Ulverscroft valley, Meadow Browns have been abundent.

Meadow Brown butterfly

The Lea Meadows nature Reserve, owned by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust http://www.lrwt.org.uk/ is a meadowland site. But its special in that it has not been ploughed since medieval times and neither have any agrochemicals been applied. In consequence the 30 acres of meadows are full of wild plants, many species of which used to be common but are not these days. The conservation of such sites are vital to butterfly populations.

Lea Meadows nature reserve, Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire

During the year I lecture and talk to many groups and societies and without exception people love to hear about butterflies. Seeing a butterfly can have the same effect on people as hearing a bird sing. It can remind us that the simply things in life are often the best.

Autumn migration

September 25, 2012 by Michael

September has seen the first huge influx of migrating birds into the UK. Last weekend we were down on the east coast of Norfolk and witnessed the spectacle of waders on their high tide roosting grounds.These birds will have travelled from Arctic Canada across Greenland and down into the North Sea. It is here they will find sufficient food to survive the winter.

Mostly Oystercatchers being forced by the incoming tide off their feeding grounds.

Tens of thousands of waders were present and many people had come to witness this great wildlife spectacle.

And this is what these birds

Death of Evidence rally

July 10, 2012 by Richard

In Ottawa on July 10th scientists gathered in great numbers to protest government.

The rally demanded more evidence-based policy and the need for the government to drastically reconsider some policy changes to the Fisheries Act and the closure of the Experimental Lakes Area.

Couple this with the muzzling of government scientists and you have a host of issues that makes you question our democracy. This rally was the largest of the year on The Hill, with an estimated 2000-5000 people… and all this by a bunch of geeks who would gather be in the lab, not talking current affairs.

No Science. No Evidence. No Truth. No DEMOCRACY.

Media quality downloads. Use the password: evidence

Want do we want, evidence based policy. When do we want it, after peer review!

Science under the Harper Government is dieing a death of a thousand cut. Science is under attack.

Organisers of the Death of Evidence Rally said the event captured the mood of scientists and the public. Evidence is needed to make good decision for Canada. The Harper Government ignore evidence and cutting funding to cheap, cost effective, well performing research projects. Is this the start of something new? Has Harper awoken a sleeping political force? What is known is that Harper political messaging an oiled machine. But if numbers speak louder than words, maybe scientists can change our political landscape…

Cork Oak forests – a unique environment.

June 7, 2012 by Michael

Cork Oak Forest from Paula Webster on Vimeo.

Cork forest landscape

The regions of Southern Spain and Portugal where Cork Oak forests dominate the landscape are rich in both culture and wildlife and the Websters Wildshots team of are making a film about it.

Growing and harvesting cork is an ancient agricultural system and the surviving forest habitat contains an unsurpassed wildlife, much of which has since disappeared . Recent decades have seen world prices for cork plummet as plastics and metal screw tops are now the material of choice for many brands of wine. Not that they are better materials, a quality cork stopper reigns supreme for the task of stopping bottles and is still used exclusively by French champagne producers.

The art and craft of making corks

In order to combat this demise the regional government has established a cork research centre, called a subberoteca, whose aim is to help and advise the cork growers as to the best way to manage their cork forests and when is the optimum time to harvest their cork.

This image shows cork samples hanging up. Each line of samples represents the reference collection of one grower and is used to determine the quality of their crop.

Subberoteca

A National Park has been established to conserve the fragile cork forest ecosystem as well as the cultural traditions which underpin area. The national park is called the Alcornocales, the Spanish name for the Cork Oak.

Alcornocarles National parkThe Websters Wildshots expedition vehicle was able to penetrate some of the vast Cork Oak forests. The national park is a great step forward towards the conservation of the habitat Overlooking the Alcornocarles National park, southern Spain

The Alcornocales has many rare breeding birds such as the Bee Eater

European Bee Eater

and insects such as this amazing Rhinocerous beetle.

The Rhinocerous Beetle is a rare insect and only found in Europes ancient forests.

Cork Oaks are managed organically, the rural communities which depend upon the continual use of corks, especially for bottling are rich in tradition and culture. The wildlife that depends upon Cork Oak forests is among the finest anywhere in Europe.

In a Spanish restaurant expect the best wines to come from bottles that have corks.

we can all help by only buying wine that is stopped with a real cork. This campaign has had a recent boost by an article in the Daily Mail.

Brilliant UK wildlife: 1

June 3, 2012 by Michael

The UK is brilliant for wildlife and being an island in the middle of an ocean is only one good reason.

London is as far north as Newfoundland, and they have icebergs floating by most of the year ! So forget the rainy days, the UK has mild weather and this is as great for the wildlife as it is for those of us who live here.

Waves roll in from the atlantic to the West Wales coastline.

The reason for this beautifully mild climate is the Gulf Stream, this carries warm water from the Caribbean northwards to the coasts of the UK. The Gulf Stream originates from the warm surface waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico; and the North Atlantic Drift propels it northwards towards Greenland and then southwards where it nurtures the coasts of Norway and the entire western coasts of Britain and Ireland. This ‘marine motorway’ has many benefits, it brings unusual species from southern waters northwards as well as enabling nutrient rich waters from the Arctic to flow southwards.

One of these species is a very special bird. Its difficult to imagine half a million birds, but that is the number of Manx Shearwaters that follow the ocean currents from Brazil to the UK every summer to breed. These ‘oceanic swifts’ follow the gulf stream and nest a few remote islands off our west coast in the summer.

Manx Shearwaters

The best place to see these birds is off the coast of Pembrokeshire in West Wales, especially the area of sea between the islands of Skomer and Skokholm. These islands are managed by the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust and boats to the islands and cruises to see the Shearwaters are oparated by Dale Sailing.

Designed to weave and glide effortlessly over the wave tops, Shearwaters are clumsy and therefore vulnerable on land so they will only visit their nests at night and ideally those nights when it is misty and especially dark. Their chief predators are the Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls which ambush the birds at night as they come onto the island, where they nest in the darkness of underground burrows.. By walking around the nest sites on mornings following dark nights, dozens and sometimes hundreds of carcases can be found. However the nesting densities are so great that such predation does not affect the overall population and such natural selection could be viewed as beneficial.

Future blogs will highlight more about the UKs brilliant wildlife.

Specialists in visual storytelling of the natural world

May 25, 2012 by Richard

Michael is a wildlife photographer and author of The Birds of Charnwood Forest. He is well known in Leicester through giving regular talks to clubs and societies. Paula is an award winning wildlife film maker also based in Leicestershire. UK studio: (01530) 243565 Richard is a zoologist passionate about photography. Currently studying for his doctorate in Ottawa, he combines his interests in animal behaviour, evolution and imaging through studying animal camouflage. Canadian studio: 613 255 5149

A rainy spring with the Bluebells

May 25, 2012 by Michael

We are well into spring in the UK

In recent weeks their has been so much rain that two weeks after the first severe downpours started, the water is still running down the lanes and filling the streams that run through the Charnwood valleys. This is the Ulverscroft brook which bisects the Lea Meadows , which is one of the nature reserve gems owned and managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

This rain was much needed as we have had two very dry winters. Rain is welcomed by all wildlife and none so more than the plants.

In nearby woods the Bluebells are at their best. No matter what the weather, rain will never spoil the magnificence of a Bluebell wood and

are many such woods in the National Forest.

A bluebell wood, one of many in the National Forest.

On the days when the sun shines, butterflies make the most of this blue bonanza of fragrance. Butterflies such as the Green-veined White, Orange Tip and Brimstone .

According to the British Butterfly Conservation Society, despite the good start in March, much of this spring from April into May has been poor for butterflies.

The reason for this is that butterflies need warmth from the sun to power their wings for flight, given a little sunshine and butterflies will fly and fly as often as they can, for there is no time to loose, looking for a mate.

Canadian Ski Marathon

May 13, 2012 by Richard

The long awaited moment has arrived. After several screenings in Ottawa and Leicestershire Websters Wildshots new documentary is ready for its official web launch. Not just this, but in the last few days this video was awarded best documentary at the MMM (Midlands Movie Maker) annual meeting. Well done Paula!

This latest documentary follows the skiing adventures of Richard Webster and Geoff White as they battle to ski 180 km over two days, as part of the Canadian Ski Marathon (CSM).

This epic xc ski event sees skiers -of all abilities- pit themselves against the elements of winter. The two days of skiing is split into 10 stages. A stage can vary in its distance and terrain. Skiers new to the CMS might choose to ski just a few stages a day, whilst the seasoned skier might attempt the entire route. Whatever distance a skier might aim for, there is a common bond between all: I love the outdoors during winter and buckets of camaraderie!

Here’s a selection of photos from Canadian Ski Marathon.

You might even be in one of the photos! If you see one you like, you can buy a print online !!!

Remote camera trapping

April 26, 2012 by Michael

I have recently started to use camera traps in a local wood.

The point is not necessarily to get great photographs but to understand what animals are present and to understand their movements.

I have had one remote camera stolen so am now being very careful where I place my new ones. I do have permission to be in this otherwise private wood and to undertake photography and this is important if you are thinking of doing this sort of work. I have been reasonable happy with the results so far, here are a few of them.

I only position my remote camera close to the set entrance once a week, to avoid disturbance.

The vast majority of my successful pictures have been of a fox and they take the majority of the peanuts I put out.

This fox has stood still for a moment, usually they are on the move and the image quality is very poor.

Documentary Rowing the Arctic

April 24, 2012 by Richard

Two great bits of news:
i) Websters Wildshots has finally releases the online gallery of photographs from Row to the Pole.
ii) The BBC documentary Rowing the Arctic will be broadcast very soon!!!

Here is a message from Jock WIshart of Row to the Pole

“I am delighted to let you know that a documentary film about the quest to reach the 1996 Magnetic North Pole by rowing boat will be broadcast this month on BBC One…and announce the official publication of our book FURTHEST NORTH.”
The TV FILM
The 60 minute programme – ROWING THE ARCTIC – will be transmitted on BBC One at 10:45pm on April 25th.
Having seen a preview already, I can say it is an outstanding film, capturing a lot of the drama, tension and adventure of our expedition.
The filming for it was all done by Mark Beaumont, who joined the crew to make the doco. So I’d like to invite you to forego A. an early night and B. Newsnight on BBC2 on April 25th to sit down and enjoy the programme. As if securing a prime slot on BBC One is not enough, we are equally proud to have a book published telling the entire story, illustrated with some outstanding photos taken on our voyage.

THE BOOK
FURTHEST NORTH is published by Frozen World Books and is on sale at Amazon and www.frozenworldbooks.co.uk (Click on links) as well as selected Waterstones and independent book shops.
It is written by Rod Macrae and has many photographs by Websters Wildshots. It is a real treasure of a book: a factual account which captures the true atmosphere of the whole endeavour, from the tensions as we set out to the real moments of danger and frustration experienced on the way.
Now that the entire story can be told, it stands as a remarkable adventure, simply because most experts said it was impossible – and yet six people made it happen.
So, please make a mark in your diary for April 25th – and please buy a copy of our book FURTHEST NORTH as a permanent record of the Old Pulteney Row To The Pole.
Frozen World Books has a series of video interviews clips with Jock Wishart and Billy Gammon talking about the expedition which can be seen at frozennorth, the official Row to the Pole website and on YouTube. They make an appetiser for the book and film.