Month: October 2018

A weekend of wildlife

Nature, wildlife, Yorkshire

Some photos from a weekend watching wildlife. We went to Studley Royal for dawn to watch the deer there. This fallow stag silhouetted against the dawn sky was my favourite deer shot.

Fallow stag at dawn, Studley Royal

Early mornings in autumn often bring mists over the lake here and the swans are also beautiful to capture reflected in the lake, as well as the reflections of the autumn colours in the water.

Canada Goose in autumn reflections, Studley Royal

Swan reflections, Studley Royal

Swan reflections, Studley Royal

Another interesting place to visit at this time of year is Spurn point and the surrounding area for autumn migrants, and other birds. Late afternoon I spotted this barn owl hunting in the low sun, with the light shining through its feathers.

Barn owl hunting at dusk, East Yorkshire

This little egret flying across the low sun was my last photo of the day.

Little egret flying

York Balloon Fiesta 2018

Yorkshire

We had great weather for the weekend of the 2018 York Balloon Fiesta, although it was a little too windy for the afternoon mass balloon launches on the Saturday and Sunday. The weather was clear and bright for the morning launches though, with a light mist rising off the Knavesmire at the start and bright blue skies to photograph the balloons against later on. 

 

The hot air balloons landed out near Holtby, to the east of York.

Saturday afternoon was too windy for most of the balloons to take off, but one intrepid pilot did take off and landed on the Yorkshire Wolds, near Fridaythorpe.

In the evenings the Night-glow event was as popular as ever, with tethered balloons on the Knavesmire lighting their burners in time to the music.

All in all it was a treat for photographers, and seemed to be enjoyed by all, although the people in this balloon might have wished for a slightly less drunken angle on their landing!