Awards and interviews

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One of the nice things about blogging is the great people you come across who share a common interest - and the informal community which grows up among them. Recently I've been privileged in that two of these people have chosen to feature my blog on their own.

Chris, of Chris Photo Nature recently awarded me a friends award. - which is very kind of him! Thanks Chris. Part of the conditions of this award are that I pass on a similar award to six others. I've thought about this a lot - and decided that rather than do this in one post I will, instead try to resurrect my blog focus posts in the new year and feature another six blogs.

Then Wren (of Wrenaissance Reflections) offered to feature QuantumTiger in the Nature Blog Network blog!

So despite the lack of photography - November has actually been a very good month! Big thanks to both Chris and Wren both for these particular mentions and all that you do to make the wildlife photography blogging community a great place to be!

(Not so) Wordless Wednesday: Elephant Seal Pups

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This week's 'Life' on the BBC featured footage shot on Sealion Island a couple of days before I was there. Sadly I missed seeing the orca - but I did meet the film crew and lots of the supporting cast (ie the elephant seals!).

(If you missed the programme, you can watch it on iPlayer for the next month or so)

Must resist temptation

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Lots of rain here this weekend, so no chance to get out and take any pictures. I did have time, however, to read some camera reviews. It seems that the Canon EOS 7D is everything that I hoped that the 50D might be (and possibly a bit more). So now I have to resist going out and buying one. It would be easier to do if the 1D didn't keep playing up on me! Mind you if the prices drop after Christmas I might find myself caving in!

On the other hand I'd find it easier to justify if I was actually managing to get out and get some pictures! What do I want more? More time, good light or a new camera? Probably the first two...

Wordless Wednesday: Mute Swan

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Gannets in Flight

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The last few days I've been off work with a nasty throat infection. It's meant no time for photography - but it has given me a chance to look over some older shots. I was particularly taken by some the flight shapes in my Gannet shots from Bempton last April.

I'd forgotten the yellow stripes that they have on their feet.

I liked this one too although I've managed to lose the edge of one wing.

Wordless Wednesday: Another Kestrel

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The fireworks of autumn

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This weekend I managed a brief walk in this sunshine on Saturday afternoon. The autumn colours are beautiful, and with the absence of high winds still largely on the trees. I was privileged to see my second bullfinch of the year - a small group of them feeding in the trees. Sadly they were too shy to afford a photograph, but it was nice to see them.

On Saturday night I went along to a fireworks display with my father. That curiously British tradition of celebrating a failed attempt to blow up the houses of Parliament, by shooting thousands of pounds worth of gun powder into the sky! It was fun - but I was slightly disappointed this year. The fireworks seem somewhat less spectacular than the autumn colours.

Autumn Leaves

Wordless Wednesday:Tussac Bird

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Some like it damp

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After a beautiful October, November has got off to a damp start. But for some things that is not bad. On Saturday I was down in the Forest of Dean on an annual foray into autumn. As has been the case in recent years there was not really the light to capture the full glory of this beautiful place. We did enjoy a trip around Puzzlewood (well worth the visit if you are in the area), and the fungi at least seemed to be revelling in the conditions.

Fungi