Fallow Deer, Forest of Dean


Fallow Deer, Forest of Dean, originally uploaded by Ben909.

Took this one in the forest at the weekend. She kept walking towards me to within about 12 feet or so, but a good hiding place and a favourable breeze meant she didn't detect me. There's a nice looking buck around there too which is what I was really hoping to capture.
www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests

Wild Boar


Wild Boar, originally uploaded by Ben909.

After 2-3 months of not seeing any wild boar, I've had 4 separate sightings in the last couple of weeks. This one is a pretty large male I photographed last Sunday. Those tusks should be a lot more visible in another year or so.

Autumn Fallow Deer


Autumn Fallow Deer, originally uploaded by Ben909.

This isn't quite what I set out to photograph, but I'm quite pleased with it. It's pretty much the peak of the rutting season for the fallow deer. Their belching calls are echoing through the forest, and the deer are all very active.

Heron


Heron, originally uploaded by Ben909.

I don't usually photograph birds, but this heron was perched almost on the side of the road and I couldn't resist pulling over. I used the car window for a tripod and failed to get as close or as crisp as I wanted, but after a slight crop and a black and white conversion, it's not so bad.

Young Wild Boar, Forest of Dean


Young Wild Boar, Forest of Dean, originally uploaded by Ben909.

After a couple of months of being unable to catch up with any wild boar, I found some this week whilst walking the dog. It was too dark for pictures even if I'd had the camera with me, but they're always a joy to see. (This photo of a youngster was taken in August).
If anyone's interested in seeing the wild boar in the Forest of Dean, they will be on TV tomorrow, at 8pm on ITV1 on 'Wild Britain with Ray Mears', along with other wildlife of the forest.
"That’s something very few people in Britain have seen. It’s an animal that really should be in our landscape but the challenge will be for us to learn to live alongside it because I think we’re going to see a lot more of these animals in the future." – Ray Mears.

Adders, Nadders & The Nasal Shift


Adders, Nadders & The Nasal Shift, originally uploaded by Ben909.
After a week of pink evening skies and atmospheric mists, and some very active fallow deer whilst walking the dog, I was looking forward to capturing similar scenes this weekend, swapping the dog for the camera. Typically with wildlife photography, it didn't go to plan. No doubt if I'd left the camera at home and taken the dog instead, it would have been different. So here's an adder I prepared earlier.
There is a small but well known group of words in English in which the combination with the indefinite article led to the shifting of the nasal from the article to the noun itself. Thus a nadder became known as an adder, and a napron became an apron. These words are listed in etymological dictionaries but with no comment on the reasons for movement of the nasal.