Time Fly's — Photography

It’s been a long while since I updated the blog. I’ve traveled to some amazing places and seen some amazing sights.

Starting May 2017 in Scotland and traveling around the NC500 in my camper van with my trusted dog Max. I would have never thought about doing this journey if I hadn’t seen a tv program about Monty Halls Great Escape to Applecross. I spent 3 weeks starting at Inverness and traveling around anti-clockwise. I will add a more detailed blog later.

I was back in Scotland in January 2018 doing a mountain skills course. Oh my god, what an experience I struggled so much climbing up but as much as it was so difficult in the wind, rain, and snow I loved it. I have a video of my pain which is so funny.

No sooner and I was home I was on my way back to the Cairngorms in the beast from the east weather system. Unbelievable!!! that is what it was, excellent conditions for Mountain Hares and all the other Scottish wildlife. I spent a month in the camper van around the Highlands it was magical.

North Wales was always a place I wanted to go, so I did and it was fantastic. Some great climbs and lovely views making for some great photography

June 2018 and I had another trip to Kenya and added in Amboseli to see the great tuskers. I was so lucky to see tusker Tim before he passed away an amazing sight that I will not forget. I even got to see Twin elephants that were 3 months old, the first to be born since 38 yrs ago.

I managed to get to the Lake District in November, a place that I love and always will.

My first ever wildlife talk happened this year. Jelly legs and feeling sick comes to mind. I have never ever like standing up in front of people. I much prefer to be in the crowd chatting. It was a great evening and all went well.

February 2019 and yes I’m back in Scotland again loving the views, sights, and wildlife. I just can’t get enough of the Mountain Hares they are just wonderful. I stayed again in the camper van for about a month staying around the Cairngorms. I also popped over to the east coat to photography the Short Eared Owls. After that, I then headed to the Isle of Mull, the place to see otters, well except I didn’t lol.

It was a challenge for me from the start as I am not a lover of boats. I wasn’t looking forward to the crossing especially as everyone that knows me, I get seasick. I was lucky dead clam couldn’t have had a better crossing. A great place to visit and I will go back for the Otters.

On my way home I decided to stop at Glencoe. I felt that I had unfinished business and the Munro from the skills course had to be completed. It was a lot better weather this time. I got to the top and could see all of Glencoe, a superb site and a challenge completed.

India for Tigers in June, so hot and dusty, it was just amazing. I got to see Tigers up close and personal. If you get the chance to go do it. I stayed in a wonderful lodge called Bandhav Villas with brilliant staff and amazing food. The safari was run by Andy and Sarah Skinner, who I had used numerous times I can not fault their safari’s at all, very professional and brilliant knowledge.

Check them out here https://www.imagesofwildlife.co.uk/

I managed to fit in the Peak District, Dorset, Suffolk, and Thursley common for the famous Colin the Cuckoo.

October and I was flying out to Botswana again for another excellent adventure. Botswana the Land of Light and dust. I managed to see some amazing sightings during the trip, Wild Dog topping the list.

It was early January 2020 and I was in Norfolk for some winter photography before I headed off to yes you guessed Scotland.

I had rented a cottage for a month before I continue traveling in the camper. Three of my photography mates were also joining me at different times.

The snow arrived just after me perfect timing. The first place I went too, was to find the Mountain Hares. It had been a year since I had my fix. The conditions were changeable and some days I couldn’t even get up to the peak. Wild winds and blizzards were my challenges. Deep snow covered the pathways but with perseverance, we made it to the top 790m. The views are so amazing with the snow-covered mountains and blue Skys in between the spindrift and blizzards is like nothing else. Sitting for hours with the hares watching them go about their business just makes me smile. Check out the videos I bet you smile too. I made a visit to Mark Hamblins Red Squirrel hide for a morning. It’s a great setup with viewing at ground level. Just as we were setting up it started to snow yay big smiles all around.

There is so much to see. Crested Tit’s, Red deer, Red Squirrel, Snow Buntings the list goes on

My plan was to move over to the west coast for some mountain landscapes but with Covid Virus looming over us I headed to the east coast to visit a friend for a few days. It was great to see his local badger visiting his garden. I headed home via the east coast stopping at Sea Houses to see the Elder Duck.

Well, that was the end of my travels thanks to Covid and lockdowns.

It’s now mid-2021 and I still haven’t ventured anywhere,

hopefully soon