Daily Archives: July 9, 2015

It’s a hard life being a Puffin

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A puffin’s lot is certainly not easy – constant visits back and forward to the sea in order to ensure the survival of their pufflings.  The following shots demonstrate the daily struggle for a puffin trying to fend off the black headed gulls in order to protect their bounty (sand eels the official terminology) and ensure their young do not go hungry.  Having observed this at close quarters it was evident that the small build of the puffin gave it the manoeuvrability and speed to more often than not protect their hoard of sand eels.

Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Sandwich Terns

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Here are a few shots of sandwich terns bringing the goodies back to their young in the Farne Islands.

Sandwich Tern and chicks
Sandwich Tern and chicks
Sandwich Tern and chicks
Sandwich Tern and chicks

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Amur Leopard

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I recently had the great pleasure of visiting the Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire with professional wildlife photographer Peter Smart.  The Cat Survival Trust is little known and not open to the pubic (members only) and its primary objective is to house an array of rare and incredible wild cat species for education and conservation purposes.  Currently the Trust houses a number of wild cats which include the Asian Wild Cat, Serval, Caracal Asian Golden Cat, Amur Leopards, Puma, Jaguar and Snow Leopard.  The following shots are of the Amur Leopard which is deemed critically endangered with approximately 45 adults left in the wild, making it the most endangered big cat in the world (yes the world!).  To get up close and personal with such a rare big cat was fabulous and indeed a highlight of the day.  Thanks also must go to the wonderful staff, who I hasten to add are unpaid volunteers and do a wonderful job of ensuring the survival of big cats.  Many more details here: http://www.catsurvivaltrust.org/default.aspx

Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.