Tag Archives: wildlife

Skylark over Cornflower Field

Posted on by
7

Here are a few shots of a skylark hovering above a lush blue cornflower field located in London Colney, Hertfordshire.

Skylark over cornflower field
Skylark over cornflower field
Skylark over cornflower field
Skylark over cornflower field
Skylark

© [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.

Puma

Posted on by
Reply

Here are a few shots of a Puma (aka mountain lion, panther or indeed cougar) taken at the Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire.  This unique and stunning looking specimen is the second largest cat in North America with the largest being  the Jaguar.  Amazingly, for such a large cat the puma cannot roar, instead it growls, purrs and hisses just like a domestic cat.

Puma
Puma
Puma
Puma
Puma

© [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.

Gone Fishing

Posted on by
6

At this time of the year it is crucial for the puffin to regularly go fishing in order to collect as many sand eels, herring or sprats to ensure the survival of their demanding and hungry pufflings.  These shots were taken on inner Farne and as you can see the bigger beakful of fish the better.

Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin

© [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.

Eurasian Wildcat

Posted on by
Reply

Here are a few shots of the muscular and highly aggressive Eurasian Wildcat taken at the Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire.  I used my 50mm prime lens which provides a lovely blurred background and actually makes the wildcat look more like a domestic cat and perhaps cute and cuddly.  However, picture 4 clearly demonstrates the aggressive side of its nature.

Eurasian Wildcat
Eurasian Wildcat
Eurasian Wildcat
Eurasian Wildcat

© [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.

It’s a hard life being a Puffin

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
3

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

Posted on by
7

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.

Shags

Posted on by
2

Here are a few shots of a shag with chicks taken in the Farne Islands.  Amusingly, the final shot shows a couple of shags doing exactly what there name suggests 🙂

Shag chick
Shag and chick
Shag brooding
As their name suggests, a pair of shags doing what they do best

© [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.

Great Grey Owl

Posted on by
8

Here are further shots of Buzz, a great grey owl taken at the Raptor Foundation in Cambridgeshire.  Although owls are relatively strange looking creatures the flat, rounded face of the great grey is really quite unique.

Great Grey Owl
Great Grey Owl
Great Grey Owl
Great Grey Owl
Great Grey Owl

© [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.