Hi, my name is Neil Cheesman and wildlife photography is my hobby. London theatre is my interest and business. ALL photographs on this website are my property and subject to copyright. No images or photographs may be used without my permission. Contact ncheesman@hotmail.com
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This is a photo of a Goldcrest that I took on 10th August 2011 but hadn't got around to uploading it.
Photo taken with a Nikon D300S West Sussex England
From the RSPB With the firecrest, the goldcrest is the UK's smallest bird. They're dull greyish-green with a pale belly and a black and yellow stripe on their heads, which has an orange centre in males. Their thin beak is ideally suited for picking insects out from between pine needles.
A visit to Eastbourne on 30th January 2014 to see the Slavonian Grebe. Not the sunniest of days but managed to get a few photographs and this short video.
From the RSPB Arguably the most attractive of the UK's breeding grebes, with its
golden ear tufts and trilling calls. It looks similar to the
black-necked grebe in winter but has whiter cheeks which almost meet at
the back of the neck. Due to its small breeding population it is an
Amber List species.
A Turnstone 'turning stones' and looking for food. According to the RSPB: Turnstones "spend most of their time creeping and fluttering over rocks, picking out food from under stones." And they certainly do!
This video was taken in the afternoon on 14th March 2014 - walking along the beach looking for birds to photograph and video.
From the RSPB "Amber Status"
"Smaller than a redshank, turnstones have a mottled appearance with brown
or chestnut and black upperparts and brown and white or black and white
head pattern, whilst their underparts are white and legs orange. They
spend most of their time creeping and fluttering over rocks, picking out
food from under stones."
On Tuesday 25th March, early in the afternoon, we saw a hedgehog busily foraging around in our garden.
Our first thought at seeing the hedgehog was wow, how fabulous to see a hedgehog so close and seemingly in good health. Our heads then took over from our hearts and realising that it was very unusual for a hedgehog to be out in daylight hours, we contacted a wildlife rescue centre for advice. The advice was quite simple: any hedgehog out in daylight hours is likely to be in trouble, as they are nocturnal creatures, and that we should get the hedgehog to the rescue centre as soon as possible.
Having arrived at the rescue centre for wild animals, the hedgehog who we had named Houdini (due to him trying to escape from his transport box), was examined and it was established that he was underweight and had an infection and possibly parasites. Like all hedgehogs that are taken into the centre, with medication and being fed the right foods, he had a chance; but unlike many of the other hedgehogs that get taken in, sadly Houdini didn't make it and he died on 5th April 2014. We did our best for him.
This video of Houdini, and this message, is to anyone that finds a hedgehog in their garden in the UK during daylight hours. The message is plain and simple -- take the hedgehog to an wildlife rescue centre (rather than a conventional vet or the RSPCA who will often just euthanize wildlife), or get them to come and collect it. It will be a hedgehog in trouble and in need of expert help. Rest in peace, Houdini.
A couple of photos of a Glaucous Gull on the south coast of England this week - photos taken yesterday at Dungeness with my Nikon D300S and 500mm Lens - more photos of follow....
We visited Hove Lagoon twice and were lucky enough to see the Grey Phalarope on both occasions. I say 'lucky', but in fact the little bird was residing in a children's paddling pool and was extremely confiding. Many photographers got 'up-close' and were within feet of the bird, and at times probably inches from the Grey Phalarope. The bird didn't seem to be phased by the presence of photographers at all, and in fact may have used them as 'cover' from the nearby gulls and crows. Some people had put food in the pool, which looked to be only inches deep, which doubtless led to the bird being quite content to stay. It isn't for me to say the rights and wrongs of feeding the bird.
On Tuesday 14th January - early afternoon - we saw the Grey Phalarope 'attacked' or at the very least chased by a crow, leading to the Phalarope flying out towards the Lagoon, although shortly after (30-45 minutes) the Phalarope returned. Within about 5 minutes of the Phalarope returning, the crow returned, and sat on the fence (that surrounds the pool). We had only seen one crow there so we assume it was the same crow. At the sight of the returning crow, the Grey Phalarope didn't appear to be happy and flew off, with the time at 3.00pm. That may well have been the Grey Phalarope's farewell from the paddling pool as I am not aware of it returning or being sighted since.Here are a few photographs of the lovely little bird.
Grey Phalarope East Sussex 7th January 2014 - This lovely little visitor had decided that the sea was a bit rough and was taking it easy on a Paddling Pool which is situated less than 100 yards from the sea.... the paddling pool - probably not much more than 6 inches deep... had rain water and some tasty 'worms' that had been keeping the Phalarope content for a few days...
Photo taken with a Nikon D300S and a 70-300mm Lens
The Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius,
is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North
America and Eurasia.
