A Robin Is For Life And Not Just Christmas...

It's only 4 weeks until Christmas and of course there isn't a bird that signifies the festive period more than the Robin...That is if you don't count the Turkey that is!

Like a lot of people, the charming little Robin is a favourite of mine and I  can never resist taking a photo of them whenever I get the opportunity.
To celebrate the humble Robin, I've chosen the bird to be the subject of the latest portfolio in the 'Showcase' gallery on my main website... http://www.ajdixonphotography.co.uk/showcase

Shall We Have A Robin?

Well it's Friday, I haven't taken any new photos this week and I really like Robins!!

Seasons Greetings

It's been a while and after a fairly prolific start to 2010 with the camera, the last few months have seen my photographic outings become less frequent.

I hope to get out a bit more in the new year, so until then may I take this opportunity to thank everyone that has visited this blog as well as my website and wish you all the best for 2011.

100 Not Out!

Well, here is post number 100...
I must admit I'm surprised to have got here so quickly, because before I started this blog my main concern was finding the time to actually write it and finding something to write about!

I must say it's been a lot easier than I thought it would be.
I've found it's just a case of going out, taking some pictures and then talking rubbish about them...Simple!

Anyway, I've been thinking about what would be a fitting way of marking this milestone and decided that the best thing to do would be to post my favourite photo of the year so far...

Now so far this year I've traveled many miles around England and Wales photographing a vast variety of different species.
It seems strange then that my personal favourite image of the year was taken only a few miles from my home and is of one of the most common birds in Britain...The humble Robin.

Robins are the most charming little birds...Bold, brave, cheeky and I've always found them irresistible to photograph.
One day early in April, I was walking back to my car after a mornings photography session when I spotted something moving on the top of a high wall.
As I neared, I noticed it was a Robin, head down and totally ignorant to my presence.
I was a bit tired after a long morning and nearly didn't bother stopping...After all it was only a Robin!
There was a line of bricks partially obscuring the bird, but I became intrigued to know what was keeping him so occupied because I'd stood there for a good few seconds and he didn't look up once.
I decided I might as well get one final shot of the day, so pointed my 500mm lens at him handheld.
He still didn't look up, I still couldn't see what he was up to and my handheld camera was starting to get heavy!

I did one last focus check and steadied my camera as best I could before making a whistling sound.
The Robin looked up and straight at me revealing what had been keeping him so busy for the past couple of minutes...



Thanks once again for stopping by and following my blog.

Canal Life

Since I started this blog back in January, I have posted images from many different locations and habitats from around the UK.
It may seem strange then, that it has taken so long to do a post about one of the most important of my local habitats, the canal network.

In the coming weeks, I'd like to share with you some of my favourite places along my local canal network and also the wildlife I encounter on route.
I would also like to explain a little bit about the history of the waterways around Manchester and their impact on the world as we know it today.

For now though, I'll just give you a little taster...
There are two canals close to where I live...The Peak Forest Canal and the Macclesfield Canal.
These two canals meet at a junction at the village of Marple.
From Marple you can take the Peak Forest Canal to Buxworth in Derbyshire to the south or to Manchester in the north via the junction with the Ashton Canal.
Via the Macclesfield Canal it is possible to join other canal networks at Stoke-On-Trent and the Midlands beyond.

Today I was at a stretch of the Macclesfield Canal near High Lane which is a few miles south of Marple. The canals in this area are quite rightly regarded as some of the most beautiful in Britain and are very popular with Narrowboaters and pleasure seekers...

The canal offers a vast variety of flora and fauna and this area is rich in many wild flowers which attract many insects like this Painted Lady Butterfly...

In the grass at the side of the canal towpath there is plenty of clover in bloom at the moment and clover is a big favourite of the Bees...

There's plenty of birdlife to be seen and I couldn't resist a shot of this scruffy looking Robin...

Finally for now, perhaps the most common sight on the canal and every other body of water for that matter...The Mallard!

Morning Glory

A few more images from yesterday mornings session...

An early start normally means there is a good chance of seeing Rabbits who are very active in the first hours of the summer sunshine...
The hedgerows are always bustling at this farmland location and this Dunnock must have had young close by judging by the amount of insects collected in its beak...

Posing nicely in the sun was this Song Thrush...

Still plenty of Youngsters about and not quite ready for this years Christmas cards was this juvenile Robin...

It seems like years since it's been here...

Thankfully after the big freeze the big thaw is now with us and hopefully despite the obvious concerns about the affect of the adverse weather on wildlife, things won't be as bad as first predicted.


One thing I've noticed during these last few bleak weeks is an increase in people putting out food for the birds in their gardens and it's heartwarming to see.




Locally, I've noticed there seem to be plenty of small birds about and more pleasing still, in the last couple of days I've sighted one of our more vulnerable birds, the Kingfisher at it's known local territory.




I suppose it's kind of apt that the last of the snow (for now at least!) and the promise of sunshine tomorrow (Sunday 17th) brings this blog up to date.


All that is left now is to thank you for looking and to hope that you will visit again soon...




Anthony