Blackfish, Dorset and a Film update...

Today is a good day for blog writing. Its a great grey day, and the rain beats down on the window. Last nights spectacular sunset over Whipsnade feels like a season away.

Sunset from Whipsnade

As usual, it has taken me an age to get around to another post. Mostly because I have been ridiculously busy, working every spare moment planning and researching, and now filming, for my summer's project.

In the National Marine Aquarium

I finally got around to seeing Blackfish, the 'mesmerizing psychological thriller' about captive orcas, or killer whales, and the difficulty of keeping them in captivity.

Film Poster for Blackfish

If you want to be continually shocked by the same repeated incidents five or six times in 88 minutes then definitely watch it. It is shocking, and I think it is important for everyone to understand the situation. The message is clear, and it is seemingly obvious that orcas most definitely should not be kept in captivity. Each story of an orca turning on a trainer or killing somebody were all as heart wrenching as the other. Despite this, I found that by the end of the film the individual stories had started to lose their impact. You know what's going to happen, and you are already feeling angry and frustrated and the story continues down the same road right until the end. They only briefly touch upon what can be done with the large numbers of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) currently in captivity; I only remember hearing one person mention one sentence on the matter, but I would have liked to see a bit more about the future and what can be done to help them. The entire film is aimed at Sea World, for good reason. But, boycott Sea World? Something needs to be done to evoke change. For me, this should be seen as another important learning curve in keeping animals in captivity. Compare zoo's of today with those of a fifty, even twenty, years ago and you will see a hell of a lot of differences in animal welfare. People pay good money to experience and see animals in captivity, and their funding is vital to enable a lot of the conservation work around the world. Should we demand change? Most definitely. Watch it and let me know what you think! I could talk about it for hours...

                                                                                                                                                                  

On a brighter note, here are some trip photos over the past few months!

A beautifully sunny trip to Dorset for two days with Tim to investigate a few sites and see whether we could find any reptiles went fairly successfully.

St. Oswalds Bay

Sand Lizard

We found two of the six native species of reptile to Britain. We came home having watched the sand and common lizards in the dunes of Studland, leaving the adder, grass snake, slow worm and smooth snake for a future visit. We also enjoyed a blustery walk along Durlston cliffs, where birds zipped and bombed their way along the cliff edges, while rafts of sea birds bobbed on the waters surface. A kestrel perched on a jagged rock. Its partner fed on a vole, tearing into it as waves crashed hundreds of feet below.

Kestrel at Durlston Cliffs

And the ultimate aerial predator, the peregrine falcon, effortlessly sped through the wind, cutting through the air like an arrow as it patrolled the cliffs for potential targets.

Whilst at work, we discovered a little owl nest underneath a bench in a shelter. Three chicks of slightly varying sizes and fluffiness, as the owls incubate from first laying, the chicks hatch at different times, which is thought to enable a greater success rate of fledged chicks.

One of the little owl chicks

                                                                                                                                                                  

Today is baking hot. My face warm and glowing from a day working in the sun. Over the past month I have dedicated my entire free time to planning, producing and filming of this years summer film. The subject of the film is one I am extremely passionate about. Sharks. And it's close to home. Great British Sharks.

Mako jaws in the NMA

The aim of the film is to hopefully show people that not only are there 30+ species of native sharks in British waters, but that it is possible to actually go out, hit the coast and see them in the wild. Without flying to South Africa or California.

My good friend Tim has been unbelievably great help once again. And in the meantime, he has given himself a reputation for regularly falling over when entering and exiting the sea.

Snorkeling at Mousehole with Timmy P !

Part of the film has been filmed in the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. A beautiful aquarium that is definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself down in the South West. So far, we have carried out a couple of interviews, filmed sharks in the aquarium, and have found a nursery ground for catshark eggcases. Many thanks to David Gibson, Josh McCarty, John Hepburn and Cat Gordon for the help!

I have kept this post short to bring you up to date with Beyond the Riverbank goings on. My next post will be an extra special trip report from Canada, where I will be spending the next two weeks up in The Rockies. I have kept the film progress short, as I will do a mid-film progress report with behind-the-scenes photos of
Tim and I eating ice creams, and the film mascot, Ernie the Owl, meeting new people and seeing new places.

Ernie inspects a shield bug! 

As always, thank you for reading! And please comment and share, as the more people I have following, hopefully the more I can inspire!

Thanks ya'll !

Final Frame

Lightning over Cornwall. What a show! 

The South West: Moors & Tors

Since my last post, Autumn has been and pretty much gone.

The cemetery 

I've had a spontaneous trip to Norfolk, where the sun set over the dunes at Holkham at low tide. The wind picked up waves of dried sand, and whipped them across the beach. It was the same trip that the wind and rain completely trashed the tent, bending the poles and pinning the outer sheets over the top of us as we attempted to sleep.

Holkham

And! An incredible treat, where a few of the team from Whipsnade Zoo got to meet four beautiful wolves at the Anglian Wolf Society.

Wolf!

Now, winter has slowly gripped the country. Bitter winds numb the bloodflow to the tips of the fingers. Occasional storms have battered the land. And a trip to Cornwall ensued.


Sam joined me as we spent a few days in Cornwall, exploring the moors and my favourite coastline on the planet. Not that I have seen much, or enough, of Earths coasts! Our first walk was to Rame Head. A rugged headland that juts out into the channel, with views of Plymouth and the Mewstone to the East, Whitsand Bay to the West and 180 degrees of what appears endless sea to the South.

Rame Head

Here, Dartmoor ponies grazed the moorland, as kestrels hovered along the cliff edges. Their heads motionless as their wings beat furiously and their rudder-like tail controlled them in the wind. After an unsuccessful dive, the kestrel perched on a nearby telegraph pole. A small, beautifully intricate bird of prey.

Pony

A small herd of fallow deer at the base of the cliffs froze. For a moment motionless, their ears pricked up, faces stared directly at us. The moment passed. White bums flashed as the deer skipped through the wind worn vegetation.

Fallows in the distance!

The next day we ventured out across Bodmin moor, an area packed with old mines, railways and ruins, topped off with stunning panoramic views from the tops of the granite exposed tors.

View from the top! A great place to eat lunch (and drop it all over the floor)

We climbed to the top of Kilmar Tor. After we had watched many hail storms pass in the distance, our fortune faded as the sinister grey clouds were swept above us. Hail showered to the ground, springing off of the bare rock faces and stinging the face.

Climbing a tor on Bodmin moor

We were not alone in enjoying this beautiful moorland, as mischievous cows, disguised as orcas, grazed their day away.

Orcows...

And of course, what is a trip to Devon and Cornwall without a walk along the raw and rugged wildlife rich coastline?

The sun sets over the Mewstone, Wembury

I apologise for the  severe delays in any form of blog. A new venture has begun, as I have decided to take on the challenge of making wildlife films. I have started a blog here: Riverbank Movies.

The plan is to create lots of mini-episodes featuring exciting wildlife that people can enjoy easily, or with not too much effort and little expense, and show them how to connect and enjoy with it. I would love to reach people that are not already wildlife savvy and aware, and inspire them to become so. Which will probably mean I will have to pester people with 'please share' messages. I apologise in advance. That is two apologies in as many paragraphs...

Anyway, I have been filming with the Shark Trust in Devon, in touch with Hunstanton Sealife Centre, and am already making some good contacts and have got enough material to fully complete a short episode about grey seals. So keep your eyes peeled! I am on facebook, twitter and youtube now as well! Any ideas, tips, advice - please feel free to share ! 

Thank ya'll for reading!! Much appreciated.

Some Insanely Cool Insects: Glow-worms, Sawflies and Hawkmoths

Keeping out of the sweltering midday sun has become necessary to prevent myself from melting into a pool of sweat. But this great weather does mean that the evenings and early mornings are perfect for getting out and about, and spotting all of the insects that are basking in the glory of the sun's warmth. 

Blackbird chicks have dominated the top of the garden, with their cute dumpy appearance, short stubby tail and wide yellow mouths. I could hear the chirping of a chick underneath the hedgerow, so had a little rummage to see if I could spot the youngster. There, peering out of the undergrowth, the blackbird chick sat impatiently waiting for its mother to bring food to her. 

Peering through the undergrowth

Later that day, the chick had moved up to the top of the garden and bounced between cover to get fed. 

Sneaking behind the bricks

Great job by the mother!

But now, onto some of the insect highlights over the past week or so. Clinging to the silver-birch at the top of the garden, sawfly larvae hung in defense like the strongest of gymnasts.

Not strictly an insect, but this beautiful garden treat definitely falls into the creepy crawly category. A, what I believe to be, garden orb weaver spider (correct me if I am wrong - the markings on the abdomen look slightly different!). 

In wait of prey...

Working late has its advantages. Working late in a zoo built on the side of the downs helps too. A twinkle in the grass, at first I thought it was glass reflecting the torchlight. But upon closer inspection, the sparkling object revealed itself to be the glowing rear of a female glow-worm. My first glow-worm, and I was thrilled to see such a spectacular display of bioluminescence. Of course, this glow attracts the males which are glow-less but can fly. 

Some mighty fine glowing! 

Magic! Waiting for the flying male to mate with

The very next morning, I arrived back after a tour of the zoo, and was greeted by the cafe staff with a coffee mug with holes punched into the lid. Inside was an exotic moth, bright pink and black stripes across its abdomen, with a wing length almost the size of my palm. This was in fact a privet hawk moth, a species I have never seen before, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to admire in such close proximity. Phenomenal antennae!

Phwoar!

Released back into the wild

After my recent mini-garden survey in my previous post, I just can not help but look at the plants in the grasses. Whilst Rachael and I enjoyed tea and scones at the picturesque site of Houghton Mill in Cambridgeshire, I could not help but notice at least three grass species, directly underneath our feet! Not everyone shared my enthusiasm mind...

Some grass...

One particular advantage of having one of these more modern smart phones, is that their cameras are fairly decent, and are extremely portable. Because of this, I managed to photo the glow-worm, hawk moth, and casually snap bits and bobs quickly and easily without the need for the actual camera. Below, one of many fox-glove that have sprung up amongst the woodland around Ashridge...

Foxglove of Ashridge

Back home, and walking with Ellie, in the cool, warm evening sun. The air was warm, the tough grasses prickly against my calves. The sun dipped towards the horizon behind the woodland beyond the fields. The wheat glowed gold with the tint of the setting sun. 

Langford Fields

Between the trees

What a wonderful and sunny way to end a blog whilst I sit in my shorts baking hot in the midst of this heat wave that has swept the country! Thank ya'll for taking the time to read and/or gorp at some dodgy photos - expect a North Norfolk special in the next post!

The Downs, The White of Snow and Broom Lakes...

Working up near Dunstable Downs, I hope to be able to get out and enjoy the incredible scenery and wildlife. A rich chalk grassland, the highest point of Bedfordshire, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, numerous Sites of Scientific Interest, and two scheduled ancient monuments definitely make it worth a visit (sold it to you?!). My first walk across the top of the downs to take some panoramic shots proved successful. A red fox weaved its way through open fields, dodging the crows, and continuously got hassled by the magpies. The fox squatted on occasions, scent marking the fencing and leaving its feces across the downs.

The Downs on an overcast day - you can see five counties on a good day!

Watching fox on the Downs!

A 360 view from the top of the Downs

 A few weeks back, I posted about how incredible our world can become when covered in the bright white of frozen water, chaotically fallen as snow. Momentarily, spring looked like it might be on the way; as the snow drops finished flowering, and began to decay, daffodils started to spring up across grass verges and under hedgerows.

Death of the snow drops

Daffodils by the river

Not quite. As I am sure you are aware, more shocking weather, more snow, and more ice engulfed the country. Which has meant news reports packed with horror stories and a great deal of moaning from pretty much everyone I have spoken to.

Snow showers!

Icy water of the River Ivel

The problems snow, ice and freezing temperatures cause are clearly an absolute burden on peoples lives. Yet, there is no denying its beauty. Seeing the ice on the river, and then the light, white snow fall from the sky, I could not help but wonder what it was that makes snow white. Essentially both snow and ice are frozen water molecules. Yet while ice is clear, snow is white. The difference is in how the water is frozen. Snow contains air gaps, tiny bubbles of air pockets. And it is within these air pockets that light is reflected back in all directions, with no preference to any particular wavelength of light. The sunlight is therefore reflected in its natural colour, containing all wavelengths, which appears white.

Hefty chunks of snow, floating down to earth

Collapsed shed of Stotfold

Unfortunately for Sky, she has just moulted... 

A new car has allowed me to spread my wings slightly. My first day after picking it up, Haz and I took Sky and Ellie over to Broom lakes. The wind cut across the open fields where the sand is currently being extracted before the land is turned into more lakes, and what could potentially be a wonderful area of natural beauty. A standalone tree, bare and battered, overlooks the icy lake of coot, grebe and wigeon. Like a skeleton, the naked tree defines the essence of winter. Stagnant, waiting for spring.

Tree against the Sky

Siskin!

After a harsh winter, I look forward to the burst of new life spring brings; the sunshine scattered with heavy showers. I then look forward to the warmth of a summers evening, sitting in the garden with tea and biscuits watching the garden birds work furiously to bring up their young (with the exception of my bodies insistence that pollen is some kind of alien virus attacking my body, and needs disposing of through a constant stream of tears and snot). After the hot, sticky summer days, I long for a cold snap, where I can wrap up warm and feel invigorated after battling the wind and ice. After our first lot of snow and ice, I felt ready for spring. But this extended winter is hanging on. I love a cold and snowy winter, but I also love the sun and spring. I do not know about you, but I am about finished enjoying this coldness and am ready for some spring action.

Looking forward to more of these: sunsets from Dunstable Downs

Squeezing in! Sky and Ellie in the boot of the Micra

Until next time...