Defying the weather

2012.06.07

The red squirrels were particularly friendly today and this one was very content to pose with its prized hazelnut.

This is Frodo, the centre's mature dog fox.

Frodo again, looking very astute.

I found this frog drifting lazily in the water vole enclosure.

Oona, the Scottish Wildcat I've photographed before has now gone into retirement, off show, at the grand old age of 16. This is her younger successor, Kendra.

Even Scottish Wildcats have to have a scratch sometimes!

One of the centre's pair of American Mink. They aren't native to the UK and are something of a menace in some areas. However, these two were looking for a home and they've been neutered so they can't breed.

This Water Vole spent quite some time peering at me nervously from the entrance to his burrow before finally diving out to retrieve a piece of apple he'd dropped in the water and then scooting back inside!

This chap is the centre's stud male hedgehog which they use for breeding. He wasn't particularly impressed at being woken up as the star of the keeper's hedgehog talk but he still posed nicely for me!

Introducing Kevin - a three week old baby Barn Owl. He's being hand reared by Leonie, one of the keepers, so he can become part of the centre's flying display team. I think it's fair to say he has the sort of face only a mother could love at the moment but in time he will become a very handsome chap. Hopefully I'll be able to photograph him again on my return visits over the coming months and years as he matures.

The four o'clock flying display was shortened today as owls don't like flying in the rain too much. However, this Tawny Owl gave us a few flights and was very happy to pose for the camera.

This is one of Frodo's offspring from 2011. The centre has kept the two male cubs (the girls went to new homes elsewhere) and named them Dobby and Kreacher (a Harry Potter reference for those of you not familiar with the books). I'm not entirely sure which one this is but he was looking rather damp by the time I got to him late this afternoon!

Faced with a forecast of pouring rain and gale force winds I had to decide this morning whether to use my last remaining day of holiday to visit the British Wildlife Centre. In the end I decided to defy the weather and hope that the predicted couple of hours of dry conditions this morning would hold out a little longer. As it happened the forecast was pretty accurate and by early afternoon it was bucketing down, not that it stopped me shooting as I had gone prepared with a rain cover for my camera and a waterproof for me! I hadn’t planned to renew my BWC membership this year in order to save some money but my friend Sharon had other plans and renewed it for me for my birthday in March. Today was my first opportunity to visit since then and I’m so glad I put up with the inclement conditions as I caught some shots I’m really pleased with – thank you Sharon!

love them all! frog is the most beautifull! but cat too! each one!

gonia · 2012-06-07: 17:30

Very nice. Good color compensation on overcast day. Your composition is spot on.

swisszynski · 2012-06-07: 17:32

WOW
sO WONDERFUL

helys · 2012-06-07: 18:36

AMAZING set. Each photo is a treasure! I want to favourite them ALL. :))))

mazpics · 2012-06-07: 18:56

These are wonderful Helen!! I love them. Especially the foxes.

liveandletlive · 2012-06-07: 19:23

Excellent set!!! I'm so envious!!!

KatysPassionata · 2012-06-07: 20:13

So great, love all this beautiful animale.

kwibusje · 2012-06-08: 01:05

A magnificent series Helen, the frog is sublime and the baby owl has effectively an aspect which only a mother can love !

josy63 · 2012-06-08: 01:41

It is like a cast list for a Beatrix Potter film... fantastic pictures, well done.. any tips on photographing hedgehogs, ours is proving impossible to photograph, but that could be because she is grumpy and refuses to pose...

Annbramwell · 2012-06-08: 02:39

I was going to ask in wonder how you managed to get so close. Brilliant!

SM2012 · 2012-06-08: 03:02

wonderful pics

aldrin84 · 2012-06-08: 03:15

Incredible set - all beautiful creatures..

timepiece · 2012-06-08: 04:36

What a fabulous set , your description Of Kevin is perfect .
I have a wildlife calendar and the Scottish wildcat is this month's photo . Your wildlife portraits are well into such a high category.

MoMac · 2012-06-08: 04:41

What a wonderful set Helen! Frodo goes into my faves!!!! Your lovely door shot sold at the exhibit!!!! Yah for you and thank you for helping to make our exhibit a success!!!! Meow to Lucy!!!

danrav · 2012-06-08: 05:51