Uploads from Paul_Wheeler, with geodata

Bluebell Wood

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:40:17 -0700

Bluebells flowering in Warleigh woods in Devon, England. This wood is close to my home, and is a lovely walk on a spring day.

Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) dominates this coastal woodland, and in spring the floor is carpeted with native English Bluebells.

Thank you for visiting my photostream. All your comments, favs and invites are very much appreciated. I hope you have a great week ahead.

Lungs of the Earth

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:25:52 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Sunlight illuminating the fresh green leaves of spring in woodland in Devon, England.

Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) dominates this coastal woodland, and in a location like this, where they compete for space, they can be stunted and grow into unusual, twisted forms.

Best large on black. Press "L"

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a great Sunday :)

I'm Interested!

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:00:16 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Something of interest has caught the eye of Sovereign, the wonderful Jaguar (Panthera onca) at Dartmoor Zoological Park.

Sadly, as the South American rain forests are being destroyed, these wonderful and powerful cats existence in the wild is being threatened.

The Jaguar has an extremely powerful bite, and it uses a different killing method than other large cats to kill its prey. Instead of biting the neck to suffocate the prey, the jaguar delivers a fatal bite through the skull, piercing the brain.

+++ I've been busy recently, and absent from Flickr. (I even have several GBs of images I've yet to process.) I thought I would post something just to let you all know I'm still around. I'll catch up soon, I promise :) +++

Thank you for visiting my photostream. Have a great weekend!

www.paulwheelerphotography.com

It's a Hard Life!

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:37:57 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Relaxing in the sunshine at Dartmoor Zooligical Park, Devon, England.

Sita Johanna is a female Southern Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus), and she retired to the DZP from another zoo at Paignton in Devon in June 2009.

On The Lookout!

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:17:25 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

I quite like this typical view of a male Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). I love the way that they always seem to find a vantage point, even if it's just a small bump in a field!

These small birds are now arriving in upland western Britain to breed, travelling from their winter feeding grounds in central Africa.

Thank you for visiting. Happy Feathery Friday and I hope you enjoy your weekend :)

Chiffchaff

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:53:33 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

I spotted this Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) picking insects and spiders off the brambles, while I was walking at Wembury Point recently.

While a small number of Chiffchaffs winter in the UK, the majority arrive in spring to breed. These birds will have wintered in the Mediterranean area, or even as far south as Africa.

I'm not the best at distinguishing the differences between Chiffchaffs and the very similar Willow Warbler, especially as I find each can vary in their distinguishing marks. I find their song is the only way I can be 100% sure, and I didn't hear this bird sing! I'm still confident it's a Chiffchaff, but if you think differently please let me know, and why you think differently.

Thank you for your comments, favs and invites. Hope you have a good end to the week, and a great weekend :)

Smile Please :)

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:32:05 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Nothing like a happy bear... Had to post this :)

European Brown bear at DZP in Devon.

Thank you for visiting. All your comments, favs and invites are appreciated. Enjoy your week :)

Asian Otter

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:31:20 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Earlier this week I spent an enjoyable few hours at the Dartmoor Zoological Park, in Devon, England. This is the zoo purchased by Benjamin Mee, who wrote the book "I bought a zoo". The book was recently made into a film with the same title. If you haven't seen the film, I recommend it :)

This is one of the Asian Otters at the zoo. These are a lot smaller than the Otters found in the wild in the UK.

I'm sure I'll be posting a few more from the zoo over the following days :)

Thank you for your continued support of my photography. All of your comments, favs and invites are truly appreciated. Hope you have a great Friday and holiday weekend :)

Marsh Tit

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:00:53 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

I couldn't resist posting another shot of this beatiful bird :)

The Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) is bird listed as Red Status by the RSPB. Red is the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action.

The Marsh Tit and Willow Tit are very similar, and the only way to tell them apart with a high degree of certainty is by their call. There are other subtle differences, and the Marsh Tit usually has a white mark on it's bill, and a glossy black cap. Both can be seen in my photograph.

If Marsh Tits find a good food supply, they may start to hoard seeds, burying and hiding them for a rainy day. Their hippocampus (the part of their brain which specialises in remembering things) is large, and bigger than other Tit's.

Best viewed as large as possible :)

BTW, if you are wondering, that's a growing branch on a tree, and the background is totally natural. Apart from the crop and a touch of contrast, this is SOOC.

Thank you for all your kind comments, faves, and invites and I hope you all have an enjoyable week :)

Great Crested Grebe

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:29:56 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristat)

A very elegant waterbird with ornate head plumes. In the past it was hunted for its feathers, almost leading to its extermination from Britain. They dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying. They have an elaborate courtship display in which they rise out of the water and shake their heads, and then pass weed to each other.

For detail please view as at Large 1600 or Large 2048.

For some reason Flickr is compressing all my images including the Original, resulting in a large amount of JPG artifacts, blocky colours, and loss of detail. Why are they altering the original? :(

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

Great Crested Grebe

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:45:42 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

I managed to take advantage of a spell of bright weather on Monday morning. I was pleased to get this nice shot of the Great Crested Grebe at Stover in Devon. I was happy to see my first Brimstone butterflies of the year, as well as Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells. The shot below is the only time I saw a Brimstone that wasn't flitting about constantly.

Highlight of the morning was the sighting of a couple of Common Lizards, although it was difficult to get a decent shot of them, I have added one in the comments, as well as the Brimstone. All were shot at 600mm!

The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristat) has a wonderful courtship dance, not witnessed on this visit (too late in the year), but they were busy nestbuilding. A very elegant waterbird with ornate head plumes. In the past it was hunted for its feathers, almost leading to its extermination from Britain. They dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying.

Thankyou for your comments, Favs and Invites. All are truly appreciated. Raining here again today, but I hope you find some sunshine wherever you are :)

Brimstone

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:30:16 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

The Brimstone has a wing shape that perfectly matches the leaves when roosting overnight, or when hibernating within foliage during the winter. This is one of the few species of UK butterflies that hibernates as an adult and spends the majority of its life as an adult.

Brimstones are commonly seen in early spring as they emerge from hibernation, and again from August as their offspring reach adulthood. These then feed avidly to build up fat reserves for the winter.

Common Lizard

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:30:10 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

The Common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) is, as the name suggests, widespread through Britain.
They can be seen in a wide variety of habitats, such as woodlands, hedgerows, and heathland. In Britain, these lizards hibernate between October and March, climbing into cracks between rocks and stones. As the weather warms up again in spring, they emerge to bask in the sun and recharge their energy for finding food. Their diet includes invertebrates such as earthworms, insects and snails, which they shake in their mouths to stun, before swallowing whole. Normally, in April they turn to breeding, but due to our recent very cold spring this may be a little later this year! In Britain, the behaviour of pregnant Common lizards is different to in warmer countries, as they store fertilized eggs in their bodies until almost fully developed, when the young are released in the egg sac, which usually bursts during the birthing process.

Despite being wide-spread, like most native British wildlife, the Common lizard is declining in numbers due to a loss of wild spaces.

Marsh Tit

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:17:35 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

The Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) is bird listed as Red Status by the RSPB. Red is the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action.

The Marsh Tit and Willow Tit are very similar, and the only way to tell them apart with a high degree of certainty is by their call. There are other subtle differences, and the Marsh Tit usually has a white mark on it's bill, and a glossy black cap. Both can be seen in my photograph.

If Marsh Tits find a good food supply, they may start to hoard seeds, burying and hiding them for a rainy day. Their hippocampus (the part of their brain which specialises in remembering things) is large, and bigger than other Tit's.

Best viewed as large as possible :)

BTW, if you are wondering, that's a growing branch on a tree, and the background is totally natural. Apart from the crop and a touch of contrast, this is SOC.

Thank you for all your kind comments, faves, and invites and I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend :)

Dartmoor Sunset

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 02:22:19 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

As you are aware, I'm not what you would call a landscape photographer, but I thought this would make a pleasant change from birds. I liked this sunset taken earlier this year, from Dartmoor looking over the rolling hills into Cornwall.

Thank you for your comments, faves and invites. All are truly appreciated :)
Hoping you have a most pleasant Tuesday, and remainder of the week.

Nuthatch

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 05:23:50 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

The nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is a plump bird about the size of a great tit that resembles a small woodpecker. It is found in mature woods and established parkland in central and southern Britain, normally on the sides of tree trunks and underside of branches

Thank you for your visit, and I always appreciate your comments and invites.
I wish you all a very happy Easter holiday weekend :)

Male Chaffinch with Foot Infection

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:29:55 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

This male Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) has a foot infection on it's left foot. I am seeing more and more of these warty foot infections on Chaffinches. Below is detailed information on the infection, for those of you who are interested.
(I have also posted a shot of a badly infected bird in the comments.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warts (viral papillomas), caused by the Fringilla papillomavirus (FPV).

Species susceptible: Chaffinches and, to a lesser extent, Bramblings. However, cases usually occur in clusters and quite high proportions of local populations may be affected in outbreaks.

The disease causes warty outgrowths on the foot or tarsometatarsus (the bare part of the leg). Usually only one limb is affected. The growths vary from small nodules to large irregular shaped and deeply-fissured masses which almost engulf the entire lower leg and foot and which can distort the toes. Affected birds usually seem in otherwise good health but some may show signs of lameness and hop mainly on the unaffected foot and digits may be lost. The warts grow slowly and may progress over many months. The growths have a similar structure to warts in mammals and are due to excessive growth of the keratinised layers of the skin.

Even birds with large papillomas often appear to behave normally so, in some cases, the growths may be little more than an inconvenience and relatively minor irritation. However, lameness is sometimes observed and this clearly indicates pain. It seems unlikely that this disease has an impact on population densities.

There is no treatment available and the outcome of the disease is unclear. Birds may die through being incapacitated or through developing secondary infections but it is possible that in some cases the lesions may regress spontaneously.

The fact that cases occur in clusters suggests that the presence of affected birds presents a risk to others that are susceptible. The mode of transmission is not known but it seems likely that the virus may be spread via surfaces the birds stand or perch upon. If so, hygiene measures and steps to minimise crowding at perching or feeding sites may reduce the risk. It is essential that bird tables and feeders are disinfected regularly.

Other diseases can cause swellings on the legs and feet: infestation with Cnemidocoptes mites (there is some evidence for an association between mange due to Cnemidocoptes infestations and the occurrence of papillomas), bacterial infections (bumblefoot), poxvirus infections.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best viewed as large as possible.

Thank you for your comments, faves and invites. All are truly appreciated. Hope you have a great Feathery Friday, and a wonderful weekend ahead :)

www.paulwheelerphotography.com

Male Chaffinch Foot Infection.

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:19:52 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

This male Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) has a foot infection on it's left foot. I am seeing more and more of these warty foot infections on Chaffinches. Below is detailed information on the infection, for those of you who are interested.

Warts (viral papillomas), caused by the Fringilla papillomavirus (FPV).

Species susceptible: Chaffinches and, to a lesser extent, Bramblings. However, cases usually occur in clusters and quite high proportions of local populations may be affected in outbreaks.

The disease causes warty outgrowths on the foot or tarsometatarsus (the bare part of the leg). Usually only one limb is affected. The growths vary from small nodules to large irregular shaped and deeply-fissured masses which almost engulf the entire lower leg and foot and which can distort the toes. Affected birds usually seem in otherwise good health but some may show signs of lameness and hop mainly on the unaffected foot and digits may be lost. The warts grow slowly and may progress over many months. The growths have a similar structure to warts in mammals and are due to excessive growth of the keratinised layers of the skin.

Even birds with large papillomas often appear to behave normally so, in some cases, the growths may be little more than an inconvenience and relatively minor irritation. However, lameness is sometimes observed and this clearly indicates pain. It seems unlikely that this disease has an impact on population densities.

There is no treatment available and the outcome of the disease is unclear. Birds may die through being incapacitated or through developing secondary infections but it is possible that in some cases the lesions may regress spontaneously.

The fact that cases occur in clusters suggests that the presence of affected birds presents a risk to others that are susceptible. The mode of transmission is not known but it seems likely that the virus may be spread via surfaces the birds stand or perch upon. If so, hygiene measures and steps to minimise crowding at perching or feeding sites may reduce the risk. It is essential that bird tables and feeders are disinfected regularly.

Other diseases can cause swellings on the legs and feet: infestation with Cnemidocoptes mites (there is some evidence for an association between mange due to Cnemidocoptes infestations and the occurrence of papillomas), bacterial infections (bumblefoot), poxvirus infections.

Thank you for your comments, faves and invites. All are truly appreciated :)

Marsh Tit

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 03:55:33 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

The Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) is bird listed as Red Status by the RSPB. Red is the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action.

The Marsh Tit and Willow Tit are very similar, and the only way to tell them apart with a high degree of certainty is by their call. There are other subtle differences, and the Marsh Tit usually has a white mark on it's bill, and a glossy black cap. Both can be seen in my photograph.

If Marsh Tits find a good food supply, they may start to hoard seeds, burying and hiding them for a rainy day. Their hippocampus (the part of their brain which specialises in remembering things) is large, and bigger than other Tit's.

Best viewed as large as possible :)

Thank you for all your kind comments, faves, and invites and I hope you all have an enjoyable UN International Day of Happiness! :)

Winter Spruce

nobody@flickr.com (Paul_Wheeler) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:49:32 -0700

Paul_Wheeler posted a photo:

Thought I would give you a break from birds :)

This is a B&W version of the colour shot you can see below, processed with Nik Silver Efex. I played around with different versions, but decided I like this high contrast version the best... It reminds me of an old, vintage photographs produced from plate cameras.

What do you think? Do you prefer the colour version?
I must admit neither is as good as the shot I posted a few weeks ago:
www.flickr.com/photos/paul_wheeler/8414007788/

Thank you for visiting. I appreciate all your comments, faves and invites. Please feel free to offer constructive criticism. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead :)