Island Creatures Part 3

Instead of dog walking I've taken to running with the dog (second week in) and this means I leave the camera at home. However that doesn't mean I've stopped seeing the local wildlife, the variation of which has come to surprise me recently! I still see the usual magpies, herons, buzzards etc but most of the following I'd never knowingly seen in the wild before (as stated before no photos below belong to me):

Eurasian Jay

1 sighted

Grey Wagtail

2 sighted

Either Snipe or Woodcock

4+ sighted

Either Short Eared or Tawny Owl

2 sighted

Our dog Izzy with her friend Dotty (Images by KLV)

Island Creatures - Part 2

Since the last post I've been out walking the same areas once again. This time I stumbled across the charismatic red squirrels (5 of them!), a kestrel and a couple of buzzards.

Images by KLV

Island Creatures

Since I now live on the Isle of Wight with a dog that needs plenty of walking, I've spent significantly more time outside and particularly along what I think is the Eastern Yar River (or a tributary of). I've always liked the woods, fields, rivers and marshes behind my house so it's been great coming across the local wildlife on an almost daily basis. Normally I'd take mallards and pheasants for granted as they're common enough but really they're pretty interesting birds with beautiful feathers! Them, along with various other species that inhabit the Sandown/Alverstone area, make dog walking a lot more interesting. 

Speaking of interesting, on a walk last week I came across an unfamiliar bird which turned out to be a 'Grey Peacock Pheasant'. This creature is also known as the 'Burmese Peacock' and it's the national bird of Burma/Myanmar, making it even more surprising to find it near my house on the Isle of Wight!

 

Images by KLV

The NYE Post

This NYE consisted of drinking, dancing, seeing old friends and acquaintances whilst dressed in smart attire with parrot feathers upon my head. The theme was Hollywood and it took place at the Cygnet Hotel, a place that I must have passed thousands of times in my life but never thought I'd spend NYE there. Saying that I was expecting a good night and these expectations were surpassed, one of the better nights to see in the new year. 

Happy New Year..

 Images by KLV

Ara - The Parrot

Having bought my ticket for the Hollywood themed party at the Cygnet Hotel, post to follow, I decided to assemble a statement piece for the occasion. Months ago I received bunches of feathers from a friend via Sea View Wildlife Experience (formerly Flamingo Park) and these included about six macaw feathers. I can't be certain but my best guess is that they belonged to a scarlet macaw (amongst the more well known), as depending on lighting all the primary colours can be seen much like in this particular bird. Anyway when it came to constructing a headpiece with these beautiful feathers I began with the standard hairband style using millinery wire much like I've posted previously and the gold stag detail is present thanks to Katie, which I think finished off the piece nicely and also helped me decide the wearing gold or silver jewellery dilemma! The name 'Ara' is also the genus of macaws to which the most famous belong. It is also a constellation, Latin for Altar and specifically that used by Zeus.

I love the effect my camera flash has on the feathers!

 

 

Images by KLV