Jennie Smith: Nature Photography: Blog https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog en-us (C) Jennie Smith: Nature Photography (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:03:00 GMT Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:03:00 GMT https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-12/u989093858-o284542369-50.jpg Jennie Smith: Nature Photography: Blog https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog 120 80 Azores https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2020/4/azores I've been developing my backlog of images this week from past lovely trips. My collection from the Azores is now on this website, hopefully it will feel like travelling without the travelling:

Enjoy!

I'm currently working on my Costa Rica images (its going to take some time). Good job I went when I did!!

]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) azores nature photography reptiles travel underwater volcano wildlife woodland world) https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2020/4/azores Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:02:55 GMT Highly Commended in the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) . https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/11/highly-commended-in-the-british-wildlife-photography-awards-bwpa I was really chuffed to recieve 'Highly Commended' for my image of this pair of mating Lizards titled 'Cold Embrace' in the Animal Behaviour categorie in the BWPA (British Wildlife Photography Awards) this week.

 

Lizards were the first thing I asked about when I arrived at the Osprey reserve in Machynlleth, Wales. Not to dismiss Ospreys, but the gnarly intricate skin and mini monster like appearance of lizards has always ignited my imagination since being a child. When I came across this entwined mating couple using my macro lens felt like the best way to reveal detail other wise unseen and the pure intent of this fascinating creature.

 

My image of a Figwort Weevil titled 'Walking on Hair' (LOL) also gets to go in the book probably just because its sooo cute...

 

https://www.bwpawards.org/competition/book

 

]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) april awards british bwpa close-up common european lizard lizards macro mating nature photography reptile reptiles uk wales wildlife world https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/11/highly-commended-in-the-british-wildlife-photography-awards-bwpa Thu, 08 Nov 2018 12:16:47 GMT European Pond Terrapin and 3 Thicklip Grey Mullets https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/11/european-pond-terrapin-and-3-thicklip-grey-mullets Here's my favourite shot and also one of my favourite moments from my trip to Zakynthos, Greece in May. It's a European Pond Terrapin with 3 Thicklip Grey Mullets. The terrapins were living alongside many Thicklip Grey Mullets and two other species of terrapins; the Balkan Terrapin and just one Red-eared Terrapin which I didn't get a good shot of unfortunatly. It was a total hive of activity in the small muddy river/ditch they were all living in and really fun to watch. At first they all shot off when I got close but after a while I gained their trust and was able to get quite a few shots.

]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) 3 europe European fish Greece Grey Mullets nature photography Pond reptile reptiles Terrapin terrapins Thicklip wildlife world Zakythos https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/11/european-pond-terrapin-and-3-thicklip-grey-mullets Thu, 01 Nov 2018 18:30:52 GMT Long-tailed Macaques https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/8/long-tailed-macaques-macaca-fascicularis
The Long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis seen here drinking from a puddle on a path are also known as the Crab-eating macaques. They live in matrilineal social groups with a female dominance hierarchy, male members leave the group when they reach puberty. They are opportunistic omnivores and have been documented using tools to obtain food in Thailand which is where I photographed this group.
]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) backlit monkey monkeys nature photography primate primates Thailand wildlife world worldwide https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/8/long-tailed-macaques-macaca-fascicularis Thu, 23 Aug 2018 14:38:07 GMT Reindeer Lichen https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/4/reindeer-lichen A really cool lichen to look out for:

Reindeer lichen Cladonia portentosa, close up showing branched podetia.

I spotted it while out for a walk in West Yorkshire in January. For those new to lichen they are a composite organism and come in many facinating forms:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

Also see my Lichen Gallery

]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) (macro branches close-up lichen lichens macro nature world) https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/4/reindeer-lichen Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:51:38 GMT Pill Millipede https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/3/pill-millipede Pill Millipede - Glomeris marginata:

I came across this cute little critter while photographing Northern Hairy Wood Ants at Hardcastle Crags in West Yorkshire, well worth a visit:

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastle-crags

I'd never seen one before possibly because they tend to be mainly active at night. It just rolled out of the leaf litter in a tight ball, in the woodland I was in. I was surprised I spotted it as it was only the size of a pea. It was lovely and clean and shiny considering they live in leaf litter and dine on dead organic matter. Then it unfurled and marched along while I photographed it.

Happy days 😎

 

 

]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) (mini arthropod autumn autumnal beast) close-up macro millipede nature photography pill segmented shadow wildlife https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/3/pill-millipede Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:20:57 GMT Toad Migration https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/3/toad-migration
I'm getting excited about the toad migration in Calderdale again. As you can see here the female is around twice the size of the male. At breeding times, Toads make their way to ponds and lakes travelling 2km or more where males embrace females in a strong arm lock. Toad spawn is laid in long strings, compared with the large clumps from frogs. Toads generally hunt at night and are most active in wet weather they eat invertebrates such as insects, larvae, spiders, slugs and worms, which they catch on their sticky tongues.
 
The problem is unfortunatly while travelling to their breeding ponds, often on mass, they get squashed on roads and lanes:
 
So I'll be volenteering for Todmorden Toad Patrol again this year from about mid March to find out more search for:
 
Todmorden Toad Rescue Group on Facebook.
 
Also if you want to see more images of Toads migrating check out my Amphibian Gallery
]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) (breeding (natural (night-time) (toad adults amphibian amphibians mate migrate migration) nature time) toad toads travel wildlife world) https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/3/toad-migration Wed, 07 Mar 2018 15:51:59 GMT Spangle Galls https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/3/spangle-galls I photographed these amazing Spangle Galls in a local woodland nr Hebden Bridge, there was an absolute abundance of them.

The Galls are made by the Spangle Gall Wasp - Neuroterus quercusbaccarum. They have a facinating life cycle if anyones interested :

http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/spangle-gall-wasp

I also think they're really interesting to look at!

]]> (Jennie Smith: Nature Photography) (life-cycle) (macro autumn autumnal close-up galls graphic interesting life macro nature photography) wasps https://jenniesmith.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/3/spangle-galls Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:13:44 GMT