Giraffes walk, gallop and play at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Rob Cadd Photography 2014-08-06 | Four of the reticulated giraffes at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo (UK), shown walking in their enclosure on 27 Jul 2014. The two youngest members - Bashu (2 years) and Willow (8 months) - then engage in some interesting chasing/play behaviour.
Shorebirds in flight [Red knot : shift : RSPB Snettisham / The Wash] Rob Cadd Photography 2024-09-16 | These Red knot (Calidris canutus), overwintering on the feeding grounds of The Wash estuary in the UK, usually escape the highest of high tides by flying low to one of the lagoons situated just behind the shoreline at RSPB Snettisham nature reserve, where they rest up until the tide starts to recede.Prior to flying towards the lagoon, the shorebirds can often be seen adjusting their position on the mudflats in advance of the incoming tide. They almost 'hover' at times as they turn into the breeze, before selecting a landing spot amongst the rest of the flock on the mud.Location: RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, UK.Filmed (phonescoped on iPhone 12Pro) : Oct 2022.Single clip. Video one-fifth normal speed. Birds / shorebirds / waders / sandpipers / flight
Shorebirds in flight [Red knot : drop : RSPB Snettisham] Rob Cadd Photography 2024-09-12 | These Red knot (Calidris canutus), overwintering on the feeding grounds of The Wash estuary in the UK, usually escape the highest of high tides by flying low to one of the lagoons situated just behind the shoreline at RSPB Snettisham nature reserve.Occasionally however, some or all choose to instead fly up high, into what is sometimes referred to as an 'aerial roost'. Sometimes they even stay up for the entire high tide period (over an hour, perhaps), circling above the area, whilst their feeding grounds are covered by water.On this particular morning, while most of the knot flock had relocated to the lagoon at RSPB Snettisham during high tide, a few groups had flown up high for a while. Some of these 'high-fliers' later decided to descend to the lagoon at RSPB Snettisham. Many could be observed briefly inverting during flight (similar to the 'whiffling' behaviour seen in geese and some other large birds), in order to lose height quickly in stages. See examples at 00:50 and 01:03 in this video.Location: RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, UK.Filmed (phonescoped on iPhone 12Pro Max) : Oct 2023.Single clip. Video one-fifth normal speed. Birds / shorebirds / waders / sandpipers / flight
Shorebirds in flight [Red knot : incoming II : RSPB Snettisham / The Wash] Rob Cadd Photography 2024-08-28 | Red knot (Calidris canutus), many still showing remnants of their breeding plumage, escape the fast-incoming tide on their feeding areas of The Wash, to head for their nearby high tide roosting area on one of the lagoons at RSPB Snettisham, UK.Location: RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, UK.Filmed (phonescoped on iPhone 12Pro) : Aug 2022.Single clip. Video one-fifth normal speed. Audio normal speed.Birds / shorebirds / waders / sandpipers / flight
Bohemian waxwings : flock drink : Milton Keynes, UK Rob Cadd Photography 2024-03-08 | A few slow-motion clips of a flock of Bohemian waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) coming down from their feeding bushes, to drink in some puddles within the short grass nearby.Filmed: Feb 2024Location: Kingston, Milton Keynes, UK.Phonescoped using an iPhone 12 Pro Max on an Opticron MM4 77 GA ED/45 Fieldscope.
Shorebirds in flight [Red Knot : incoming I : RSPB Snettisham / The Wash] Rob Cadd Photography 2024-02-22 | Red knot (Calidris canutus), flying in from their feeding grounds on The Wash estuary, to their high tide roosting area on one of the lagoons at RSPB Snettisham, UK.I particularly like the way the small group of black-headed gulls (apart from one!) struggle to swiftly exit their roost, as it is suddenly inundated by several thousand Knot.You might also spot the odd Dunlin (Calidris alpina) in amongst the flock, and a few Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) passing by, which are often also found here in good numbers.The video is very poor quality I'm afraid, as it was shot pre-sunrise on a very overcast morning, with practically no light down in the lagoon area. So colour and detail are pretty minimal. However, I thought I'd publish the clip anyway, as I think it gives a sense of the numbers of these shorebirds which can often be found in the area, particularly in late Autumn and early Spring.Location: RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, UK.Filmed (phonescoped) : Feb 2023.Single clip, one-fifth normal speed.
Starlings : murmuration to roost : RSPB Otmoor [2023] Rob Cadd Photography 2024-01-29 | I felt very privileged, not only just to witness this amazing starling murmuration at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, but especially so when the majority of the flock then decided to drop in to roost, right next to where I was standing (largely hidden). Includes original audio.Chapter markers:03:30 first birds drop in to roostLocation: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 15 Dec 2023 (early evening)Filmed using an #iphone12pro
Sand martin : breezy perch : RSPB Frampton Marsh Rob Cadd Photography 2023-08-08 | Normally quite tricky to film, these sand martins (Riparia riparia, also known as Bank swallows) made it a lot easier for me, by hovering in the moderate breeze, next to a metal rod/pipe on which one or two of them also attempted to land. Others seemed to be happy just to hover adjacent to the perching spot.Location: RSPB Frampton Marsh (360 hide). Lincolnshire, UKDate: 07 Aug 2023 (late afternoon)Filmed using an #iphone12promax attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as phonescoping , a subcategory of digiscoping.
Bittern : boom (song) : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2023-05-22 | A male Great / Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) performing his 'booming' song. Location: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 07 May 2023 (early morning)Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #phonescoping , a subcategory of #digiscoping Original audio (captured via a RØDE VideoMic NTG microphone), filtered to reduce sound of a distant light aircraft. #røde
Black-winged stilt : deep : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2023-05-17 | An elegant Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), foraging in a pool on Big Otmoor at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, before eventually taking off. Includes audio.Location: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 16 May 2023 (early evening)Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #phonescoping , a subcategory of #digiscoping
Common snipe : next time round : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2023-03-13 | A flock of Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - occasionally known as a 'wisp' of snipe - flying several circuits around the southern lagoon at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, before finally deciding it's safe to land.Location: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 29 January 2023 (early morning)Flight clips are one quarter-speed slomo. Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #'phonescoping, a subcategory of #digiscoping
Barn owl : quartering the ditches : RSPB Nene Washes Rob Cadd Photography 2023-03-10 | Barn owl (Tyto alba) quartering over the ditches, and later over Morton's Leam, in the washland landscape of RSPB Nene Washes, Eldernell.Location: RSPB Nene Washes nature reserve, Cambridgeshire, UKDate: 05 March 2023 (dawn, very overcast)Clips are one quarter-speed slomo. Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #'phonescoping, a subcategory of #digiscoping
Hen harrier : quarter : RSPB Nene Washes Rob Cadd Photography 2023-02-07 | Male hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) quartering over the washland landscape of RSPB Nene Washes, Eldernell.Location: RSPB Nene Washes nature reserve, Cambridgeshire, UKDate: 04 February 2023 (late afternoon, overcast)Clip is one quarter-speed slomo. Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #'phonescoping, a subcategory of #digiscoping
Common crane : flight : RSPB Nene Washes Rob Cadd Photography 2023-01-30 | Flock of more than 50 overwintering Common crane (Grus grus) in flight above the washland landscape of RSPB Nene Washes, Eldernell.Not impressive numbers compared to those seen at many sites around the world, but this was the most I'd ever seen together in the UK.Location: RSPB Nene Washes nature reserve, Cambridgeshire, UKDate: 28 January 2023Clip is one quarter-speed slomo. No audio unfortunately, as I'd switched the microphone off -- not that the audio would've been usable anyway, as I happened to be taking a break in the carpark at the time, and was surrounded by several people trying to tell the rest of their respective parties where the cranes were! :)Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #'phonescoping, a subcategory of #digiscoping
Eurasian woodcock : daylight flight : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2022-12-20 | Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) flying over Greenaways at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve. Early afternoon.Not often seen in flight during daylight hours, I believe this woodcock may've been flushed by one of two foxes which were hunting in the vicinity at the time.Location: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 16 December 2022Clip is one fifth-speed slomo.Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope -- a technique sometimes known as #'phonescoping, a subcategory of #digiscoping
Pink-footed geese : dawn departure : RSPB Snettisham / The Wash Rob Cadd Photography 2022-10-27 | Hundreds of Pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) take to the air in the dawn twilight as they leave their overnight roosting area on the exposed mudflats of The Wash.Flying over the nature reserve at RSPB Snettisham, they head inland to spend the day feeding, before returning to the mudflats in the evening.Filmed October 2021.Filmed using iPhones; the close shot via attaching the phone to a spotting-scope (technique known as phonescoping).
Short-eared owl : Kestrel encounter : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2022-10-16 | This short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) had just caught a small rodent (vole/mouse), but spotted a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Although it tried to get away by gaining height, the falcon was persistent, eventually forcing the owl to relinquish the meal.RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK. October 2022.
Short-eared owl : close quarter : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2022-10-15 | This short-eared owl was quartering over Greenaways at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK. October 2022.Filmed on #iphone12pro attached to a spotting scope.
Barn owl : flight : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2022-10-04 | Barn owl (Tyto alba), quartering over Greenaways at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve. Early evening.Location: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 25 September 2022Clip is quarter-speed slomo.Filmed using an #iphone12pro attached to an Opticron field scope (technique sometimes known as #'phonescoping, a subcategory of #digiscoping)
Peregrine : hunting lapwing : Frampton Marsh Rob Cadd Photography 2022-09-24 | I caught sight of a bit of a commotion out of the corner of my eye whilst I was busy filming in another direction. This Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) was chasing Lapwings over an area of water in the saltmarsh adjacent to RSPB Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire, UK.It had several attempts at what I think were different birds - however, I might be mistaken and maybe two of the attacks were on the same bird. First attempt missed completely; in the second, the Peregrine took down the Lapwing, but it swiftly recovered and took off again. There were several Marsh harriers around, and I think these coralled the Lapwing and enabled the Peregrine to have another go. Again, it managed to take down the Lapwing, but I think (it was difficult to tell as everything was happening quite fast) that the Marsh harriers ended up claiming the Lapwing, as the Peregrine did eventually land some way off from the point where the Lapwing came down.
Stonechat : launches : RSPB Frampton Marsh Rob Cadd Photography 2022-01-17 | This pair of stonechats (European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola, syn: Common stonechat, S. torquatus rubicola) were giving great views from one of the main paths at RSPB Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire, UK recently.Shot using an Apple #iPhoneXS attached to an #Opticron field scope - a technique often known as phonescoping.
Starlings : exodus trails : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2022-01-15 | The amazing sight of thousands of starlings (European starling, Sturnus vulgaris), exploding into the air from their overnight roosting areas in the reedbeds at RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire, UK.I find that the 'morning after' experience can be just as exhilarating - sometimes even more so - than the murmurations of the previous evening. The starlings leave in several waves at dawn, usually around first light, and head off to surrounding areas (which may be several miles away) to feed. Often different waves will depart in different directions: how the decisions are made within the flocks as to which direction to take, I have no idea. It's not unusual to see raptors hanging around at this time - typically marsh harriers or sparrowhawks, but occasionally merlin, peregrine, or hen harrier; however, on this particular morning, I didn't spot anything until after the 'show' was over (a single marsh harrier floating over the just-vacated area of reedbed).Viewing these events does often mean an early start though, particularly if there's a long walk to the areas where the starlings roost, as is typically the case at RSPB Otmoor. The starlings often don't roost in the same area of reedbed on consecutive nights, so it can sometimes be a challenge to locate them and get into a suitable position before they decide to leave for the day. After several less-than-successful attempts at filming this phenomenon over the past few winters (often the birds are quite distant from the viewing areas, or the light is terrible, or usually both), finally the birds and the weather co-operated on this particular morning, making for a spectacular experience.I've edited the footage to add the effect of trails to the birds, having seen a similar in several murmuration videos. This makes it easier to see how the individuals are moving and changing direction. Some will even seem to head off in one direction, and then head back to the roost before deciding on another direction.Filmed on #iPhone8, Jan 2022.
Starlings : ready : RSPB Otmoor (with original audio). Starlings leaving overnight roost at dawn. Rob Cadd Photography 2022-01-11 | A small group of starlings (European starling, Sturnus vulgaris), assembled on a bush not far from their overnight roosting area, await their moment to join the throng of thousands heading past them and off into the surrounding fields for the day.The sound on this video is entirely generated by the voices and wings of the flock, and was amazing to witness. The roar of the massed wingbeats sounded almost like a thundering of hooves at times. I was very fortunate, on this particular morning, that a good proportion of the roost had decided to briefly congregate near to one of the viewing screens (which they rarely do, in my experience) before they left the reserve for the day, around half an hour before sunrise. Thus I was able to stay hidden and not disturb them as they prepared to leave.Location: RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UKDate: 05 Jan 2022I've included a half-speed slomo version of the same clip after the normal-speed version.Filmed using an #iPhoneXS attached to an Opticron field scope (technique sometimes known as 'phonescoping').
Jack snipe : bob : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2022-01-09 | Jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus), exhibiting its characteristic bouncing / bobbing motion whilst feeding amongst the reed stubble at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK.
Hen harrier : church : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-11-02 | Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) "ringtail" - probably an adult female - quartering over the reedbeds at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK.The parish church at Charlton-on-Otmoor appears several times in the background, as the harrier floats back and forth over the reedbeds in the late afternoon sunshine, shortly prior to the bulk of the starling flock arriving to roost in the reedbeds.Clip is slowed down to one-fourth normal speed. No audio.
Purple sandpiper : probe : RSPB Titchwell Marsh Rob Cadd Photography 2021-11-02 | Slow-motion footage of a purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima), probing the sand for food at RSPB Titchwell Marsh nature reserve, Norfolk, UK.The video shows a sand hopper (small sand-dwelling crustacean, forming a large part of the diet of this shorebird) making a bid for escape after being extracted from the sand, before eventually being recaptured and devoured by the sandpiper.
Grey phalarope : closer : RSPB Titchwell Marsh Rob Cadd Photography 2021-11-01 | Grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius, also known as Red phalarope). This individual was a popular visitor to RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk, UK, staying for around 12 days in October 2021.This clip is one-quarter speed slow motion footage of the bird as it swims towards the camera, plucking food from the water surface. It then commences it's characteristic circular swimming action, which draws up material - including food - onto the surface of the water, from where it can be snapped up.
Birdsong : Marsh warbler [11 JUN 2021] Rob Cadd Photography 2021-08-11 | Singing marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), early morning (around sunrise).Video is unprocessed. Audio has been filtered slightly to reduce distant traffic rumble.Date and approximate time of each clip can be seen via the clip name, bottom-left of each shot. This is in the format yyyymmdd_hhmmss . . . with the "_iXs" indicating that all the footage was shot on Apple iPhone Xs, phonescoping through an Opticron field scope.
Birdsong : Marsh warbler [12 JUN 2021] Rob Cadd Photography 2021-08-11 | Singing marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), early morning (around sunrise).Video is unprocessed. Audio has been filtered slightly to reduce distant traffic rumble.Date and approximate time of each clip can be seen via the clip name, bottom-left of each shot. This is in the format yyyymmdd_hhmmss . . . with the "_iXs" indicating that all the footage was shot on Apple iPhone Xs, phonescoping through an Opticron field scope.
Birdsong : Marsh warbler [15 JUN 2021] Rob Cadd Photography 2021-08-11 | Singing marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), early morning (around sunrise).Video is unprocessed. Audio has been filtered slightly to reduce distant traffic rumble.Date and approximate time of each clip can be seen via the clip name, bottom-left of each shot. This is in the format yyyymmdd_hhmmss . . . with the "_iXs" indicating that all the footage was shot on Apple iPhone Xs, phonescoping through an Opticron field scope.
Birdsong : Marsh warbler [23 JUN 2021] Rob Cadd Photography 2021-08-11 | Singing marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), early morning (around sunrise).Video is unprocessed. Audio has been filtered slightly to reduce distant traffic rumble.Date and approximate time of each clip can be seen via the clip name, bottom-left of each shot. This is in the format yyyymmdd_hhmmss . . . with the "_iXs" indicating that all the footage was shot on Apple iPhone Xs, phonescoping through an Opticron field scope.
Birdsong : Marsh warbler [26 JUN 2021] (Description includes timestamps to mimicked species) Rob Cadd Photography 2021-08-11 | Singing marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), filming during early morning (around sunrise).Edit (17 Aug 2021) : Harry Appleyard (Bucks Bird Club member) has kindly provided the following list of possible mimicked birds within this video. Clicking on the links - as provided by Harry below - will take you directly to that particular mimicking section. Many thanks for the list and links, Harry!Great Tit - 6:27, 7:59, 11:53, 12:48, 14:22, 17:18, 22:14, 24:08, 32:45, 35:42, 36:37, 48:13, 50:42, 50:48 Blue Tit - 7:00, 11:22, 17:30, 28:03, 25:50, 38:02, 43:54, 53:41 Tree Pipit - 7:17, 17:24, 23:07, 30:15, 34:24, 40:22, 44:05, 46:50, 49:13 Linnet - 8:34, 11:31, 16:04, 19:22, 22:02, 23:30, 26:30, 43:07, 46:14, 50:27 Willow Warbler/Redstart - 8:49, 20:59, 24:20, 52:41 Greenfinch - 9:37, 13:26, 18:36 Chaffinch - 11:00 Green Woodpecker - 12:36, 16:18, 19:44, 45:52 House Sparrow - 13:56, 24:43, 36:23, 47:47 Common Tern - 14:11, 23:42, 54:44Goldfinch -16:33, 26:22, 28:09, 28:33, 39:53, 40:02, 48:03 Siberian Chiffchaff ("peep" calls) - 16:59, 22:50, 38:26, 43:18 Starling - 22:05, 27:34, 28:23, 36:15, 46:55, 49:24 Chiffchaff - 22:38, 32:10, 38:23, 43:27 Grey Wagtail - 22:59 Blackbird - 24:29, 27:24, 36:29, 42:20, 53:23 Common Whitethroat (alarm calls) - 25:47 Swallow - 33:43, 45:44, 51:00 Common Crossbill - 38:08Video is unprocessed. Audio has been filtered slightly to reduce distant traffic rumble.Date and approximate time of each clip can be seen via the clip name, bottom-left of each shot. This is in the format yyyymmdd_hhmmss . . . with the "_iXs" indicating that all the footage was shot on Apple iPhone Xs, phonescoping through an Opticron field scope.
Birdsong : Marsh warbler [01 JUL 2021] Rob Cadd Photography 2021-08-11 | Singing marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), filming early morning (around sunrise). Also includes some foraging and preening behaviour.Video is unprocessed. Audio has been filtered slightly to reduce distant traffic rumble.Date and approximate time of each clip can be seen via the clip name, bottom-left of each shot. This is in the format yyyymmdd_hhmmss . . . with the "_iXs" indicating that all the footage was shot on Apple iPhone Xs, phonescoping through an Opticron field scope.
Swifts : fast & low : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-05-21 | The common swift (Apus apus) is probably one of the most challenging #birds I've tried to film; not surprising given their amazing speed and manoeuvrability.I had a great time attempting to follow these birds as they hunted insects low over the lake and reedbeds at RSPB Otmoor (Oxfordshire, UK) recently. The vast majority of the footage ended up on the digital equivalent of the cutting room floor, but I was pleased that a few clips were - whilst not exactly top quality - at least usable as a demonstration of the birds' little-seen feeding behaviour.Filmed on an #iPhoneXs attached to a spotting-scope (technique known commonly as phonescoping).
Glossy ibis with cormorant : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-05-03 | I'd not seen a glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), at least not in the wild, until this year. I'd been told to look out for something that, when in flight, "looks a bit like a cormorant" (Thanks Tim!! :) ).Sure enough, when I finally did see one in flight (at RSBP Otmoor, Oxfordshire, UK) in March 2021, it did indeed bear some resemblance to a cormorant (Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo), at least to my relatively inexperienced eye. During my subsequent visits to Otmoor, when questioned "Have you seen the ibis?", I'd been passing on the tip about double-checking any flying birds which "look a bit like a cormorant".A few weeks later, a couple of additional birds were occasionally being seen at Otmoor (and at Port Meadow, in nearby Oxford city). I had to laugh though, when I spotted this pair flying towards the Flood field at Otmoor, complete with cormorant in tow!I think the comparison is probably justified, at least for the casual observer.
Bittern : male booming (dawn) : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-04-29 | A male Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) 'booms' from a relatively open position amongst the reedbeds. This clip was filmed on an #iPhoneXs around fifteen minutes before sunrise at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK, using the phonescoping technique. I was filming a pair of bitterns in the distance when I caught sight of this male sitting around 95m from my position. Luckily he stayed in sight for a little while, during which he boomed shortly after a brief threat display - the threat display presumably to something overhead or nearby which I didn't spot.The actual conditions were quite a bit darker than it appears here; the necessary high-ISO filming resulting in quite a lot of video 'noise' and lack of fine detail in the original file. There's also some 'heat haze' contributing to a slightly wobbly image, even though the sun hadn't yet appeared over the horizon.Shooting at such a distance meant that the boom call ended up being around a third of a second behind the image in the original clip, so the audio has been adjusted in the edit to bring it back into sync.
Redshank : courtship fight? : BBOWT Gallows Bridge Farm Rob Cadd Photography 2021-04-26 | Redshank (Common redshank, Tringa totanus) can occasionally be observed fighting during the breeding season. There seems to be various views on who is actually fighting; some sources say the fights are between rival males, others that they are between male and female (the sexes are alike). I suspect both are possibilities.I observed this particular encouter between two individuals, mid-morning at a local BBOWT nature reserve (Gallows Bridge Farm, part of the Upper Ray Meadows reserve complex). There were only around four redshank on-site at the time - the other two can be seen briefly in the background of this clip.In this instance, I believe the fight to be between a courting male and female. It certainly seems to be more of a ballet than a duel. This is particularly apparent when the action is slowed down, so I've included a portion of 20%-normal speed slomo footage after the normal-speed clip. The birds rarely seem to use their bills as weapons - it seems to be more of a leap-frogging dance (to my untrained eyes, anyway!). As soon as they've finished 'fighting', they go back to calmly swimming alongside one another pretty rapidly.Also, I'm 99% certain it was this pair that I witnessed mating a few minutes later.BBOWT - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
Bittern : male & female (dusk encounter) : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-04-22 | This video follows on from youtu.be/3V0wa_ZCHnM and youtu.be/l3pmqGt04MUA male Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) had previously emerged from a nearby reedbed at dusk, boomed a couple of times, and walked across to another reedbed (see youtu.be/3V0wa_ZCHnM ). After about two minutes, during which it was looking around a lot, it then started to walk back to its original reedbed. En route, it encountered another male (see youtu.be/l3pmqGt04MU), and after some crouched stalking, a booming call from one, a 'silent boom' (?) from the other, and another threat display, there was a brief fight. One #bird then flew off, pursued by the other shortly afterwards.When this (second) bird landed, it immediately started walking rapidly through the reedbeds with head aloft, seemingly searching for its rival (or, perhaps for the female which - as shortly became apparent - was nearby). I lost track of this male, but a few seconds later I picked up this male in the same patch of reedbed, now with a female. Unfortunately I don't know which of the original males this one is - if any.This clip shows the male booming whilst accompanying the female (he generally follows her around in a crouched position - often with crest, ruff, and 'epaulette' feathers erect, and she walks around with her head sky-pointing. After some circling of the female, the male walks off, shakes, booms, and then starts to follow the female again, at which point she flies off (not far away, I think). He starts to follow her on foot, and eventually flies off in the same direction too (I think to an adjacent reedbed, but not 100% sure about that, as I could no longer see at this point due to the encroaching twilight)This clip was filmed on an #iPhoneXs around half an hour after sunset at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK, using the phonescoping technique. The actual conditions were much much darker than it appears here; the necessary high-ISO filming resulting in lots of video 'noise' and lack of detail in the original file, on which I've had to work extensively to create an acceptable image; there's still plenty of noise remaining though.Shooting at such a distance (around 150m) also meant that the boom calls ended up being around half a second behind the image in the original clip, so this had to be adjusted in the edit.Excuse the Cetti's warblers, which always seem to butt in (audibly) at the wrong moment!
Bittern : males - threat display & fight (dusk) : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-04-20 | This video follows on from youtu.be/3V0wa_ZCHnMA male Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) had previously emerged from a nearby reedbed, boomed a couple of times, and walked across to another reedbed (see youtu.be/3V0wa_ZCHnM ). After about two minutes, during which it was looking around a lot, it then started to walk back to its original reedbed. En route, it encountered another male, and after some crouched stalking, a booming call from one, a 'silent boom' (?) from the other, and another threat display, there was a brief fight. One #bird then flew off, pursued by the other shortly afterwards.It was interesting to see the postures of the birds as they squared up to one another, and in particular the raised, light-coloured epaulettes, which seem to become really noticeable in low-light conditions.This clip was filmed on an #iPhoneXs around half an hour after sunset at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK, using the phonescoping technique. I was following the bittern through the phone/scope (I could no longer see it with the naked eye, partly due to the iPhone screen disrupting my eyes' night vision, and partly because it was very dark!) when the second bird wandered into view from the right. The actual conditions were much much darker than it appears here; the necessary high-ISO filming resulting in lots of video 'noise' and lack of detail in the original file, on which I've had to work extensively to create an acceptable image. My knowledge of editing software, and of video noise reduction in particular, is somewhat limited, but the end result doesn't seem too bad (compared to the original, at any rate!); there's still plenty of noise remaining though.Shooting at such a distance (around 175m) also meant that the boom call ended up being around half a second behind the image in the original clip, so this had to be adjusted in the edit.
Bittern : male booming (dusk) : RSPB Otmoor Rob Cadd Photography 2021-04-20 | As darkness fell on a calm Spring evening, this male Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) emerged from a nearby reedbed, and I was delighted to be able to capture it performing its "booming" call in the open, as it moved to an adjacent reedbed.This clip was filmed on an #iPhoneXs around half an hour after sunset at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve, Oxfordshire, UK, using the phonescoping technique. I was about to give up filming for the evening due to failing light, but thought I'd have a final scan across the reedbeds through my binoculars, and just caught sight of a bittern-like shape some 175m away in the gloom. The actual conditions were much much darker than it appears here, resulting in lots of video 'noise' in the original file, on which I've had to work extensively to create an acceptable image of the #bird. My knowledge of editing software, and of video noise reduction in particular, is somewhat limited, but the end result doesn't seem too bad (compared to the original, at any rate!); there's still plenty of noise remaining though.Shooting at such a distance also meant that the boom call ended up being around half a second behind the image in the original clip, so this had to be adjusted in the edit.
RSPB Otmoor : post-sunset soundscape (bittern, curlew, snipe, lapwing etc.) Rob Cadd Photography 2021-04-19 | Short clip of audio, recorded at RSPB Otmoor nature reserve near Oxford, UK. This soundscape was recorded about half an hour after sunset on 31 March 2021, a lovely calm evening.Amongst several other birds (which I've yet to identify, so comments welcome!), the following can be heard prominently:Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - "drumming" flight displayNorthern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - songEurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) - "booming" call at 2:01Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) - songNote: the clip of the moon was from a few days later, as the video recorded at the time wasn't very interesting!
Starlings : murmuration to roost : RSPB Otmoor [2020] Rob Cadd Photography 2021-02-26 | After a fairly brief murmuration, these starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) started to stream down into their roost at sunset, which on this occasion happened to be quite close to where I was standing.December 2020.Technical:Cameras: Apple iPhone 8 (wide shots); Apple iPhone Xs.Software/apps: FiLMiC Pro app (v.6, by FiLMiC Inc.) on both iPhones. Edited on iPad using LumaFusion app (by Luma Touch).An Opticron MM4 GA 77 ED Fieldscope with SDL v2 eyepiece was used to film the closer shots, using a technique known as phonescoping. The phone was attached to the scope using the Opticron Universal Smartphone Mount USM-2.Support: Manfrotto 055 MF4 tripod; Manfrotto 701HDV video fluid head.
Stone-curlew at Gallows Bridge BBOWT reserve - May 2019 Rob Cadd Photography 2019-05-18 | A short film of the Stone-curlew which visited Gallows Bridge Farm (part of the Upper Ray Meadows BBOWT reserve complex in Buckinghamshire, UK) on 15 May 2019. Also includes shots of several other birds seen that day, including Little egret, Red Kite, Yellow Wagtail, Curlew and Little ringed plover.Not great video quality I'm afraid - due to the location of the bird, I was unable to fully stabilise the tripod for most of the stone-curlew shots, so there are a few wobbles!Technical:Camera: Apple iPhone 7; FiLMiC Pro app.An Opticron MM4 GA 60 ED Travelscope with SDL v2 eyepiece was used to film the birds. The phone was attached using the Opticron Universal Smartphone Mount USM-2.Support: Manfrotto 055 MF4 tripod; Manfrotto 701HDV video fluid head.
Otter at Calvert BBOWT : Dec 2018 Rob Cadd Photography 2018-12-31 | Short clip of an otter at Calvert Jubilee (a BBOWT - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust - nature reserve).Filmed in right-hand reedbed channel, as viewed from Hide 1, on 20 Dec 2018 at 07:52 (15 mins before sunrise).Technical:Camera: Apple iPhone 7; FiLMiC Pro app (v.6).An Opticron MM4 GA 60 ED Travelscope with SDL v2 eyepiece was used to film the otter. The phone was attached using the Opticron Universal Smartphone Mount USM-2.Support: Manfrotto 055 MF4 tripod; Manfrotto 701HDV video fluid head.
Cranes at Gallows Bridge BBOWT reserve - May 2018 Rob Cadd Photography 2018-06-05 | A short film of the Common Cranes which visited Gallows Bridge Farm (part of the Upper Ray Meadows BBOWT reserve complex in Buckinghamshire, UK) during May 2018. Includes dancing / pair-bonding behaviour at 7:51Technical:Camera: Apple iPhone 7; FiLMiC Pro app.An Opticron MM4 GA 60 ED Travelscope with SDL v2 eyepiece was used to film the birds. The phone was attached using the Opticron Universal Smartphone Mount USM-2.Support: Manfrotto 055 MF4 tripod; Manfrotto 701HDV video fluid head.
Reticulated giraffe (calf) : Whipsnade : 29 Aug 2014 Rob Cadd Photography 2015-09-19 | ZSL Whipsnade Zoo's latest giraffe calf (as of 29 August 2014), a female born to mum Ijuma in August 2014.
Southern aardwolf; swamp cavy : Hamerton : 13 Sep 2015 Rob Cadd Photography 2015-09-19 | The is "Bert", the male southern aardwolf at Hamerton Zoo Park, UK. At the time of posting, Bert is the only southern aardwolf (Proteles cristata cristata) in a public collection in Europe. Hamerton also hold a pair of the eastern subspecies (Proteles cristata septentrionalis) - currently the only ones on public display in the UK.Bert shares his enclosure with a group of swamp cavies (Cavia magna, also known as greater guinea-pigs). Although he looks like a small hyena, aardwolves are mainly insectivores, with a diet consisting almost entirely of termites - and so the swamp cavies are in no danger.
Greater one-horned rhinoceros : Whipsnade : 16 Aug 2014 Rob Cadd Photography 2014-08-26 | Greater one-horned rhino "Hugo" using the heated pools in his accomodation (the "Rhinos of Nepal" building) at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, UK.
American flamingo feeding young : Whipsnade : 01 Aug 2014 Rob Cadd Photography 2014-08-01 | Adult American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) feeding chick (on 'crop milk') while reverse-wading around its enclosure.
Barasingha : Whipsnade : 25 Jul 2014 Rob Cadd Photography 2014-07-26 | Barasingha (also known as swamp deer, Rucervus duvaucelii) cooling off in the lake, in the Passage through Asia section of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
