Click to enlarge
Isn't this photograph 'Clash of the Yellowhammers' stunning? It was taken by 17 year old Fergus Gill who has won the prestigious Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Fergus lives in Wolfhill, Perthshire, a very small rural community tucked away in the countryside just north of Perth.
The planning for the photograph started last summer when he collected sheaves of oats from a local farmers specifically as winter food for the yellowhammers. Fergus set up a hide in his garden, hung out feeders and carefully positioned a sheaf of oats.
The young man spent two days in snowy and freezing conditions trying to capture his perfect photograph of a fight between two males over ownership of the oats. He does prove patience is a virtue doesn't he?
More of his wonderful photography can be seen on his website.
Posts
7 comments:
If people would open their eyes and look around them, they would be amazed at the wildlife we have. The birds are stunning.
Subrosa, thank you for bring this beautiful picture to all our attention.
Amidst all our girns and woes, such a wonderful image restores a sense of true reality.
It pleases the eye, gladdens the heart and lifts the soul.
I have on occasions decried today’s youth, but this young man deserves every credit and applause for his outstanding photography.
In order to capture this prize winning picture he spent two winters days in a flimsy hide in the Scottish countryside.
His website shows a portfolio of outstanding images, of which he should be justifiable proud.
Brightened up my day - thanks again Subrosa, and young Fergus.
subrosa,
Absolutely superb.
Reminds me of an incident a few years ago when I was driving from Stornoway to Harris.
It was very foggy and I stopped near the stop of the Clisham Hill to have a fag and stretch my legs. As I turned a corner the fog cleared and there was a magnificent sea-eagle feeding on the slope around ten feet in front of me. It gave me a look that spoke volumes of its disdain for a mere human and took off effortlessly.
I suspect I will never again get so close to something so beautiful and powerfull in its natural habitat.
Simply wonderful.
Very true Rab and I'm so lucky to live surrounded by it. Just 5 minutes in the garden can be better than any drink or pills.
So pleased you enjoyed it John. It was a real pleasure to write the post because I had the image side by side with blogger. Then I put his gallery on slideshow once I'd finished.
I too am quick to criticise the young but of course they're not all the same. This lad lives quite a way from the city so he has been brought up surrounded by farmland and his parents have encouraged him to appreciate it obviously.
Brownlie, it's the power in such sightings that take my breath away.
Bet you were narked your digital wasn't in your pocket but sitting in a drawer in your house. :)
Post a Comment