Events 2012

Hi all,
As mentioned last year I am doing less exhibition and sales events during 2012 due to other commitments.
Heres a list of what I will be attending todate:

Little Havens Hospice, Thundersley, Essex 30th June - 1st July 2012
Cressing Temple Barns, Cressing Nr Witham, Essex 26th - 27th August 2012
Hylands House, Chelmsford, Essex 10th-11th November 2012
RHS Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Essex 24th-25th November 2012
Olivers Nusuries, Maldon Rd, Witham, Essex TBE

STILL HAVE MY PERMANENT GALLERY AT OLIVERS NURSERIES TEA ROOM. Maldon RD, Nr Witham.

Will amend and update as necessary throughout the year.
Thanks
Ray

Another year gone by already!

Happy Christmas & New Year to you all. Thanks to all I have met this year and past and hope to see you next time.

Will be out & about over the coming months hopefully setting up some new hides. Thinking about & planning for trips next year. I fancy another seabird jolly as its been 3yrs since the last boat trip out to an Island. Also will look into the west country to do some of the specialist species in this terrain.

Looking back, although not ventured too far in 2011. I achieved quite a range of new or re-freshed subjects. From Bitterns, Cuckoo, House Martins, Kingfishers, owls, boxing Hares, various Butterflies and more..

I will not be doing another exhibit day until May 2012. More on my exhibit/show dates in the New Year. Look out for these posted on this site.
Im now off to the coast in search of SE owls. Fancy expanding my SE Owl portfolio. See you next time.
All the best, Ray.

Three more events for 2011

I have 3 more shows on this year and then I will be taking a break for 6mths from any exhibitions and events until next summer. Will spend some time photographing more of our wildlife throughout the winter and spring. I can be contacted by email raystammers@tiscali.co.uk

My Last 3 Events are:

Essex Wildlife Trust Hanningfield Res. Visitor Centre. 27th Nov 2011
(JUST ADDED NEW DATE) RHS Hyde Hall,Rettendon, Nr Chelmsford, Essex 3rd & 4th Dec 2011
Olivers Nursuries, Maldon Rd, Nr Witham Essex 10th-11th Dec 2011

Thanks to all that have shown support, encouragement and help over the year. Hope to see you again soon.

Ray

Autumn update.

Spent a day on the colne estuary looking to see what winter migrants have graced our waters this autumn and is looking pretty decent at present. Plenty of waders from Knot to Grey Plovers. Got some nice images of Curlew flying by. Avocets seem to be building in numbers and Siberian visitors the Brent Geese has a healthy flock grazing on the salt marsh.

I finally managed to get good shots of the Green Woodpecker. I have been trying to get improved images of this colourful bird for sometime now. I have posted a couple of shots on the flickr site.

Although I have done much fewer trips and spent less time out with the camera this year. I was suprised what I have achieved so far this year. Looking at my images I have managed: Boxing Hare, House Martins, Green woodpecker, Wader spectacular,1000s of Knot displaying, Grebe & her young, Bittern, Cuckoo, Better Kingfisher, More Barn owl and Tawny owl, Long eared owl, Heath Fritillary, Red Admiral, Marbled White, better Peacock butterflies. Also more deer images rutting and displaying not forgetting my lost wildlife such as wolf, boar, bison, bear, wolverine and lynx.
I plan to visit Norfolk, Kent again this winter to search for SE owls and more Barn owls.

I will be displaying and have available for sale some of the above this weekend at RHS Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Essex the 5th-6th Nov. Also will be at Hylands House in Chelmsford next weekend 12th-13th Nov. Hanningfield Resevoir Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre 27th Nov. Back at RHS Hyde Hall 3rd & 4th Dec. Finally at Olivers Nursuries, Nr Witham, Essex on the 10th-11th Dec. Hope to see you at some of the events. Thanks
Ray

Deer Rut

Last friday I paid a visit to Richmond to check out the Deer Rut. Seemed a bit quieter than last year and appeared to be fewer hinds around. A few large stags seemed keen and there was plenty of younger stags in the wings jossling and chancing a move to try their luck with the big boys babes. But not a great deal of real action this time.
Managed a few images of the stags thrashing about in the bracken and some of the younger stags play rutting. This year I really wanted more images of Fallow Bucks as only managed a few shots in previous years. But it seemed on the day very few were around, although the Fallow tend to rut a little later so may go locally later in the month if I get the chance.
I will put a few images on the flickr soon as I sort through the RAWs.I will release a couple as prints and cards.
I shall now prepare my winter bird feeding station/hide ready for all this snow we are told thats coming! Thnx
Ray.

snettisham

Hi, I have put about 20 images on the flickr site of snettisham. Pleased with the mornings work. Click on or copy & paste the link to see.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raystammersphotography

I`m off to Richmond now to see the Deer Rut again. As Minsmere my usual deer rutting haunt is under a bit of construction work and access is restricted at present, I will leave this area alone this year.

I will be at Hyde Hall, Rettendon 5th & 6th Nov with some fresh images from the last few outings of owls, waders and hopefully new deer shots.
Thanks, Ray

Wader Spectacular

This weekend had an early morning outing up to the Wash in North Norfolk. A 3.15am start arriving before 6.ooam in prep to witness the wader spectacular. This was my 4th attempt at getting images of this wonderful event over the years. With only 3 real chances this winter of the high spring tides and daylight hours. I prayed this time it would all come together. Well...this time the weather and the birds did not dissappoint. Walked the 1.5miles out to the beach in the pitch black. Waited & watched the glorious dawn light as the sun rose over the wash. We had purple, pinks and beautiful golden orange skies filled with Greylag & Brent Geese, 10s of 1000s of wading Knots, Dunlin and Oystercatchers. The knot danced giving amazing cloud formations as the the tide progressed. The sound was incredible as they flew and circled over head making their way to roost. Wonderful experience well worth the 2.30am rise, 250 mile round trip and 3 mile walk with a heavy lens to see.

In the afternoon took a drive on to Cley Marshes and spent a few hours blessed with fantastic light capturing Lapwing, Ruff, Godwit, Snipe and Teal. On the way home stopped off at one of my Barn Owl sites hoping to finish the day with a few owls in flight but sadly a no show this time. I suppose with the decent weather in the past few days the could afford a lay-in and didn't need to venture out so early.

Managed some lovely shots and will put some on the flickr in the next few days as I trawl through the RAW files and convert.
Ray.