The most amazing wildlife image you've ever seen!??

martin_25 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 02:13 PM

Ok, here's a question for you all...What has been the one animal or area of natural beauty that you have seen or been to that you look back on, and just think 'truelly amazing!' ???

For me it would have to be catching a glimpse of pink flamingos at the Albufeira wetlands in Majorca a couple of years ago, or possible seeing a pod of bottlenose dolphins of the west coast of scotland a few years ago!

ron1863 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 02:37 PM

For me it's travelling through Glencoe, it just feels spooky but so beautiful.

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 02:42 PM

I was looking out over St Ives bay in Cornwall and saw bottle nosed dolphins riding the waves with the fishing boats. It was just magical. Its a lovely place so peaceful

Billy Wobble Dagger · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 02:49 PM

My most memorable moment was seeing a solitary King Penguin walking along a lovely golden beach in the Falklands. What surprised me in my ignorance was that there was no snow or ice to be seen.

And in the UK, of course, my first sighting of a Water Vole, what else.

BWD

Geoff F · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 08:52 PM

Thinking back, around 60 years, one thing which still sticks in my memory was when aged 14 and fishing from a fairly small boat near Bolt Head, S. Devon early one morning during the summer holidays. A large pollack jumped clear of the water followed by a Tunny, then another. They both jumped out of the water several times within 50 yards of my boat. They were probably Blue Fin Tuna but in those days they were all called Tunny.

In over 30 years as a professional fisherman I haven't seen anymore. But in the mid 1970's we saw a Killer Whale about 100 yards away from the boat; 3 miles off Prawle Point. It jumped clear of the water several times then jumped and did a sideways roll. Eventually it swam off westwards.

About 10 years ago, in the same area, a young Minkie Whale swam alongside the boat, and I mean alongside. It stayed around us for about 10 minutes while we were hauling crabpots.

Dolphins often come close to the boat but there is a Porpoise who spends the winter just off Prawle Point and most days it comes over to have a look at us while we haul pots. It comes within 50 yards, sometimes less, but I just can't get a photo. Unlike dolphins, they only show the dorsal fin and then only briefly. By the time I get my camera it has submerged again.

That's enough reminisces for now.

Billy Wobble Dagger · #6 (**permalink**) 04-05-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

My most memorable moment was seeing a solitary King Penguin walking along a lovely golden beach in the Falklands. What surprised me in my ignorance was that there was no snow or ice to be seen.

BWD

And here he is. It was taken at least 10 years ago so the quality isn't to good.

blueboar · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2008, 01:53 PM

Hen harriers displaying or short-eared owls displaying.

Or watching a pair of golden eagles pick out a injured Red Deer calf from a herd of 20 animals and drive it towards the edge of a quarry, when the calf fell over the edge the eagles had their dinner, tea and supper

tcdandelion · #8 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 08:04 PM

A couple of years ago I was taking an evening walk in the woods near Finchdean , West Sussex .When as I reached a junction , out of the corner of my eye I saw something fairly large cross the the path and go into the undergrowth . I rooted around and saw nothing so stepped back onto the path where a Badger was now sitting just a few feet from me . We then proceeded , the two of us , to walk up the path together . The Badger just in front of me , I could literally touch him with my walking stick . We walked together along the path for about 200 yards or more just like someone out walking his dog . It was an experience I shall never forget , alas I had no camera with me . Isn't it always the way ?

Geoff F · #9 (**permalink**) 15-05-2008, 08:25 PM

Talking about meeting Badgers. About 4 years ago I was walking home from the pub one wet winter night and near where I live, on the edge of a small town, I saw a strange animal coming towards me. It's walk seemed wrong for a dog and as it came closer I recognised the rolling gait of a Badger. I stopped and as it passed, about 10 ft away, it stopped in the road and we looked at each other for a few minutes. Eventually I said 'Good Evening' and it wandered off towards the town.

tcdandelion · #10 (**permalink**) 16-05-2008, 08:29 PM

I think the most " impressive " bit of English wildlife I've ever seen was when I was about 17 . I was camping near Mevagissey with a mate and we decided to hire a small dinghy to go Mackerel fishing . Out in the middle of Mevagissey Bay we encountered a pair of basking sharks . I had never been that close to something that big in my live . They were longer , by yards , than our little boat and the heads , or rather the mouths were unbelievably wide . They stayed around us , just on the surface for about 20 minutes or so and then silently slipped down out of sight . That was some 50 odd years ago but I can remember every detail as if it was yesterday . As for the Mackerel , which incidently we caught loads of , we gave them to some village lads who sold them on the dock side .

mrs fish · #11 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

And here he is. It was taken at least 10 years ago so the quality isn't to good.

Wow

deer boy · #12 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

And here he is. It was taken at least 10 years ago so the quality isn't to good.

His off to pp pick up a penguin

demicav · #13 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueboar

Or watching a pair of golden eagles pick out a injured Red Deer calf from a herd of 20 animals and drive it towards the edge of a quarry, when the calf fell over the edge the eagles had their dinner, tea and supper

Wow, that must have been something else, quite amazing to see them at work like that.

deer boy · #14 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 06:48 PM

Maybe not the best image i've seen but one i wish was mine, was on autumnwatch last year were there was a shot of a stag covered in mud & looking straight at the camera

Gill Catton · #15 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 07:09 PM

I suppose there's two moments that come readily to mind that almost could be more different,
one was sitting on a sea wall in Brightlingsea in order to observe the wildfowl and waders using the River Colne, it was freeeeeeezzzziinnggggg - proper cold where it hurts to use your fingers... All of a sudden a marsh harrier cruised over the salt-marsh over the opposite side and put everything up - this gorgeous swirling mass of thousands of birds filled the sky and I totally forgot I was cold I was so lost in this spectacle, brilliant..

The second was where I went to Madagascar and we went to Berenty, we were the first bunch of tourists to arrive and in the quiet sunshine I was following a butterfly - trying to get a good shot of it (and failing) and something made me look up and I realised I was surrounded by troop of Sifaka and They were sleepy and utterly undisturbed by my presence and I had 30 whole minutes to sit with them on my own and just watch them (and take a few pictures).

Kayleigh · #16 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I suppose there's two moments that come readily to mind that almost could be more different,
one was sitting on a sea wall in Brightlingsea in order to observe the wildfowl and waders using the River Colne, it was freeeeeeezzzziinnggggg - proper cold where it hurts to use your fingers... All of a sudden a marsh harrier cruised over the salt-marsh over the opposite side and put everything up - this gorgeous swirling mass of thousands of birds filled the sky and I totally forgot I was cold I was so lost in this spectacle, brilliant..

The second was where I went to Madagascar and we went to Berenty, we were the first bunch of tourists to arrive and in the quiet sunshine I was following a butterfly - trying to get a good shot of it (and failing) and something made me look up and I realised I was surrounded by troop of Sifaka and They were sleepy and utterly undisturbed by my presence and I had 30 whole minutes to sit with them on my own and just watch them (and take a few pictures).

Amazing story Gill, and a beautiful piccy.

rolling earth · #17 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 06:47 PM

A couple of instances spring to mind , I was once fishing at a local lake and had a Mole surface between my feet. Once (also fishing) in a raging thunder storm ,an adult Cob Mute Swan came in to land on the lake and did a forward roll,two toe loops and a triple salco before it managed to right its'self.Luckily it appeared non the worse for its' experience.

Dutchess · #18 (**permalink**) 25-05-2008, 01:31 AM

Sitting in the car, one summer's evening in woods on the Kent/Sussex border. We were specifically there for boar-watching, nothing formal or set-up, just on the off chance really. Companion says to me after half an hour of seeing nothing; "not even a measley bunsy-wunsy-wabbit". Minutes later....what proceeds to appear just feet away from the bonnet of the car? A Wild Boar. A youngster at that. It stood and stared at the car a while, looking straight at us, sniffing the air, hesitated and then ran straight back into the undergrowth. The windows were open, I could hear the creature breathing! Amazing.

Still find them scary to encounter in English woods though after being conditioned to fearing nothing except maybe a sinister man (and even his dog!) roaming the countryside!

hammock monkey · #19 (**permalink**) 25-05-2008, 04:36 PM

a really hard question to answer!
possibly waking up one morning around campfire to find a Fox with cubs only yards from me, same thing happened with dear in the same place. The fact that they knew we were no threat to them and didnt mind us looking at them while whispering taught me alot about animal/ human interaction.

Probably the best was a time i was stretched out on my back in a field, watching the insects buzzing around just above me, then focussing higher at the swifts and crows in the sky, then higher still seeing red kite (this was 15yrs ago) way up in the blue.

you've really go tme thinking about this now - so many things, makes me feel very lucky.

serendipity · #20 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 08:11 PM

My first Stoat on opposite side of river i was fishing ,which reared up on its hind legs for a good look back at me. Stumbling across a peregrine nest and four fully fledged chicks on a cliff next to a railway line in south wales and a pair of red kites and buzzards 'dog fighting' low over the road to carmarthen!

bounce · #21 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 10:32 PM

Again a really hard question with some fantastic replys. As a teenager we used to camp out on saturday nights at the back of the local cematery on some free land, we'd have a little drink and head off to the chinese for spare ribs, as the weeks passed the local Fox got wise to hang around in the background for the ribs we'd throw, and by the end of summer he'd come to about 5 feet away sit and wait for his supper.
I have also lay in my tent on rannoch moor with my head outside smoking a fag with one of those big, hairy, horny scottish cows eating grass inches from my face giving me a beady eye, Im sure he wanted a puff on me fag lol.

Meta menardi · #22 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounce

Again a really hard question with some fantastic replys. As a teenager we used to camp out on saturday nights at the back of the local cematery on some free land, we'd have a little drink and head off to the chinese for spare ribs, as the weeks passed the local Fox got wise to hang around in the background for the ribs we'd throw, and by the end of summer he'd come to about 5 feet away sit and wait for his supper.
I have also lay in my tent on rannoch moor with my head outside smoking a fag with one of those big, hairy, horny scottish cows eating grass inches from my face giving me a beady eye, Im sure he wanted a puff on me fag lol.

Well not elegant or delicate, but very evocative.

serendipity · #23 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounce

I have also lay in my tent on rannoch moor with my head outside smoking a fag with one of those big, hairy, horny scottish cows eating grass inches from my face giving me a beady eye,

So thats where the other half disappeared to

!(gets ready for slap round ear)

annmaria · #24 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 09:44 PM

There are some fantastic memories on here,mine is not going to sound so great but I wont forget it. I had done this great jog ( all I can do is two mile down the beach

) It was a winter morning , no one up or braving the sharp winds. I sat with my water feeling like I had done the london marathon when the two swans came up the beach shoulder height . My ears are not great
( their wings can creek )so they are often on me before I realize . For some odd reason one just dropped in front of me, and we sat there for ages just looking at each other.......I eventually decided it may be hurt but no.........I have seen nature all over the world , not sure what made the whole thing special but it was.
Annmaria