Monday, 8 December 2014

BWC Photo Comp 2014 "ANIMALS AND THEIR KEEPERS" Shortlist

Another Monday, another shortlist, and for those who have followed the competition over the last few years you will know it is the turn of... Animals and their Keepers! This is always one of our favourite categories. It is always nice to see photos of ourselves doing what we love the most, looking after our animals. 

This year Professional Wildlife Photographer David Llyod will be selecting his favourites to win each category. Check out his website, linked in his name, to see some amazing wildlife photography, David runs workshops here at the BWC, but is perhaps better known for his African wildlife photographs and inspiring black and whites. He currently has a book out "As long as there are animals" check it out if you can!

So here it is, straight on to the shortlisted ten...



BWC Photo Comp "ANIMALS AND THEIR KEEPERS" Shortlist


Barn Owl - Andrew Moss

Coochie coo - Dave Burden

Up close and personal - Mark McElligott

Foxy Lady - Moi Hicks

Hedgehog dreaming - Susan Tyrrell

Red squirrel - Tim Dawes

Red squirrel - Tim Dawes

Hedgehog - Walter De'Ath

No gloves, that's love - Zena Saunders

Red squirrel lady - Zena Saunders

I think you will agree, there are some great photos above! Looking forward to seeing what David Llyod picks as his favourite. Next Monday will bring the 4th shortlist for this year.

Good luck!

Friday, 5 December 2014

Wildcat Shift


As most of you now know, our three wildcat kittens where collected a couple of weeks a go to play a vital role in the conservation of the Scottish Wildcat. More news on that as and when I am able to tell you. This left our main enclosure we use for the talks empty.

As it happens, December and January are our two quiet months which allow us to go around and trim back trees etc and just give all the enclosures a bit of a Spring, or should that be Winter clean. So while doing this we decided to move Macavity, above, and Iona, below, back to one of the wildcat pens from their temporary home opposite.



This is back to where Iona has spent most of her life, and sure enough she has settled in as if she had never been away. For Macavity, it was his first time in our wildcat enclosure, but even he has settled quickly and already found a favourite spot on top of the new platform in the centre of the pen!

Look forward to these being used for the talk... Macavity is a bit of a snarler, so you never know you may see their real attitude come out!

So... this of course leaves the large enclosure next to the badger sett now vacant!?. Well, we are currently working on that pen by thinning out the branches, adding fresh bark chip and creating a new set up, but hopefully by next weekend our new resident will be out there exploring. News next week on who and what he is, but here is a clue...



... and if you can see what he is, you will know I am very... VERY... excited!


Monday, 1 December 2014

BWC Photo Comp 2014 "FAUNA FUN" Shortlist

OK, here it is... the second shortlist for our BWC 2014 Photographic competition. And this week we announce the final ten for our "Fauna Fun" category. This year Professional Wildlife Photographer David Llyod will be selecting his favourites to win each category. Check out his website, linked in his name, to see some amazing wildlife photography, David runs workshops here at the BWC, but is perhaps better known for his African wildlife photographs and inspiring black and whites. He currently has a book out "As long as there are animals" and I can highly recommend it!

Fauna fun has always been a "fun" one to look through the photos, and we had a good selection to chose from this year. Here is the shortlisted ten.



BWC Photo Comp "FAUNA FUN" Shortlist


Breakdancing squirrel - Adam Blackman

Give us a kiss - Paul Reader

I've got it, I've got it - Graham Racher

I'm no foxglove - Kevin Brown

Practicing for the Superbowl - Michael Vaughan

Tell me another one - Mike Crowle

Where's the soap - Steff Morris

Have you heard the one about an owl that goes into a pub? - Susan Tyrrell 

Help We're stuck - Tim Clifton

You talking to me? - Tim Dawes

As always, don't forget you can click on the photos to make them appear a little larger. The next shortlist will be shown next Monday, and will be for the "Animals and their Keepers" category. 

Good luck!