Top of the food chain?

After reading an interesting piece on the recent extinction of the Western Black Rhino (http://earthfirstnews.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/western-black-rhino-declared-extinct/), it occurred to me...  

Why do we, as the top 'predator' and the 'strongest' species think its right to destroy what was here long before us?  Why does Mother Nature take the brunt of out hatred for the planet?  

Why are species rapidly becoming extinct?

and more importantly..... Why do we let this happen??

It simply makes no sense to me. 

The Earth is not only our home but it is home to many fascinating and beautiful things.  It provides us with an unimaginable list of benefits - that we never think about.  

Imagine not having oxygen to breathe.....No water to drink....imagine no plants, no grass, no animals.  

Without nature the World would be a boring place....... 

 Crowdy Reservoir - Dawn

Marazion Marsh

Here is some of the work I have been doing recently.  

BBC's Africa

WOW!!

Once again the BBC has achieved a moving and enlightening piece of film. 

During the last episode of this extraordinary series, David Attenborough said something that I believe is very true: 

"The relationship of the rest of the world to this great continent (Africa) and the creatures that live in it is more important than ever before"

"We all have a part to play in the future of the Continent."

As someone who loves the natural world and the wildlife that it is home to, this statement has epitomised the need for conservation and protection of the valuable species on this planet.  

...And EVERYTHING is valuable.

 

( Image source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010jc6p)

Since I've been a bit absent from here for a while, I decided to share with you my most recent project:

Wetlands!!

I have been working on a major project since September photographing wetlands and their wildlife.  

Here are a few recent images.

The Bittern at Marazion Marsh has proved fairly elusive when I've been down there. Nevertheless, it has made a few appearances. 

Photographed at Hayle this cormorant was fishing on and off in the pool.

A gull fishing at Hayle.

Shot in the Lake district - every day for a week it rained except this last day when the sun made an appearance and resulted in some interesting images.

This little egret was hunting in the shallows at Marazion Marsh

Little Grebe taken at Swanpool Nature Reserve

Reedbeds are an interesting habitat and support a range of wildlife

Argal Reservoir at Sunset.

Dawn light at Swanpool

Kestrel

Yesterday (7/3/12) I went to Marazion Marsh on a field trip, I photographed a Male Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) as can be seen below.  Kestrels are distinctive in flight, simply hovering above a habitat looking for prey then dropping straight onto it.  When it perches (see below) it has an upright position.  We also found otter scat so hopefully I will be heading back to see if I can photograph otters there.  The Herons as can be seen in the previous post are now nesting.  

Independent assignment

I've been working on an assignment based on Grey Herons and Little Egrets.
Here are some of the photos I've been taking.....

Baby Blackbird

Today, a neighbour back home (Horsham) came round with a cat basket with a baby blackbird (Turdus merula) in it.  It was a fledgling that her cat had caught.  It could barely fly and needed to be out of reach of the cat.  I picked it up, being careful to keep its wings against its side and put it on the roof of our garage.  It hopped along the roof and its mother met it at the other end and it flew off.  

Lexie

Woodpecker update

This is the hole that the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) has made.  I spent 3 hours today sitting and waiting.......

............and waiting..............

............and eventually saw...........

.........Nothing.   

Unfortunately due to last week being half term and the nest being located in a child's play area, it has been deserted.  I have identified it as a nest because, both male and female have been excavating the hole.  Whether the babies have hatched or not is unclear.  

Another note; I spotted a baby European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Campus.  And a funnier note;  I had my lunch stolen by a rather rude seagull.  

Lexie