The excitement of receiving your prints after sending away a roll of film for processing is long-gone for most people, but something I plan to return to one day.  The ability to take practically limitless photos 'for free' more than makes up in most instances.  Composition is everything - try to imagine the photograph divided into three both vertically and horizontally.  This is the 'Rule of Thirds', and try to imagine key features - eyes, the horizon, vertical features - lying on these lines or at their intersections.  This will more often than not create a more pleasing image.  And the now ubiquitous selfie?  Try to keep your arm horizontal and level with your face for a more natural snapshot, and don't forget what's behind you!

The Common Buzzard (buteo buteo) is a medium to large-sized bird of prey with a wingspan of around 1.3 meters and which mates for life, which can be up to 25 years.  It is unmistakable and easy to spot in the air, with its broad fanned-out tail and wingtips and effortless, relaxed flight.  I never tire of seeing them soaring over my home town of Bideford, sometimes in groups of five or more.   (In Scotland, the Buzzard is known as a 'Tourist Eagle' due to its similarity in all but size!).    If you hear a sudden commotion from crows and seagulls overhead when walking on The Trail, it is often caused by a buzzard flying too close for their comfort, and they mob the buzzard noisily to chase it away.  It is often seen atop old telegraph poles along The Trail when flying conditions are poor.  They are less often perched at low level, and I suspect this one had its eye on something in the reeds, but was well aware of me and flew off as I approached - this was the closest I have been to a buzzard.   Their dappled brown plumage is a good camouflage, and if one takes to flight close by before you've spotted it, you'll be in for quite a start!  Keep your eyes open for one of North Devon's most magnificent birds.

​For the photographers reading, these shots were both taken handheld at 200mm/f5.6, 1/3200sec at ISO800 using an old Nikon D5000 and 55-200mm lens, and processed using Affinity Photo.

Tuesday 14th March saw a ‘spring tide’, which gives us the highest tidal range – the high tides at their highest, and low tides at their lowest.  Spring tide is a common historical term that has nothing to do with the season, as often believed. Rather, the term comes from the concept of the tide springing forth, possibly derived from German or Scandinavian words.  Spring tides occur twice every month when the moon and sun align with the earth, combining their gravitational pull on our seas, which creates the tides.  Neap tides have the lowest range and occur twice a month in between the spring tides.  I had expected to see the boardwalk submerged, but no winds and high air pressure saw the tide nearly one meter lower than it has been at previous spring tides.

I snapped this little chap just off the Tarka Trail near Petrockstow Station.  He was as bold as brass stuffing his cheek pouches with lovely golden-brown chestnuts just a few meters from my feet, returning after hiding them to the same feeding spot repeatedly.  Look out for them wherever there are trees along the trail, and by spotting where they are collecting food, a little patience and stillness should  be rewarded with some  close encounters!  

The grey squirrel was deliberately introduced to England in 1876 and to Scotland in 1892, and its competitive edge against the red squirrel soon saw our native species' decline.  Their success today sees greys outnumber reds by about twenty to one, and our nearest red squirrels are on Tresco (Isles of Scilly) or Brownsea Island (Poole Harbour).   With the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project's work however, it is not impossible that one day we may see  red squirrels on the Tarka Trail.
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ITV Westcountry were in Bideford this week, filming a series of pieces about our wonderful Tarka Trail .  We were lucky with the glorious weather this time around, filming having been postponed from last week due to the dull weather - we wanted to show it at its best.  Here is Andy Bell, of The North Devon Biosphere Reserve, being interviewed by Seth Conway, well-known for his TV work and hosting of Bideford's new year's eve events.  He is seen here doubling as lighting assistant, holding the reflector!
The final shots of us riding over Iron Bridge, near Landcross, required communication by mobile phone, as this 'long shot' was really long - the cameraman was on Landcross bridge over the river Yeo. Yes there really is another River Yeo,  a smaller cousin to the one in Barnstaple. This one rises near Buck's Cross on the A39 and flows into the River Torridge by Iron Bridge, upstream of Bideford. 

Afterwards, the team moved on to The Puffing Billy Trading Co. near Torrington for further interviews and, no doubt, for some delicious snacks.
Stay tuned for details of the screening date.

Unlike any other Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve, Meeth Quarry’s industrial past has dramatically shaped its present. For almost a century it was a series of busy clay quarries and mines. The legacy of this industry has created a particularly diverse landscape and today, two enormous lakes and piles of clay spoil dominate its features. Elsewhere there are ponds, woodlands, bogs and grasslands.

These days you will find many dragonfly and damselfly in the nature reserve, countless butterflies including wood white, grayling and green hairstreak, skylarks, geese and ducks, including the tufted duck and shoveler.  Look out also for Brown Hare in the sparse open areas of the reserve.