A Hoglet Teaser! (Explored)
For 2019, I set myself the huge challenge of photographing the Boar and Hoglets in the Forest of Dean with a backdrop of Bluebells. A significant challenge given that I admit to knowing very little about the Forest of Dean and even less about the Boars. I've seen Boar in the FoD on many occasions around the popular area such as Cannop and Speech House or along the roads, however I was keen to find some boar in the forest going about their daily lives with totally natural behaviour. Also I could have asked about good locations but I really wanted to work it out myself. So with all that in mind I have spent a number of evenings, walking and cycling over the last few weeks getting to know the Forest and where its Boars are likely to be. I had almost given up hope as Boar with Piglets/Hoglets are off like a flash, deep into thick woodland if they get any scent of you. Boar are also very good at hiding. They rest/sleep under conifer trees. I have stopped by such a tree and then jumped out of my skin when a Boar rushed out a few seconds later. Today, I sat down on a fallen tree trunk to have a coffee break when 2 Hoglets appeared from the other end of the fallen tree and quickly ran off. I'm also used to more open spaces when photographing wildlife be it birds, hares, deer etc so the Forest is tough as you cannot see very far unless you kneel down and look under the lowest branches. So if you have read all the above, many thanks.
Recently I have leant a lot about Boars by being with them. One observation from today, if you hear running water in the forest it might be a number of Boar and a creche of hoglets slowly moving through the leaf litter rather than a stream. So sit down and wait to see what emerges, I did that and at one point I didn't know which way to look!
Put simply, a very rewarding day and a challenge fulfilled.
More pictures to follow soon. :-)
A Hoglet Teaser! (Explored)
For 2019, I set myself the huge challenge of photographing the Boar and Hoglets in the Forest of Dean with a backdrop of Bluebells. A significant challenge given that I admit to knowing very little about the Forest of Dean and even less about the Boars. I've seen Boar in the FoD on many occasions around the popular area such as Cannop and Speech House or along the roads, however I was keen to find some boar in the forest going about their daily lives with totally natural behaviour. Also I could have asked about good locations but I really wanted to work it out myself. So with all that in mind I have spent a number of evenings, walking and cycling over the last few weeks getting to know the Forest and where its Boars are likely to be. I had almost given up hope as Boar with Piglets/Hoglets are off like a flash, deep into thick woodland if they get any scent of you. Boar are also very good at hiding. They rest/sleep under conifer trees. I have stopped by such a tree and then jumped out of my skin when a Boar rushed out a few seconds later. Today, I sat down on a fallen tree trunk to have a coffee break when 2 Hoglets appeared from the other end of the fallen tree and quickly ran off. I'm also used to more open spaces when photographing wildlife be it birds, hares, deer etc so the Forest is tough as you cannot see very far unless you kneel down and look under the lowest branches. So if you have read all the above, many thanks.
Recently I have leant a lot about Boars by being with them. One observation from today, if you hear running water in the forest it might be a number of Boar and a creche of hoglets slowly moving through the leaf litter rather than a stream. So sit down and wait to see what emerges, I did that and at one point I didn't know which way to look!
Put simply, a very rewarding day and a challenge fulfilled.
More pictures to follow soon. :-)