Illustrated talk on Owls & Raptors : Danny Vokins.

Wildlife photographers of any shape or form deserve extra credit for the images that they create on the basis that their subjects are often elusive and unpredictable. In consequence, they can put in many a long shift, in all weathers and yet return empty handed. It’s a bit like fishing in that respect. Danny Vokins, who runs an offshore fast fishing boat out of Bembridge Harbour, is an expert in both and knows the importance of pre-planning his trips, based on an in-depth knowledge of his quarry, so that he maximises his chances of a successful day out.

The results of his labours were there for all to see on Tuesday night as, in addition to the projected slides accompanying his talk, Danny brought along a fine selection of mounted images for the members to appreciate and in my case, envy. He uses a Canon digital s.l.r with a 500mm f/4 telephoto lens on a sturdy tripod for most of his work and shutter speeds of around 1/1000 second in fast burst mode. Venues switched between the Island and Spain / Portugal for many of the raptors* where Danny keeps a property. (* birds of prey. derivation: Latin “raptus” seized)

The first part of the evening featured Owls and of the sixteen specie found in Europe, only four may be seen on the Island, the most common European, the Tawny Owl, not being among them. So what can you expect to see in our locality? The delightful “Little Owl”, the Barn Owl sweeping low across the fields at dawn and dusk in the hunt for its favourite prey, voles. The Long Eared Owl, with its vivid orange eyes and the Short-eared Owl. The “ears” are not ears at all, merely tufts of feathers. Take a trip up to Yorkshire and you may also be able to see the Eagle Owl that breeds there. Males can be distinguished by their darker plumage. Time then for a welcome cup of tea.

The smallest of the raptors is the Little Merlin, with a wing span of around a foot, that flies fast along the hedgerows trying to scare out small birds as prey. The highly manoeuvrable Little Hobby has been known to catch Swallows and Swifts in the air. More common and well-known are Sparrow-hawks and Kestrels with Eleanor’s Falcon a rarer sighting. The frequently seen Buzzard opts for a quieter life than all this flitting around preferring to sit on a post or grub around on the grass looking for worms ! If you have good sea-legs, Danny has been taking his Bembridge based Lochin 33 out to No Mans Land Fort for the last six years to capture images of Peregrines that have been nesting and breeding there. He has kindly offered to take a number of our members along in the future and our Hon. Social Sec’s. Vanda and Tracey will be arranging this together with a guided walk with Danny around his local habitats looking for Owls & Raptors.

In September, the rare and beautiful Osprey breaks its journey from its Scottish home to Africa, for two or three weeks, to visit Newtown Marshes something to note in your diary. At Porchfield, Danny has also photographed Red Kites and elsewhere the Black Shouldered Kite with its distinctive red eye. On Brading Marshes he also recorded a Marsh Harrier. At Chale’s Gull Cliff in August of last year he made a fine image of a Short Toed ( snake ) Eagle. Moving to Spain / Portugal Danny showed images as a grand finale of Booted, Bonelli’s and the impressive Spanish Imperial Eagles. What had the biggest wing span ? Young William came out to hold the end of the tape and Danny moved up through the species ending up with a vulture with a twelve foot wing span ! To date Danny has recorded 26 out of the 38 Raptors and is still busy adding more.

Our thanks to Danny Vokins for a most interesting and informative evening which was enjoyed by all.

Dick Loaring LRPS Chairman