Peter Haworth, from Bristol, was with a group of Americans taking pictures of three polar bears at Kaktovik, on Barter Island off Alaska.

One of the bears then began to run towards the group and they fled to the safety of their truck, leaving three tripods standing on the ice.

Mr Haworth continued to take pictures as the bear knocked down two of the tripods before running off with a third which it took to another bear in the group.

He said: "I was in Alaska on a photo trip in Kaktovik, a native village on a small island called Barter Island.

"We knew that there were polar bears there and went in two trucks to an area where the bears tend to go. After a while three bears turned up.

"We were on the ice taking pictures with cameras on tripods for about an hour dressed up in cold weather gear, I think it was about -20C at the time.

"One of the bears got curious and started running across the ice towards us. The adrenalin was flowing as we kept taking pictures but then suddenly realised how close the bear was getting so snatched up our gear and dived into the trucks.

"Luckily I got my tripod away but three of our group didn't and left them on the ice.

"The bear knocked over two and picked up the third and walked off with it. He started playing with it, then began jumping on it, chewing it and finally walking off with it.

"He went to one of the other bears and dropped it next to them and the pair had a bit of a gnaw at it. They obviously didn't like the taste and wandered off.

"Once they were out of sight the two party leaders ventured out 50 metres or so to collect it. "

Mr Haworth added: "It was a great surprise when one bear picked up the tripod. When he walked off with it we couldn't stop laughing and joking as he had selected the most expensive.

"The tripod was a top of the range Gitsu carbon fibre. The legs were marked but the tripod ball head was badly damaged.

"The owner, a woman on the trip, sent it back to the manufacturer for repair.

"He seemed to handle the tripod very well for a bear. Perhaps he thought of himself as a photographer or just didn't want his picture taken.

"The experience will stay in my mind forever."

[WOW!! Cool pic...I love lightning pics!]

WOW!!  Cool pic...I love lightning pics!

The happy couple at Abbotsbury Swannery are the only homosexual swans among more than 1,000 birds at the reserve.

They are believed to be only the second male pair ever to hook up at the reserve.

The pair show no interest in their female companions and only have eyes for each other.

Dave Wheeler, from the swannery, said: "The two birds both hatched in 2002 and are sort of together.

"They have been together for several nesting seasons and basically keep territory as if they are a nesting pair."

The twosome flock together at the start of the nesting season in March and perform rituals associated with a breeding couple.

Manager of Abbotsbury Swannery, John Houston, said: "The swans have been nesting together like this for several years and they get together every nesting season and form a nest together.

"They sit on the nest and act in every way as if they were a pair expecting to lay eggs.

"It is quite sweet."

Like most couples, the swans are known for the occasional lover's tiff, but are quick to sort out their differences.

"They just always stay together and I hear that they have some spectacular fights with each other, but they always make up and get back together," said Mr Houston.

"We have more than a thousand swans here in the reserve and they are the only two doing this. We don't know of any others acting in this way in the area.

"We realised they were together because the swan herds can obviously tell the difference between the males and females as the cobs have a much larger bump on their nose.

"They are sexed and tagged at birth so we know from their rings that they are both male."

Records for the swannery date back to 1393 and it is believed that they are the only pair of homosexual swans currently nesting at the reserve.

Homosexual behaviour is universal across the animal kingdom, from whales to snails and even nematode worms.

The struggled was witnessed by British amateur photographer Mike Bailey as he holidayed in the remote Kwando River area of northern Botswana, Africa.

Financial executive and grandfather-of-two Mr Bailey, 61, had spent over one-and-a-half years accumulated over 30 trips to Africa to get his dream pictures.


The spectacular dual between the huge spotted cat and the stouter tusked pig amazingly lasted over 10 minutes as the leopard tried to get the better of its prey.

But after flipping, clawing, biting and scrabbling in the exhausting fight the hungry male leopard was left empty handed when a hyena charged at the pair - making an attempt to cash in on the big cat's gruelling efforts.

Seizing her opportunity, the battered and bruised mum-to-be warthog dashed away in the confusion and made it to the safety of a burrow.

Retelling the amazing event seen in October, Mr Bailey, who lives in Liege, Belgium, said: "I have waited for hundreds of hours to see a moment like that.

"Some newlyweds in our group were honeymooning on their first trip to Africa and got to witness it. I couldn't believe it.

"I have been over 30 times and it has taken me this long. But I can't be bitter. This is life and I feel privileged to have seen something like this.

"The speed of the event was incredible."

Describing the build-up, he added: "We watched the leopard about 25 metres in front of us and noticed he was waiting to ambush a burrow used by the warthogs.

"After an hour of patiently waiting two warthogs suddenly appeared and the leopard pounced on the pregnant female.

"During the wrestling match, the leopard tried to bite her throat while trying to keep, with his back paws, the warthogs head at a distance, to defend himself against against the sharp tusks.

"After ten minutes of a wild battle, the leopard seemed to have succeeded in immobilising the warthog, his mouth and fangs around the warthogs neck.

"We all then thought that it was finally over when, attracted by the commotion, a hyena decided to dive into the action.

"The leopard had to release his grip and the injured warthog managed to escape.

"It is not uncommon to see a hyena saving the life of a leopards prey. I saw it several years ago in the Savute with an impala.

"The hyenas try to scavenge and take advantage of the leopard's hard work. But it distracts the leopard and they have to let go to defend themselves from the approaching dogs.

"Before witnessing this, it was very difficult for me to imagine that an animal like a warthog could resist the power and speed of a leopard for ten minutes, which seemed like an eternity.

"She fought bravely.

"I am very conscious of the fact that I was lucky to witness an unforgettable moment of wildlife and also that I was able to bring back pictures of it."

Firefighters shifted the grill while the cubs' distressed mother howled and barked for them from her nearby den but they had no tools to cut through it.

Eventually an animal rescue worker tried the washing-up liquid and managed to free all three, who were then released near their home den and scarpered back to mum.
 
An unnamed boy riding past on his bike discovered the stranded pups in Plainfield, Connecticut, US, and called police.

Animal Control Officer Karen Stone called the firefighters for help but when they were unable to free the cubs, she tried oiling their heads Vaseline and then corn oil.

But it was only when she soaped their heads in washing-up liquid - and ignored their attempts to bite through her gloved hands - that she was able to slide them through the grate.

Mrs Stone said she then put the cubs in a dog crate and drove them towards their den before releasing them back into the wild.

She said she now drives by regularly to check the grate in case they get stuck again.

"Except for being a little soapy, I think they were OK," she said.

"Hopefully, they learned their lesson."

It is not known how the cubs got stuck but it is possible they were chasing a mouse, which was found dead near to the grate.

John Tucker, 72, has started wearing gloves and carrying a walking stick to protect himself from the bird, which lives in a neighbouring field.

Using its beak, claws and wings the pheasant chases Mr Tucker around his garden as he tries to escape.

But the angry animal has even learned to spot when the front door is open – and runs into the house.

''When I get out of the car he pursues me into the house and even comes inside and trails me around the house. I can't cut the grass without him following me around.

''If I want to spend time in the garden I've learned to let him chase me into the shed. I turn round quickly and shut him in for a while. Otherwise he comes at me non stop.

''I was a professional ornithologist all my career so I know a thing or two about birds. But I've never been stalked by one before.''

The bird has been in the area a while but Mr Tucker says he turned aggressive around two weeks ago and started to chase him and wife Carol, 64.

He said: ''It's got to the point where I have to climb out of the back window as he's waiting at the front door.

''My wife can't sit in the garden without him pestering her. It was quite funny to start with, but now its extremely irritating."

   

Amazing photos! Larry O

I agree....Whoa!

I see a crow took the last egg this AM.-

Egg thief! Bummer...poor Cardinal.

From Birdchick



Sandhill crane works his camo mojo.

  Thanks Ei.

  Archer leaving @ 6:14
Beauty takes over

[OH and I even wrote to them and told when the eggs were LAID!!!! HELLO]

OH and I even wrote to them and told when the eggs were LAID!!!! HELLO

[WOW...they must have just posted that today. I looked this am before work and there was no updates. They are so confused.]

Looky what I saw on the Travelers website...

"Nest News 2010

2010 April 15 - A falcon has nested on the tower on or about April 10. As of April 15, the falcon is incubating two eggs. The first egg was probably laid on April 12 and the second on April 13."

Let's see...I'm sure it's a PAIR of falcons...24 hours between eggs?  I first saw an egg on April 10-second egg spotted April 14...

I guess we can at least say they're acknowledging that there's a scrape on their roof...better than a few days ago! 

WOW...they must have just posted that today. I looked this am before work and there was no updates. They are so confused. 

  he just can't stay away 

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/peregrinecam/jcp-live.htm

Jersey City has 4 eggs

Beauty is back