The Curse of the Sin Eater

My book "The Curse of the Sin Eater" is derived from a practice that actually existed and funereal practices that still exist in some parts of the world.

It is now available in paperback. 

Of course the Kindle/ebook version is still available.

Both can be purchased from Amazon.

Kirby Muxloe Castle - 24 August 2012

A quiet stroll round the castle between showers made a pleasant afternoon. As soon as we stepped out of the car we saw this bracket fungus on a tree in the middle of a field.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

The water-lillies were filling the corner of the moat, unfortunately most of them had their faces away from us, but there were a couple that presented their best aspect.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

A mallard, trekked across from an adjacent field, followed by her chicks,  and launched into the moat. Another late or second brood, there seem to be a lot about at the moment.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/64 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Someone nearby started feeding the young chicks and it wasn't long before all the other Mallards took an interest, this male making a mess of his landing, a real splashdown.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Finally a Heron showed itself, I have seen very few of them over the summer and this one was particularly devious. Every-time I got into position for a picture, it took off and landed further away. It took some chasing to get this one.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/125 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Livelier time at Thornton - 7 August 2012

I haven't been to Thornton for a while, not since the water was well down. After all the rain recently the reservoir is back up to normal levels and the bird life, albeit common species, is collected around the car park area. This seems like a trend, at Watermead park, there is a crowd of birds at the southern end car park. Maybe they're all collecting in areas where they get fed, strangely their seems to be less blue/green algae in these areas as well.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ 6.3, iso 800, 170mm

Someone throwing bread close by attracted the attention of a number of birds, but this coot was quickest off the starting blocks.

Next a CUTE ALERT!

I liked the unusual colours on this one, 

it stood out from its darker siblings.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A Mallard, with a late brood of seven chicks, got mixed in with the general melee for food, and her chicks had to move quickly to avoid being hit by the bigger birds.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ 6.3, iso 800, 370mm

The mother of the chicks, probably feeling guilty for leaving them to fend for themselves, had a bit of a set to with another mallard when she got too close to her babies. The mother is the darker bird on the right of the picture.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ 6.3, iso 800, 235mm

One late brood that had no problems were the four cygnets of the Mute Swan, no-one seemed to knock them about. The father chased off a group of domestic geese, just because they were white.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ 6.3, iso 800, 370mm

Something I have learned over the years is always keep watch behind you (eyes in the back of your head would be useful), I turned from the feeding frenzy to see this Dunnock feeding on the crumbs dropped by the bread throwers.

Watermead and Swthland - 1 August 2012

I think all the birds have migrated already and who could blame them. This rain is too much.

Sveral visits to various places and I haven't got much of interest, sometimes I don't see anything to take the camera out of its bag for.

At Watermead we saw a bit of a show by the Red Eyed Damselflies.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/3200 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

And two of them had a romantic interlude, interesting how different the colours are.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/2000 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

 A day later at Swithland Woods, I didn't see a single bird. It was a dry warmish day and I put some feed mix out in in the usual place, but only this squirrel responded. He was nearly at the feeding station when a dog and owner came past and he ran for cover.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/200 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/40 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 180mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/640 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 210mm