A cold day at Watermead Park

With the help of my new mobility scooter, we decided to spend a couple of hours at Watermead Park. The day started sunny, but as soon as we were ready the clouds came in and hid the sun. Other than the usual common fayre there were few birds about, Mallards, Swans, Coots etc.

The Mute Swans were on a still lake, with perfect reflections, until they saw us and decided we might be a source of food. So the reflections I managed to take are a bit ruffled in places.

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 275mm

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

We nearly missed the Heron hiding in a bush, but he sat and posed for my camera. We haven't seen a Heron for some months, so we were surprised to see him.

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 500, 400mm

All pictures taken on a

Canon EOS 7d and EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Another Deer trip - 31 October 2013

Thursday was the last day this year when cars for the less mobile were allowed to drive through the Bradgate park so we decided to to take advantage of it despite the weather not looking too promising and our belief that the deer would be hiding sheltering from the weather.

We were wrong, there were deer everywhere. We could hear the occasional call of deer still in the final throes of the rut. But I think most of it had run its course and the losing stags were settling down for a rest as were the winners once they'd done their duty. The fallow deer below settled himself down seemingly oblivious to anyone else.

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

While the Peacock looked on with a superior air and hit on any car pulling into the Bradgate house surrounds.

1/250 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 100mm

Fallow deer were scattered around in every sheltered corner they could find.

1/400 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

These Red deer had, what appeared to be, a face off. They parallel walked for a while but eventually went off in different directions.

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/320 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 360mm

This fallow deer stag looked as though he was looking for a mate, but the females seemed to be keeping out of his way.

1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

The camouflage on this fallow deer can make it difficult to spot.

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

On our way out of the park there was this Red Tailed Hawk being exercised beside the track.

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 220mm

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 285mm

All taken with a

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm lens