Reflections

Moorhen at Kelham Bridge

1/320 @ 6.3, ISO 800, 400mm

On Reflection

A Moorhen reflecting on his environment.

1/500 @f6.3, ISO 200, 400mm

The Birds and the Bees and Butterflies August 3rd 2014

There wasn't a lot of wildlife about today but somethings of interest raised their heads.

A Red Admiral was hopping about from bloom to bloom, but would not settle with its wings open so I could get a decent picture of his markings.

1/2656 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

A Comma wasn't as shy and was happily sunbathing completely unconcerned about the lens pointing at him.

1/500 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

And this bee was not going to give up its meal for anyone, it didn't even have time to groom itself. Either that or it was a Punk Bee :o)

1/800 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

Further round a Cormorant found a small open area in all the weeds that the parks people have left to clog up the lakes. The whole park will soon be a no go area as Mossies start breeding in the stagnant pools, maybe that's why they closed down the most popular car park.

1/800 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

The Cormorant seemed to give up the struggle with the weeds and flew away to one of the few lakes still free from them.

1/3200 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

1/3200 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

1/3200 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

A Moorhen made use of an abandoned Coots nest, it was the only place in another totally clogged lake.

1/80 @ f7.1,  iso 400, 400mm

All taken on a Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Kelham Bridge - 22 May 2012

A boiling hot afternoon and we set off for Kelham bridge, the bushes were full of bird song, mostly warblers and Buntings.

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

I tried some pics of reed buntings that were shouting from the middle of a field but they were really too far away. then this reed bunting flew over the path and sat on a reed on the other side of the path. the contrast is not the best but he was only there a few seconds and I had to use the settings I had.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm l Lens
1/1000 @ 6.3, iso 200, 400mm

There was nothing to take at the first hide, but had a nice chat with the locals before moving on to the second hide. Beside the path, on the way the light caught this dandelion clock and tempted me to take it.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm l Lens
1/1000 @ 6.3, iso 200, 400mm

At the second hide I was alone for a while and scanning the area for what might be hiding, when I became aware of an eye looking at me. This female pheasant, kept ducking back into the undergrowth and popping up in a different place. It was funny to follow as she moved around out of sight the grasses and flowers above her waved wildly. So I always knew where she would come out. But she always stayed close to one place and returned to it regularly, I could n't see so I cant be certain but I wondered if she had a nest there

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm l Lens
1/500 @ 6.3, iso 200, 400mm

Finally I liked the reflections in this picture of the moorhen.

Kelham Bridge - 6 November 2011

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/50 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

A visit to Kelham Bridge proved quite interesting, the first hide there was some activity on the water but a young mother arrived and pointing sideways through the viewing window whispered to her child "look there, it's a pheasant."

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/64 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

I had been so distracted by the water that I hadn't noticed the bird feeders under the trees to my right. The female pheasant, being too big and ungainly to hang from the feeders was scavenging for anything the smaller birds and squirrel might drop.

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/125 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

The acrobatics of the squirrel were next to catch our attention as he climbed all over the swinging basket of nuts.

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/125 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

He was mobbed several times by a coal tit, unfortunately the tit was flying so fast and from different angles and I didn't manage to get a picture of it hitting the squirrel.

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/125 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

You would think it would hurt the bird more than the squirrel, but the tit was clever and only seemed to hit the ears and the tail, enough to be annoying but not hurt itself.

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/100 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

The Blue Tits were quite happy with the fat balls and kept away from the squirrel.

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

The sun started to slip from the sky and I was thinking about leaving when I noticed a Moorhen trying to pull out a feed

Canon EOS 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L lens
1/25 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm, flash

On the way back to the car, I could see a shadow in the bushes which seemed to be keeping pace with us. So I let Maja and Skipper walk on ahead and as I waited, this Robin popped out onto a post.

Kelham Bridge - 15 October 2011

Skipper is  well again and we celebrated by taking him out to Kelham Bridge, near Ibstock. The first hide was pretty deserted, the only birds being across the other side of the pool.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 800, 250mm 

But Skipper enjoyed running about on the grass paths and at the second hide, there were quite a few people and lots of birds. Apparently we just missed a Kingfisher and a water Rail, but while we were watching for pictures I noticed this rock, which with its reflection made a good picture.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

A moorhen, standing on the raised ground near a wooden post, needed to flap so it wouldn't overbalance and as luck would have it, I was watching it through the camera at the time.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

Then I spotted a Teal (going into eclipse) and as he was posing thought it worth a picture. While Maja took Skipper on a bit further, I stayed in the hide but the Kingfisher didn't return, we thought we heard him calling but he didn't put in an appearance while I was there.

Kirby Muxloe Castle - 23 September 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 100mm

A wander round Kirby Muxloe Castle showed the usual  selection of birds, a few canada geese, mallard, coots and moorhens. The Moorhens usually stay on the island and out of harms way.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

and this female was no exception, strutting around like the lady of the manor.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

If she was the Lady than this Heron was certainly the Captain of the guard, he stood watch on three of the four corners. Unfortunately he chose the very moment that I was sneaking between trees for a closer shot, to dive for a fish and although I saw him do it I was in no position to take a picture.

Grey after the heat - 28 June 2011

Well after the heat of earlier in the week, today was quite grey and when we arrived by the worcester avenue entrance to the lake, there were few birds in sight.

I decided to sit at the moorhen marsh and wait, it was quiet and warm with a slight breeze, quite a pleasant place to sit. I could see a grebe in the distance, he was swimming across and back at a safe distance. A family of mute swans swam out at a similar distance and while I was distracted with a heron, flying into the reeds at the other end of the lake the grebe came closer. I watched him grooming for a while then shaking himself.

As he came closer he continued grooming so I got the camera ready and before long he obliged :

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

It was worth waiting for and you can see his crest hanging down like a black head scarf.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

Then the area started to live up to it's name and, between the coots, several moorhens started to appear.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

As I was leaving, a miniature frog showed itself, briefly, then disappeared into the undergrowth before I could take its picture.

Charnwood Water 3 November 2010

It was bright sunshine when I went out to my car and loaded my photo gear. When We arrived at Charnwood Water, Loughborough (only a few miles away), it was overcast and looking like rain.

Someone was sitting on the ramp feeding the birds and there was a lot of squabbles going on, mainly between Gulls.

I'm told that when food is being given out, birds often fly in to get their share. But, as is usually the case when I have a camera at the ready, all the birds at that end of the lake were either swimming or walking, so no BIF's today. We walked the dog round the lake instead and on the way round noticed what could be good places to set up the camera at, or near, water level. But that will have to wait for another day.

Most of the way round the lake a Great Crested Grebe obliged and and I managed some reasonable pictures.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400 L lens

1/100 @ 5.6, iso 800 focal length 285mm

A bit further round the lake and someone else was feeding the birds, there wasn't much of interest until I noticed a couple of Moorhens on the periphery of the group, they were keeping out of the main melee and only nipping in to steal a stray bit of bread when a piece presented itself.

I sat down with my back against a tree and waited, Moorhens are usually quite shy, but these two didn't seem to mind me and let me get several shots before the heavens opened and everyone beat a hasty retreat for cover.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400m L lens

1/100 @ 5.6, iso 800 Focal Length 400mm

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L lens

1/30 @5.6, iso 800, Focal Length 400mm

I'd decided that today I'd work entirely in manual exposure instaed of my usual AV. I was really pleased with the results, it's marginally slower but the pics are sharper and I got a bigger percentage of keepers.