Merry Xmas

Here's a couple of my Robin Photos to wish everyone a Merry thingummy and a happy new whatsit

Waiting for Xmas

Robin posing

1/160 @ f6.3, ISO 400, 100mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Robin

There's nothing like a singing Robin

1/125 @ f6.3, ISO 1600, 400mm
Canon 7d, ef 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Robin

"I think I'll wait here until the wind dies down"

It's that time of year again

I don't know how I came to be associated to Christmas 

but everyone puts out more feed for me and 

I'm suddenly everyones favourite

1/160 @ f6.3. ISO 1600, 170mm

Robin singing

Chis Packham says birds only sing to attract a mate, 

so why is this one singing in winter? 

1/80 @ f6.3. ISO 800, 400mm

Choosy Robin

Robin throwing away the food he didn't like and taking a meal worm.

1/320 @ f5.6, ISO 1600, 400mm

Rockin Robin

A Robin being as cheeky as usual  and watching me with my camera

1/320 @ f5.6, ISO 1600, 400mm

The singing begins

There wasn't much to be seen at Watermead park, just the usual birds that never leave. I hope things will improve as spring approaches.

There was a Robin singing his heart out beside the path, he was completely undisturbed by people passing just a foot or so away.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f6.3, iso 800, 115mm

all picture taken using 

Canon EOS7d, ef 100 - 400mm L series zoom lens

Have a look at my writers blog, www.johngwynant,blogspot.co.uk for my latest book releases.

Seasons Greetings

We started with frosts turning everything white.

Snow soon followed

If we were clever we had laid in the fuel, ready for the cold weather.

The birds puffed themselves up to keep out the cold

And what other bird suited the season but a Robin

Well a Jenny Wren of course (Ok that surprised me as well)

So we trimmed up for the great day and the dog got in on the act as well

Turkey eaten presents opened and it was time for a bit of fun

We all remember Mid Winter Festivals like that, don't we?

We perhaps wish they still happened?

Well the good news is these pictures were all taken within the last four years so they do still happen and will happen again.

Have a Happy Mid-Winter Day and Good new Year.

An Hour in the Woods - 23 May 2014

We managed to slip out for an hour between rain showers yesterday and took Skipper to Swithland woods. I sat in the car while Maja spread the bird food and took the dog for his walk.

At first I thought I would be unlucky, but after ten minutes a Nuthatch did a flyby and shortly afterwards landed to partake of the free meal.

1/250 @ f5.6, iso 1600, 400mm

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

I don't think he was sure which was his best side so he showed me both during his frequent visits.

A Robin approached from the other side of the drive but wouldn't come to the stump and get food,  I guess it was in another Robin's territory. So I took pictures of him on the low fence posts.

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

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

I think he heard the camera shutter though because he looked straight at me.

Then I caught a movement on one of the trees behind him and realised it was a treecreeper. I have occasionally seen treecreepers but never managed to photograph one, so I was over the moon to get these pictures.

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

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

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

Some of these subjects were some distance away and in low light so not as sharp as they might be, but I was just pleased to get them, particularly the treecreeper.

All taken on a Canon EOS7d and EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

A Happy Midwinter To You All

Whatever you celebrate at this time, whether it be Christmas, Saturnalia, Midwinter etc, have a good one. I have chosen some of my winter pictures from over the years to bring a festive feeling to all.

I hope you enjoy them.

Two pictures from the Highwoods in Colchester, first is Skipper crossing a frozen stream 

Local people enjoying a convenient slope.

Bradgate House at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, the ancestral home of the ill fated Lady Jane Grey and in the background the folly 'Old John'

Burdock always looks spectacular after a hoare frost.

Which other bird could represent this time of year better than a Robin with puffed up feathers and beautiful song.

no wonder they feature on so many cards.

Admitted the gull doesn't spring to mind in midwinter but this one was on a frozen lake which, when the weather warmed and the rain fell, formed a near perfect mirror - much to its confusion.

A squirrel thought he might find left overs on the picnic table so we threw him some and as you can see he was grateful.

A couple more festive Robins, who can resist them at this time of year, they are also really photogenic.

Here's another bird you wouldn't think of at this time of year, a wren in the snow.

Finally a gathering of winter fuel, this lot probably lasted till new year.

 

To All

A merry whatsit and a happy Thingy

o< :o)>

When the birds are away - 3 June 2013

We went back to Swithland woods yesterday and loaded the stump with seed and nuts. Then while Maja was off taking the dog for a walk, I settled down to await the visitors.

1/100 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

It was a long time before anything arrived, I was buzzed several times by Blackbirds but they didn't hang around. This Robin collected his mouthful on his way across the track. He hopped onto this post, next to the stump and seemed to be looking across at it. But when he took flight, it was away from the stump and he never came back.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

In the last few minutes before Maja returned, this Grey Squirrel turned up. First he hid behind a car and surveyed the area and I thought he wasn't coming out.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

But he suddenly dashed across the track and up onto the stump.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Where he proceeded to eat as much as he could, taking his time and ignoring a passing car. Being summer he wasn't rushing off to bury his loot and he stayed for about ten minutes.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I'm not sure if this was a pause for breath or a burp, but he looks happy.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I think he could hear a dog coming up the path and a few minutes a Jack Russell appeared and he was off up the nearest tree.

All taken on 

Canon EOS 7d, EOS 100 - 400mm L series zoom

Watermead surprise - 8 May 2013

We had walked, very slowly, most of the way round our usual short walk and seen nothing notable wildlife wise. Until we reached the "Hole in the Wall" hide, where we spotted a Greylag goose standing on a shallow spot in the middle of the lake. I liked the reflection.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

While we were there we spotted a movement in the bushes nearby and eventually got this picture of a Black Cap.

1/800 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

Nothing else of note happened until we turned for the car park, out of the corner of my eye I saw a branch moving in a direction it shouldn't.

A moment later a Heron surprised us when he moved out along the branch and into view. As I stood there with my camera focussed on it, it started to stretch and shake its wings. It was looking right at me as if it were asking what I was looking at.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

Then after a good shake it shouted at me, at least that's what it appeared to be doing.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

A few minutes later it took off and flew close by before wheeling off into the trees.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 275mm

Back in the car park a squirrel watched Skipper intently until he was in the back of the car

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

We threw some nuts and seeds down to attract him but he preferred to stay in the tree. However we had visits from several birds like this female Chaffinch, a male Chaffinch and a Robin (last two not shown).

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Then a greedy Blue Tit, who seemed to have a big appetite.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The Great Tit did some fast fly-bys I assume he got some food but he was so fast I couldn't see. Then we noticed him in the bushes.

1/200 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

All pictures taken on

Canon EOS 7d, with EF 100 - 400mm L series lens