A Grey day again - 27 December 2010

A grey day with rain, sleet and snow, not a good day for photography. But I had to take the dog out, so I took the camera.

Canon EOS 50d,  EF 100 - 400 L Lens

1/160 @ f5.6, iso 400, 135mm

The lack of contrast made auto - focus difficult, and the low light made manual focus just as unreliable, but I managed a couple of mediocre shots. This swan thought I was going to feed it so flew in from the other side of the lake.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/160 @ f5.6, iso 400,  400mm

This Mallard, also under the impression she was going to be fed came flying in but couldn't find her footing as she landed and slid quite a way before she regained her composure.

The snow's melting and the skies are grey, let us hope the new year brings better weather.

Boxing day and an uncommon visitor to Leicestershire - 26 December 2010

I visited Watermead South today, that's the more organised end of the park. It usually draws a lot of people and today was no different. But its saving grace is it has a lot of waterbirds, usually the more common kind, however with the ice closing down most of the available water, I thought it was worth a look to see what was there.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

At first I thought there wasn't much about, but then between the Canada Geese, Swans and Coots, I spotted this unexpected smaller bird. The Ruff (*)is associated with flood meadows etc. but I have never seen one round here before. Apologies for the back end of the Canada Goose but the Ruff was keeping close to the bigger birds, I think he was using them to shelter from the breeze.
(*) I have to own up to misidentifying this bird I thought it was a Knot, but got it properly identified at www.birdguides.com

Then a group of juvenile swans provided some amusement, they ran across the ice at full speed using their wings for balance, flapping as if they were going to fly, but then sliding to a halt near the far shore.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @5.6,  iso 400,  400mm

Several of them did this and a couple of adults joined in, then they plodded back to the start, slipping and sliding on their way.

Now a question, this goose, was among the birds on the ice and I cant identify it. It may be a cross breed but just in case its not and someone can identify it I'll put it up here.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

It is similar in size to a Canada Goose but with pink beak and legs, more white on the face and a speckled neck. It's not a Barnacle goose, the face is wrong and it's too big.

So anyone got any suggestions?? 

Merry Yule Tide - 25 December 2010

There were quite a few people about on the park today, not many with cameras but all enjoying the sunshine while the Christmas dinner was cooking.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f5.6,  iso $00,  400mm

The area of open water at Watermead Park has shrunk still further, many of the birds have moved elsewhere. But this Gadwall female was happy where she was.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

This Moorhen wasn't so sure about the ice, nearly lost her footing a couple of times as her feet slipped.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

My favourite bunch of teasels are still providing pictures, the snow sitting on top like a woolley hat.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 115mm

The sunlight through the trees cast shadows across the frozen lake highlighting the tracks in the snow.

A bit of a change - 24 December 2010

By way of a change today I went to Bradgate Park, it is the ancestral home of Lady Jane Grey and only five minutes from my home. The house and surrounding park where donated to the people of Leicester and Leicestershire by Charles Benyon.

There are Roe and Fallow deer roaming free in the grounds and I'd hoped to get some picture of them in the snow. But there were too many people and the deer were skittish. Most moved up to the remoter areas and out of camera range.

So I had to make do with pictures of the house and monument.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/80 @ f20,  iso 400, 100mm 

Short days and little water - 22 December 2010

With the short winter days and most of the water being frozen, photographers, who were just on a nodding acquaintance, now find themselves forced into closer proximity. If the weather gets any harder, we'll soon be sitting on top of each other in an effort to get the best pictures in the best light.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

As I was walking to the only open water at Watermead park, this Wren popped out on the hunt for food. They're difficult to spot when the leaves are still on the trees, so this was a rare sighting. How such a small bird survives a winter like this one I don't know. I also sighted a Kingfisher at the hole in the wall "hide" but he was gone before I could get a picture and didn't return.

After a brief wander around the top lake and  a swan taking a dislike to skipper, who was sitting quietly behind me, we moved on to see what was on the open areas of the river soar.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 6.3, iso 400, 390mm

Surprise visitors, this year, are the goosanders and I found four of them swimming between the ice on the  Soar. I've been around this river most of my life, I even did the first canoe descent from its start at Sharnford and lived beside it for several years, but I've been seen such a variety of water birds as I've seen this year.

A sprinkle of snow - 21 December 2010

Overnight there was a sprinkle of snow, nothing much, but on top of the hoare frost the previous day, it added another dimension to the countryside.


Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 400, 260mm

I was walking along the path beside the lake and approaching the end near moorhen marsh, the light snow cover was still visible (just). Across the lake I could see a darkly clad figure moving about near to one of the "beaches" and wondered if it was Paul (www.alulawildlifephotos.yolasite.com) setting up to take some pics.
As I passed an old, disused, five bar wooden gate, I noticed it still had a light covering of snow and the meadow behind was still white from the hoare frost of the day before. I thought, "that'd be a nice picture if there was a robin on it."

The thought had no sooner formed than a robin duly landed on the gate and started to pose. So never one to miss and opportunity, I whipped the camera out and managed about ten shots before he flew away again.



Canon EOS 50d, Ef 100400mm L Lens
1/800 @ 5.6, iso 400, 105mm

Around the other side of the lake, the dark figure proved to be Paul and by the time we got there, he was flat on his stomach with his camera down at water level, taking some close-ups of the  birds with his 500mm lens. This totally confused Skipper as he likes Paul and rushed towards him, hoping to play, but finding him flat out like that didn't know what to do, so he rushed back to me.
Anyway we stopped there for some time taking pictures of the various birds in the water and on the ice. After a while a couple arrived to feed the birds and all hell broke loose with birds calling, running and flying in from all directions. Fortunately I had the camera set to rapid fire and did something I don't usually do, it's known as machine-gunning. That means, I held the shutter release down and let it take the 8 fps it's capable of the sound of the shutter clicking away is what gives it the name. Most of the photos where not very good - too many birds crossing in front confusing the auto focus, but some came out ok.

Above, as they came into land their bow waves clashed and I think, by the way they're looking at each other, they both got a beak full.
Below he wasn't trying to walk on water, just coming in to land.


Canon EOS 50d, EF100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ 5.6, iso 400, 160mm






Hoare Frost and a white wonder land - 20 December 2010

A deep Hoare Frost turned everything white today, the light was great for some pictures and not so good for others.


Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/80 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

I'd no sooner arrived at the car park and opened the car door, that this Robin appeared and settled on a fence post less than 10 feet from me. I was sure he'd fly off if I moved, but I reached for the camera anyway. The Robin, living up to its cheeky reputation, never moved. He just cocked his head and looked around, he stayed until some people came along the footpath and I managed to get 15 shots of him.




Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

I've been watching this clump of teasels for some time and taking pictures when something new happened, first a stormy sky gave a nice brown glow to the background, then the snow filled the spaces between the thorns. But today the hoare frost gave a new aspect to it and made it look as if it belonged on a Christmas tree as a decoration.



Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ 4.5, iso 400, 100mm

The teasels where further back along this path, but as I approached the wooded area, it seemed like I was entering a winter wonderland with frost clinging to every available place.




Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

I don't know what these two coots were up to, but she seems to be aiming a kick at his tender parts. At the same time, and all the time we were there, a group of about ten male shovellers were swimming in a tight circle with their heads down - apparently looking for food. They must have been getting something because they didn't raise their heads for more than a few seconds. Unfortunately their formation didn't make for good pictures.

Weather permitting, I will be posting all through the holidays. But in case some of you who have better things to do;

I Wish you all a very happy Yule Tide and a prosperous New Year.
 

A break in the clouds 19 December 2010

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L Lens
1/6400 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 400mm

Often a flock of geese will flyover the tree tops and be over you before you have a chance to raise the camera. Today was different, I heard the honking from a long way off and when they came over the tree tops into the open meadow, they dropped down - presenting a great photo opportunity.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L Lens
1/8000 @ 7.1, iso 1600, 100mm

Flying in classic V formation, they made a great sight. They were heading north and made me wonder if spring had come already.



Canon EOS 50d, EF100-400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 400mm

This Moorhen looked like he wished spring had come, he looked very unsteady on the ice, every footstep looked very tentative, as if he was testing the ice at every step.



Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/1600 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 400mm

When I returned to the car park, this fella was scavenging from a nearby picnic table, the backdrop of the lake reflecting the blue sky was too good to miss.




Dull and Dismal continues 15 Dec 2010

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm Lens

1/640 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

The dull and dismal weather continues, not the best for exciting pictures. But there are opportunities if you keep your eyes open and this gull provided some humour when he saw his reflection, the water covered ice making a near perfect mirror.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm Lens

1/640 @5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Eventually he got fed up of not being able to scare off his reflection and marched away,  followed by his nemesis,

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm Lens

1/640 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Dull and Dismal

Technoratti - NMBMSUZRZB76


The weather being dull and dismal as it is, it's not good for wildlife photography, so here are a few shots from my collection.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm Lens

1/200 @ 5-6, iso 200, 400mm

This boathouse is on Cropston reservoir and being on the opposite side of the lake from the footpath is a good place to test lenses.

 Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm Lens

1/200 @ 5.6, iso 400, 130mm

Canon Eos 50d, EF 100-400mm Lens

1/200 @5.6, iso 400, 130mm

These two were taken a couple of days ago and clearly show the greyness off the day. The Mallard had just been given bread by some children and after a brief skirmish with other ducks and swans came out victorious. After his meal he washed and preened before ducking under, then rising for a good shake to get rid of excess water.

Watermead Park - 9 December 2010

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm

1/500 @ 5.6, iso 200, 250mm

Most of the birds in the park seem to prefer to keep still and warm, there's just a few Coot and Moorhens and of course Mallard and Mute swans that seem active in the small area of remaining water. A group of Shovellers have taken up residence on the ice but rarely lift their beaks from under their wings.

After a, not very successful shoot at the "open water", I was walking back to the car when this Heron popped up out of the ditch alongside me. It flew a little way, then walked along the path just ahead of me. I took some pics, but from behind and on a tarmac path, they weren't very interesting.

Then it flew round the next corner and I thought it had gone. But as I rounded the bushes, there it was on the lake edge with a nice frozen blue background. My first pic was a good one, but when I looked at it on the computer, it showed the look of "far away" concentration was due to it performing it's necessary functions and I had  a perfect image of the excrement about to hit the ground. The pic above was the second photo in the sequence - don't want to offend delicate sensibilities.



Swamp Thing sighted

Well it's been a bad week for wildlife photography, everything seems to be hunkered down and trying to keep warm. There are some areas of the lakes at Watermead Park that are not frozen and what birds there are, surround the open water with feathers fluffed out, to increase the insulation properties, and seem to have no intention of moving. Who can blame them?

Before the snow came, I had a rare sighting. It was so well camouflaged that I nearly missed it. Only the white plumage in its forward appendage caught my eye and I managed to get a photo before it scurried off into the bushes. You can see from the startled look in its eyes that it wasn't used to being seen in the open in daylight.

What, you may ask was it that is so rare and has a forward appendage?

Well in the past they became very rare, but owing to a digital introduction program, led by the Japanese they are now on the increase again.

It is, of course the Lesser Green-backed image sloth.

For those that don't know, these rare animals used to walk upright. But as their lenses and cameras got bigger and heavier, the stoop gradually became more pronounced and instead of standing proud like big-foot they grew to look more like a giant ground sloth.

Keep your eyes open around the countryside, you may be lucky(?) enough to spot one.

Canon EOS 50d,  EF 100-400mm lens

1/125 @ 5.6, iso 800, 170mm

My friend and fellow photographer Paul (http://www.alulawildlifephotos.yolasite.com/) chasing ducks.

Wet Fortnight

Well here we are nearly two weeks of bad weather, today we get sunshine and I'm full of cold and in no fit state for taking decent pictures.

So I've dug out some archive pictures to post.

A Mallard mother was so proud of her brood, she put them beside the main gate to Kirby Muxloe Castle.

Canon EOS 50d - EF 70 - 300mm Lens

1/500 @ f10 iso 800, 300mm





Canon EOS 50d, EF70-300mm Lens

1/500 @ 7.1 , iso 400, 300mm

And in July this peacock was so intent on the flower head that it didn't notice the lens looming up.

I haven't been idle during the bad weather, after a lot of studying tech specs and discussions with the right people, I brought a new computer. It's an Apple iMac and I'm now trying to customise it in just the way want it. I haven't sorted the internet on it yet so I'm typing this on my venerable IBM Lenovo Think Pad.

The difference a good display makes is fantastic and some pictures that I almost rejected on the old screen now look really good and worth tidying up and keeping. I still need some Mac compatible photo editing software (Photoshop), but all in goo time. I can use DPP for now.

Slimbridge WWT - 10 November 2010

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

1/2000  @ 6.3, ISO 400, 115mm

We spent the day at the "Nature in Focus 2010 Seminar" at  WWT Slimbridge with well known photographers Ben Osborne, David Ward, Phil Malpas,  Charlie Hamilton-James. It was put together by "Wild Arena.com", Canon, Paramo clothing and others. The talks were very interesting particularly David Ward on landscapes, because the information he put over applied to all aspects of photography. Something worth repeating here is his assertion that you should look for something, in a photo, that will engage the viewer. Take the photos above , I could have taken a picture of the Ruddy Shelduck just swimming along, as ducks do, but I wouldn't have needed all my equipment to do that, a camera phone would have done it nearly as well. Instead I waited - as I usually do - until it did something interesting.

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

1/1250 @ 5.6, ISO 400, 400mm

At lunch time and again in the afternoon (3-4.15pm in time for the best light) we were out in the wetlands centre taking pics of anything that appealed to us. It's easy to get distracted at Slimbridge, there is so much to see, both native and non-native species. But although I took pictures of some of the Non-Native collections they were wing-clipped so don't qualify as wild life. I took over 200 pictures and feel I only scratched the surface of what is available, for instance we never got as far as the larger pools and hides.

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

1600 @ 5.6, ISO 200, 400mm

As you see, there were some common species around, species that I could easily photograph around my home county of Leicestershire. But they offered a chance to get something interesting and I saw no reason to miss out on a good picture just because I'd travelled around a hundred miles for something different.

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

1/3200 @ 6.3, ISO 200, 400mm

And finally, although this species (below) isn't a bird and is an import from America, I couldn't resist taking it. As I approached the enclosure, it must have thought it was feeding time because it rushed towards me and gave me the chance of some close up shots. The quality isn't the best because there was a glass barrier all round the enclosure and I wasn't expecting the Otter to oblige so readily, that's why the settings are so low, I didn't have time to change them.

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

1/125 @ 7.1, ISO 200, 100mm

Sence Valley Country Park - 7 November 2010

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

1/400 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Today turned out to be surprising and gave me a lot of photos to trawl through. We arrived at Sence Valley at about midday, and walked round to the hide. There's rarely anything close enough to be of interest, but we always look and hope. Today there were a few Mallard and Coots but the light was wrong and they seemed to be dozing in the sun Further away there was a Heron sitting on a rock, I didn't think it would be a good pic, but I tried anyway.

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

1/400 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Then Maja pointed and said, "look there are two Pheasants fighting!" I turned the camera to the direction she was pointing and sure enough, two male Pheasants were having a right old ding-dong. They were a long way away and at an awkward angle from the hide windows, but they were in a fenced off area surrounded by bushes and trees, so the hide was the only place they could be photographed from - so I set too. The fight lasted a long time and eventually disappeared from view behind bushes and a bit of raised ground, but not before I'd taken over 40 pics.

After a walk round with Skipper, we drove back up to the upper car park to use the Loo's (it's a god stiff walk up a steep hill). But as we drove back down, we spotted a falconer and his son exercising his Harris Hawk and stopped for a chat. He was happy for me to take pictures and keen to show his beautiful birds, as I would have been if they were mine.

CanonEOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L lens

1/2500 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

While they prepare for the next flight the hawk, which was nearly a year old, sat on a fence and posed for me. Then, rewards prepared the hawk flew and I was able to get some good, in-flight shots. But the hawk was so fast I managed only 10 shots for a flight of perhaps 100 yards and had difficulty keeping it in the viewfinder.

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

1/1000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 100mm

After those two experiences, the dozing ducks seemed a bit of a disappointment, so after another walk with Skipper we made our way home.

Watermead Country Park - 6 Nov 2010

Today started out looking unpromising, we entered at the Wanlip entrance to the park and went to Merril's lake. It looked deserted, just a couple of swans and a pack of gulls. So we drove further in and I walked across to plover hide. The lakes from here were deserted as well. I carried on walking and as I came out of the gate near King Lears lake Maja, who'd walked round the other way with Skipper, was just come along the path. There was very little on this lake as well. So we carried on round, only pausing for a chat with my old boss from the hospital where I used to work.

Carrying on we crossed the wooden bridge and walked down to Moorhen Marsh, which was under water after the rain yesterday, but there was a lot more life on the lake. Here Maja and Skipper left me and returned to move the car to the Meadow Lane entrance, while I continued round the lake.

Three Cormorant were posing on the rafts in the middle and I took some pics of them. Then I noticed a bird I'd not seen on this lake before, it was swimming with some coots and about the same size. The light brown patch on it's forehead made me wonder if it was a hybrid but then I realised it was a wigeon and shortly after a female joined it.

Canon EOS 50d - ef 100-400mm L Lens

5.6 @ 1250, iso 400, 370mm

The only birds flying where a long way off at the other side of the lake, so no chance there. From there I walked through to the hide wall and got some photos of a heron roosting in a tree, but there was nothing else there. Walking back towards Meadow Lane, past the pond where Paul saw a Kingfisher a few days ago (non in evidence today), I spotted another Heron on an island in the middle of the last lake before the car park. Tried a few pics but the sun was in my face making it very difficult.

Maja arrived at Meadow lane just before me and was getting the flack of coffee out as I arrived, so camera gear in the back of the car we sat in the front to enjoy the hot drink. Almost immediately a blue tit landed in the bushes and had me wishing I had the camera up front with me. Then it flew off and we spotted a grey squirrel just below where it had been. We have never seen squirrels there before, always thought they would be, but never seen them.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/40 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

I waited, sure that if I got out of the car to get my camera the squirrel would disappear into the woods. Eventually he moved round so there was another parked car between me and him and I took a chance. Whether he saw me or not I don't know, but he moved back to the place we first saw him and leaning against the back of the car for stability I managed to get some photos.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/80th @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Then he came round the perimeter fence and behind the cars, almost to where I was standing and I managed to get some close ups.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/60 @5.6, iso 800, 400mm

I know a lot of people regard them as vermin and blame them for the loss of our native reds. I also know that I would have to travel a long way to get pictures of reds (which I will do eventually) and that the greys are not only photogenic, but they are also the only option in Leicestershire. So I don't apologise for taking photos of them or saying that they can look cute.

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.

Watermead Park 1 November 2010

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

1/400 @ 6.3 iso 400

I was short of time today and only managed half an hour with my camera. But the Grey Heron obliged with a fly past (albeit at some distance). I thought I saw a male shoveller but it disappeared and I couldn't find it again.