Coot Fight

A couple of belligerent coots decided to have a set-to just as we arrived  at  the top pool at Sence Valley country park near Ibstock.

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

1/2565 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

My latest book release - Sci-Fi

My latest release, available on Amazon as both paperback and ebook is a science fiction epic.

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

I like Great Tits - 18 May 2014

This tit was uncertain about the food I left on the stump below him, but he eventually tried it after several fly-bys and a few bump and goes.

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

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

My latest book is available on Amazon 

as a  paperback or ebook.

With the heroic death of their father in the Spanish wars, Lady Grace Fenland and her brother Lord George are left with just a small allowance from their mother's will.

The situation is barely improved by the sale of George's paintings, which is their only other income.

When George accidentally sees his sister naked, Grace offers to pose nude for him. The resulting painting is hailed as a Masterpiece.

Its fame spreads, and while the Prince Regent wants to make her his mistress, Grace's best friend Jane Parsons and Lord Henry Moreville fall in love with her.

The subsequent tangles need to be sorted out, but how and by whom?

Curiosity and the Red Deer - April 2014

Bradgate Park looked great in the spring sunshine, but initially there wasn't much wildlife about. So I decided to take some pics of the buildings and ruins.

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 100mm

I have been reliably informed that the picture above cannot be taken. But if you find the right place all three, as you can see are there. In the foreground is the ruin of Lady Jane Grey's family home. On the hill behind, with its arch clearly visible is Old John. It used to be thought of as a mill, but now the general opinion is that it was a folly.  On the ridge to the left is the war memorial.

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

As I rode my mobility scooter up the side of the ruined house, this group of Red Deer became curious and wandered over to have a look at me.

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 320mm

Some of them weren't shy about coming forward to have a look.

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

While others decided to stay with the protection of the bushes.

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 210mm

Then headed for the hills.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 210mm

All taken on Canon EOS 7D, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Up in the Air

Birds have bullies to, look at the body language in this picture, the belligerent Nuthatch really seems to have the blue tit worried. It was on the stump in Swithland Woods.

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

This Coal Tit seems to have found an invisible perch.

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

This Coal Tit just cannot find the invisible perch.

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

These three are more interested in the food

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

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

A brief hop at Watermead - 9 March 2014

My first trip out after having my hip replaced was just a short trip to Watermead Park, it was made more difficult by the park authorities having closed one of the car parks over the winter. Anyone with any knowledge of the park knew that the first warm day and the one remaining car park would be overflowing. and so it was. Fortunately we arrived as someone else was leaving and got a reasonable space.

The first thing we saw, but were unable to get a decent picture of were two mink crossing a path between crowds of people and dogs. They seemed unconcerned and I suspect were in mating mode. Now I know they are there I'll keep a look out and see if I can get some pictures worth publishing.

 At an area we call the beaches we stopped to see what was about on the lakes and a Cormorant flew towards us, he was quite low and in no hurry which enabled me to get these pictures.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 235mm

Then this black headed gull in spring plumage turned into the wind and was slowed down enough to get focus on him.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 180mm

People were feeding the birds and this Mute Swan wanted to make sure he got a share, he seemed to be flapping to urge himself forward.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 190mm

I don't know if this mallard got the same idea, but the Gull coming in to land nearly hit her on the head.

1/4000 @ f5.6, iso 800, 170mm

All taken on a Canon EOS 7D, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Red Deer before the winds hit - 8 Feb 2014

The birds not being very cooperative this weather, we decided to see what the dee were about in Bradgate Park. The answer was not too much. But we did find some Red deer stags and a couple of young Fallow deer

1/200 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

1/200 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

1/160 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm 

1/1600 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

1/125 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

All taken on 

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

A dearth of wildlife - 1 Feb 2014

Since before Christmas there seems to have been a sad lack of wildlife around Leicestershire, mind you with the weather as it is who can blame them for stopping at home.

I managed to get these Shovelers at Watermead park, otherwise it has just been Mallard, Coots and Mute Swans. I did see an Egret away in the distance but couldn't get close enough for a picture.

1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

All taken on

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