What a Dismal Week end - 23 January 2011

Well not the best of weekends to out taking pictures, I did go out on Saturday afternoon but I think the birds had decided to stay at home. Although in the early evening as I walked back to the car I was treated to a chior of birds singin out as loud as they could. The tree tops were fair ringing with them. Couldn't see a one though and anyway it was too dark to have captured them on camera.

So I've pulled some summer pics from my archives, to brighten these dark winter days.



Peacock




Peacock



Common Blue



Large White

The sun was out then and the temperature was up and my Border Collie loves a good swim, mind you he doesn't care if its freezing, he still likes to swim.

He's a great dog for a wildlife photographer, when I take my camera out, he just settles down and waits. He never chases the birds or any other wildlife while I'm taking pictures. The only times he moves are; if a swan gets too close or if he spots Paul (alulawildlife - see link) or if Paul tries to take his stick. Then he prances around like a puppy, so does skipper.

Skipper will chase the odd Grey squirrel up a tree if I haven't got my camera out - I dont know how he differentiates, I've never taught him, he just seems to know.

Next weeks weather looks as if it could be better, though colder, so let's hope I can get some decent pics then.




Wildlife watching - 21 January 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/50 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

What does a squirrel do when he/she senses your presence, it doesn't matter how fat it looks, if it's a wild one it'll do what this one did -

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/40 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

- RUN!

OK so a fiftieth of a second is living in hope, it should have been around a four hundredth fo sharpness but I do like the image at a fortieth and wouldn't have got it if I'd been shooting at faster speeds. 

Sunny Days are here again - 18 January 2011

The sun was out and the wind was blowing, so we decided on a change and visited Thornton Reservoir. All the usual birds were there so nothing to get excited about. But this Black Headed Gull, in its winter plumage (so no black head), gave an interesting display of fishing technique.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm
(for all three)

These pictures were taken on rapid fire on the 7d which is 8 frames per second, or one eighth of a second between shots. So the whole dive took just three eighths of a second.

After the rain - 17 January 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

A break in the dull wet days and everyone was out looking at the birds. There was  positive army of spotter-scopes and binoculars and more than a few cameras. Trouble is there wasn't much in the way of unusual bird life.

The Canada Geese are back, I haven't seen so many for a while and their honking as they call their mates to fly really fills the air.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2000 @ f5, iso 800, 235mm

Of course the Mute swans have been here all through the snow, ice and rain. The sedate movement of this one was steady enough for it's reflection to be mostly undisturbed.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/8000 @ f11, 800, 1000mm

As the sun sank slowly behind the trees, it didn't seem to want to go and the birds swimming across its golden glow made interesting silhouettes.

A Grand Week-end - 8 & 9 January 2011

The sun was out, the light was good and there were more cameras per square inch od the Watermead park than I've ever seen. This was mostly due to the announcement in the local press that a Bittern had been sighted.

I didn't go looking for it, the queues were apparently similar to the start of the January sales and one report I heard was that the clicking of so many shutters frightened the poor bird into the reeds.

So we stayed away - maybe later in the week - hmm.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Gadwall are much in evidence at the moment and this one provided much amusement, just before I got my camera onto it, when it tried to stand on one leg and fell over. I guess the ice is just as slippy for them as it is for us.

Saturday evening and were beginning to lose the light. But as the sun disappeared in the west, it lit the lake up with a soft redish light. It is one of those strange anomalies of photography that photographers spend thousands of pounds on equipment that gives tack sharp pictures, then look for this kind of light to give a soft feel to their efforts.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

This Mute Swan set it's sails and with a slight angle to the direction of sunlight was nicely lit up by it's softness.



Sunday and again there was good light, but for some reason - less birds,, maybe it's because more water is opening up as the ice slowly melts.

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

I liked this coot with the droplet of water just falling from it's beak. and similarly the Gadwall below.

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

As I write this on monday morning the sun is coming and going and I don't  know if there will be any light for pictures later - we can only try.

Another grey and wet day - 7 January 2010

I didn't take the camera out today, the weather was so bad.

So I've pulled some pics out of the archives.

This tree caught my eye as I was returning to the car, after walking Skipper, one evening.

Canon EOS 400d, EF-S 18-55mm Lens
1/400 @ 6.3, iso 400, 55mm


An autumn scene, the colours are just beginning to change. This boathouse is a place I like to use to test lenses. It is across the Cropston Reservoir from the footpath and behind it is the Bradgate Park (ancestral home of Lady Jane Grey). I sometimes think Cropston is one of the prettiest reservoirs in England.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 28 - 105mm Lens
1/125 @ f14, iso 250, 105mm



This Northern Damsell fly with its electric blue colour wouldn't harm anyone and makes a beautiful line of colour in the green grass.

Canon EOS 400d, EF 70 - 300mm Lens
1/100 @ f11, iso 200, 300mm

If you are squeamish about Creepy-Crawlies, look away now .

Canon EOS 400, EF 28 - 105mm Lens
1/640 @ 4.5, iso 100, 105mm

This lady, set her web up between our dustbins, but she didn't like having her picture taken and scuttled away as soon as I'd got this shot.

A bit more light - 6 January 2011

A slight improvement in the light today had me out at Watermead Park looking for birds and there were plenty to be seen, although the most interesting ones stayed out of reach in the middle of the lake. The ice is receding and over half the lake is water again. I could see the Goosander, Shovellors a couple of Pochard and Gadwall, plus Grebe, Cormorant and the usual residents - Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

The colours on the water caught my imagination, then this Cormorant swam out. It was too good to miss.

A bit further round the lake this female Mallard settled down in front of me and as there wasn't much else happening I decided to take the picture she was posing for.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm 

Interesting how the colours changed as I walked round the lake. Further out in the Lake the contrast was so bad, most of the pics I took, from there, weren't worth keeping. At least it was better than yesterday and the day before. that grey horrible drizzle made it a waste of time taking the camera out - so I didn't.

Watermead Park again - 2 January 2011

I went to Watermead Park again today, I hadn't the time to go further afield, but my trip was rewarded with some interest.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm

 Although not techinically brilliant, this struck me as amusing, the cormorant seems to be showing his physique to the gulls, to scare them off. In fact he was drying his wings for some time before and after their arrival.

After checking the hides and finding nothing, I looked in at the teasel patch and the light looked good so I took some more of what must be the most photographed teasels in Leistershire.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

From the Teasels, it's only a short walk back to the carpark, but with the car in sight, I could hear the beautiful and complicated sound of a Robin singing and after a short search I found him near the top of a small tree.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm



New Years Day - not a lot happening

All was very quiet today at Watermead Park (maybe the birds were sleeping off the revelry of the previous night as well). Several people wandering about, mostly families. I only saw one other photographer and we stopped for a chat, He'd been told there's a Merganser about but neither of us have seen it.

When I got to the most active lake the grey skies and murky light weren't good for photography, but I took a couple anyway.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm


This wigeon pops up from time to time and was the only different fayre from the usual coots, moorhens, swans etc.

On my way back to the car, I wandered round by the river Soar. Up near the Thurmaston Locks there were several of the usual birds. But no sign of the male Goosanders I photographed a few days before. I stopped for another chat with a local. He was bemoaning the Goosanders for taking "his" fish, he seemed relieved when he said he hadn't seem them for a few days and hoped they'd gone. As he was saying this his back was to the river and I spotted this female Goosander swimming out from the sluice gates. But I didn't enlighten him - might have ruined his day :o)

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Happy New Year

Misty day - 29 December 2010

I went out yesterday but the weather was so bad, I didn't bother taking the camera out of the bag.

Today there was a mist but a lot more light, so, with thanks to the creators of Digital photography, I risked it and took some pics at watermead park.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ 5.6, iso 800, 150mm

The mute swan flying out of the mist and then turning across the front of me was worth the effort, even if there is very little colour.

Canon EOS 50d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

This Shovellor found a small area of open water on one of the minor lakes and I was able to snap him through the hole in the wall hide.

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