sparsity of waterbird life at watermead - 12 April 2012

I don't know why but the lakes seem empty at the moment, unless they're all hiding around their nests. The smaller birds are still active though. A blue tit was the first to visit the feeding post at the car park, but he was so fast I couldn't get a focus on him.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/80 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm 

This Dunnock was the next visitor, he nipped in before too many birds assembled and didn't come back once he'd had his fill

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/80 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

A magpie flew in skimmed the post with his feet, scattering the feed,  and flew away again. I don't know why he did that, it looked like a clear case of bullying to me. But the Robin made the best of it and collected the spilled mealworm from the ground. I like the way the feathers, at the ends of the wings, stack like lolly sticks on this pic.

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

The Chaffinch was next and for once he stood up to the Robin and got a good feed.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/125 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm 

I don't know if it was the same Blue tit as came first, but this one dropped something and stopped looking for it, long enough for a picture.

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

The Great Tit is another fast food addict who slowed down and even sat on the fence for me to get his picture.

The Remarkable Couple

I just released my new novel on Amazon, it's my sixth book and a sister book to 'The Unremarkable Couple" (see the side bar) both are based around the "Sunnyview Naturist Club" in "Lurking in the Wolds" and contain nudity and love making.

Doctor Teresa Barton, a General Practitioner and stunningly beautiful naturist, is a virgin, determined to save herself for the right man. She has been a secret naturist since the age of fourteen and a practising social naturist since she joined the University Sun Club. Her strict, fanatically religious, parents disapprove.

Sharing a flat in Lurking in the Wolds with Jo, an old school friend, she soon finds she has made a mistake. Jo is a good looking girl, who's not as beautiful as Teresa and doesn't share her morals. To Jo, nudity equals sex, there can be no other reason to get naked. She cannot understand how Teresa can show her naked body to everyone on a nude beach or in a naturist club and not be interested in having sex with them.

Things come to a head when Jo brings two men home. She tries to get one of them into Teresa's bed and nearly succeeds. But when that fails she takes both into her own bed for a threesome. Teresa, unhappy about her flatmate's, sometimes illegal, attempts to get her bedded, tells Jo to move out.

This decision changes their lives, and Teresa, close to a breakdown, gets into all kinds of unexpected adventures. Will she hold onto her virginity until she finds the man for her?

A Stroll at Watermead - 17 March 2012

There wasn't much happening on the lakes  today, only a shoveller 'shaking it all about' near the hole in the wall hide.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Back at the car park, I seeded one of the fence posts and waited. I didn't have long to wait before this Chaffinch on a bad hair day dropped in.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

A rare visitor to that area came for a feed soon after in the shape of a Dunnock, it didn't stop long but came again later.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

The Great Tit paid its usual fleeting visit, they never stay long and seem quite nervous. It's one of the few birds that seems to hear the camera shutter

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

The Blue Tit followed in and again it was a flying visit, you can see right wing tip behind his head as he starts his turn.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

Another Chaffinch took its feed up into a nearby tree to enjoy before returning for more.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 375mm

Of course it wouldn't be a visit to watermead if I didn't see a Robin, this one looks as if he's getting plenty of food.

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

Swithland Woods - 7 March 2012

There is a tree stump in the Swithland Woods car park that the birds have been used to feeding from. I spread some bird food on it and sat in the car to wait.  It was while before any thing happened, then a chaffinch did a fly-past. It didn't stop on the stump, just had a look and flew up into a tree.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/1600 @ 5.6, iso 400, 390mm

Then a Nuthatch did the same thing, flew by and settled head down where he could watch the food.

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

There was a lot of interruption from people in the car park, and it wasn't until Maja got back with the dog that I really started to see some results from the free food.

A couple of tits flew in at speed and out again before I could get a picture, then this Coal tit  landed.

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

The Nuthatch returned, chasing the Coal Tit away as he usually does. He's more belligerent than the Robin that followed him in, you can see him back pedalling as soon as he sees the Nuthatch.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm 

But Robins aren't cowards so he went in for some of the bounty,  I don't know what passed between them.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm 

But the Robin didn't stay long.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm 

Then the Nuthatch flew off with a nut, that's one fast bird.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 400, 390mm

Back to the car park - 27 Feb 2012

I returned to the watermead Car park yesterday, One of the early visitors was a grey Squirrel, although he never actually came to the feeding post. I guess it was just too close to the car for him.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ 7.1, iso 800, 210mm

Then Mr and Mrs Chaffinch took it in turns to visit, Neither stopped long enough for the Robin to bully them.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/50 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/80 @ 7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The robin was on and off the post all the time I was there, but having thrown off the food he didn't like and taken all the meal worm, he then had a search round below in case he'd dropped any.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/50 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Territorial disputes, Watermead Park - 20 February 2012.

It's been a while since I last posted, one or two health problems. I asked a friend to post some of his pictures but for some unaccountable reason he thought it was a weird suggestion. I just thought it would help me and at the same time give him some publicity for his website. But there you go some people have some strange ideas.

Maja took Skipper for a walk from Meadow lane car park at Watermead park yesterday. I wasn't fit enough for a walk, so I stayed with the car. I put bird feed on two of the fence posts and waited - camera poised.

It wasn't long before they started to arrive, the Robin was first and he proceeded to throw out the seeds he didn't like. When he got down to the meal worm he was happy.

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

A blue tit followed, but he had to make "flying visits" (scuse pun), every time he landed the Robin went for him.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ 6.3,  iso 1600, 170mm

The Chaffinch was next and despite it's size the Robin still had a go at him every time he landed. 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ 6.3,  iso 1600, 170mm

The Great Tit was the fastest feeder, he was difficult to get the camera onto before he was gone, you can see he didn't stop flapping while he was selecting his food.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ 5.6,  iso 1600, 170mm

If you like what you see here and have any pictures you would like to see on this blog, feel free to email them to me with the same sort of info that you can see on my pictures and if they are suitable I will post them. As you can see it's mainly wildlife but if it's of interest I will consider it and of course (unless you prefer to remain anonymous) you will be credited as the photographer.

Confusion - January 2012

 Wildlife seems a bit confused, it's only January but it's been so warm some are already mating.
Why do the always look as if the male is trying to drown the female?

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 390mm

The grebe seemed more together and the sun was starting to set on the day, giving a golden glow as the lit the lake at a low angle, just before the sunset proper started.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1328 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Not so the geese this gaggle flew in from the south and would set off north the next day, several more gaggles joined them for the overnight rest.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1600 @ f5.6, iso 800, 285mm

Watermead fakes - 13 January 2012

A visit to Watermead south turned out quite interesting, first there was this black duck with its white chest. On closer inspection it turned out to be a Monochrome Mallard.

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

While I was watching the Mallard a Canada goose nearly ran into my lens as it took off. I'll take a brolly next time.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm 

Then this Goose wandered towards me imitating a Barnacle goose. I might have been fooled if it hadn't been the size of a Canada Goose - making it twice the size it should have been.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 400, 310mm

There seems to be a lot of interbreeding going on around the ponds of Leicestershire.

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

Further round in the lakes near to Meadow Lane I saw this Shoveller in the golden light of the Sun.

Thornton - 9 Jan 2012

Thornton reservoir was as quiet as everywhere else, only the usual birds about and they were not too energetic.

The Barnacle goose a lone regular at the reservoir was strutting about as usual teasing the white goose females

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/125 @ 7.1, iso 1600, 310mm

A good wash and stretch was enough for this mallard male.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ 7.1, iso 1600, 310mm

All quiet at Watermead

The lakes at Watermead park yesterday looked deserted, there was very little in the way of wild life. What there was were the usual common stuff and not much of them.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/64 @f5.6, iso 1600, 100mm

I rather liked the light on these swans, but they're nothing special,

Christmas Day at the Watermead - 25 December 2011

I managed a short walk yesterday before our venison dinner, there were quite a few people out at Watermead park despite the rather grey weather and because of it the light wasn't too good for photography. So you'll have to excuse the images not being up to the standard that I usually try to achieve on the blog.

This first picture is not at all good for focus etc. but I have included it as it shows a cormorant in full breeding plumage - on Christmas Day!!!

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

That's one very confused bird - let's hope there are no receptive females or, when the cold weather comes the chicks might not survive.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 250mm

 These two Mallard obviously did not have the Christmas spirit, they had a bit of a ding-dong over a bit of bread that was thrown in close to where I was standing.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/80 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

One bird that can always be counted on to raise the spirits - this Robin was sitting in the hedge by the car park belting out its sweet song. I don't care what people like Chris Packham say, what other reason could the Robin have for singing at this time of year, if not for enjoyment?

Happy Yule and a good New Year - 23 December 2011

The weather isn't looking good for the holiday

so I chose a couple of last years pictures that feel a bit seasonal

The first is at the Highwoods in Essex

And the Robin was on a gate at Watermead Park.

Have a good Yule Tide and a happy New Year

Another post at last - 21 December 2011

What a difference a year makes, this time last year we had snow and frosts, ice on the lakes and lots of unusual visitors. This year, hardly anything out of the ordinary and a lot of mud. Coupled with dull days it has not been the year for wildlife photography. Adding to that my poor health and I've taken very few pictures this year.

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

1/125 @ 6.3, iso 400, 380mm

I did manage to get out to Watermead Park South and caught this female Scaup, I couldn't see the male. It has been pointed out to me via a comment from Midlandsbirder that  this is not a scaup it is a hybrid probably with a female Tufty - ah well we all make mistakes sometimes - thanks MB 

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

1/160 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

A few geese took flight from the island and came to land quire close to the car park giving us a nice view of the underside. I'm hoping to get out more over the holidays

found - the missing birds 17 November 2011

The lakes at Watermead park have been empty this autumn if you compare them with the bird life from this time last year.

But Yesterday I went to Watermead South (near the Melton Road/Soar Valley Way corner). I don't go there very often because there's usually too many people.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ f5.6, iso 400, 100mm

Here you could almost walk across the lake on birds, the area in front of the car park was so crowded and a large part of the car park was filled with Canada Geese.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/160 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

 The Gulls found it crowded as well and seemed to be taking turns to rest on the fence posts.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/640 @ f5.6, iso 3200, 400mm

 I was sitting on the rocks close to the waters edge, taking close ups of ducks and swans, when I became aware that this Heron had landed within 15 feet of me. It didn't seem to notice me, even though I was wearing a plain green wax jacket and dark trousers. Just shows you don't really need all the cammo gear.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/640 @ f5, iso 3200, 160mm

He stood there for at least ten minutes and didn't move until my wife and dog walked along the path towards him (he was between them and me). Then he took off and flew slowly past me at a nice distance for some pictures.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/640 @ f5, iso 3200, 160mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1000 @ f5, iso 3200, 160mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1600 @ f5, iso 3200, 160mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1000 @ f5, iso 3200, 160mm

They aren't quite as sharp as I would have liked, but the his ISO explains why. As soon as we arrived at the lake the sun took a dive behind some clouds and I had to keep winding it up.