"New" Nikon D850

Picked up a really good condition Nikon D850 from https://swoptics.co.uk/ in Truro the other day (Good price and good service) . I have done some aviation shots and some night shots of the moon. So far I am impressed with the detail the camera can produce. Since the pictures below were taken I have added an optional battery grip which increases the FPS from 7 to 9. Off to Wales and around a few other places over the next couple of weeks where hopefully weather permitting I will be able to get a lot more pictures. Pictures of the moon for now some aviation ones later:

Shorties still in Cornwall for now!!!

Surprised when I went out to find three Short Eared Owls were still in the vicinty where they have been over-wintering. I thought they would of moved on by now, must be stormy weather keeping them here: Another surprise was some blue skies and good light for photography!!!!! So here are some of the images from a good couple of hours with these majestic birds.

Germans visit RNAS Culdrose

Unusal sighting this week of a German Navy Dornier Do228  57+05 flying into RNAS Culdrose on 27th Feb. Conditions were very challenging with very strong crosswinds and low morning sunlight, I managed to capture it going into the base but missed the departure so only a couple of images:

Another visit to search for the Short Eared Owls

Although distant again it was fantastic to witness 3/4 shorties enjoying a succesful hunting period. The area seems to provide a plentiful supply of small rodents to enusre the owls are well fed. Occasionally a crow/raven/kestrel etc will try to steal the meal sometimes sucessful sometimes not. The SEO do defend their prey items against thieves but sometimes they are out manouvred.  These are fantastic birds to observe and hopefully they will return again later this year.

The wouldbe thief was chased off on this occasion

Storm Ciara at Porthleven

With all the media hype you would expect to see a storm of epic, earth shattering proportions!!!  Luckily I checked the swell charts which forecast a bigger swell after the main event. I stuck with the trusted forecast and went on the Monday which was quiet compared to Sunday where alledgedly there were hundred of storm watchers/photographers. Monday there was probably between 10-20 people. Its not the biggest storm I have seen to hit Porthleven by a long shot, however it was an opportunity to test a newly aquired video camera/software along with the usual still images. First up is a link to the video I shot:

Storm Ciara at Porthleven Video


Now for the still images:

January days at RNAS Culdrose

With the Easterly winds blowing here in January,  there was a good opportunity to get some shots of approaching aircraft at RNAS Culdrose. All  local aircraft apart from one visitor which was a AW101 NAWSARH (Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter) in a smashing white/dayglow livery which looks good on the AW101 airframe. Rare blue skies provided an opportunity for  Merlin, Hawk and Beech KingAir 350 which are ever present, and I even spotted a flying  tiger on the coast

"Flying Tiger" Merlin MK2 on the Cornish Coast

736 Squadron Hawk t1

Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter

736 Squadron Hawk T1

750 Squadron Beech KingAir 350

736 Squadron Hawk T1

736 Squadron Hawk T1

736 Squadron Hawk T1

Stithians Southern Cut Off and Lands End

Well my first blog post for 2020, at last a sunny day which was most enjoyable. Unfortunately most of the images here were in poor light or at a distance. However they are still fine for web use. Firstly I spent a couple of hours at Stithians Southern Cut off, highlight here was a little grebe thrashing around a stickle back for about ten minutes, backlit by the low winter sunrise.  A few more of the local birds feature in the images. Then it was on to the countryside near Lands End for Short Eared Owls again they did not disappoint but were distant.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in the frosty grass

Little Grebe with stickleback

Chiff Chaff (I think)

Magpie

Jay

Long Tailed Tit

Short Eared Owl

Shorties squabbling over hunting grounds

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl stands his ground protecting his prey from thieving corvids

F-35B Lightning II and Hawker Hunter at RNAS Culdrose

RNAS Culdrose in the far South West of Cornwall does get the occasional visitor from other bases around the UK, in the skies above the base and sometimes overnight stops/visits. On this occasion in early September 2019 we were lucky to have a pair of the latest Royal Navy/RAF Lightning II F35B aircraft from RAF Marham.  and a Hawker Hunter (From the Hawker Hunter Team based at RAF Scampton in the skies above the base. Also captured on the day a visiting Dutch NH90 helicopter.

F-35B Lightning II aircraft

F-35B Lightning II

Hawker Hunter

Hawker Hunter

Dutch NH90

F-15E Strike Eagles in Low Flying Area 7 (Mach Loop)

A quick day visit to LFA7 produced a 4 ship flight of F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath. A short ascent up CAD East and I found a position sheltered from the ice cold winds on the day. Had some superb passes from a four ship flight of  F-!5E Strike Eagle aircraft. Some images and video link below:

Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP0NHRMY11g

Red Throated Diver at Penzance

A good start to the wildlife winter photography, a Red Throated Diver at Penzance, photographed at sea and then closer and my 2nd attempt in the inner harbour. Also had an Eider in company on the first day.