"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.

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:

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

Quick Visit to Tebay and Settle/Carlisle Line

A quick visit in Carlisle, took the opportunity to photograph a couple of Steam Locomotives at Tebay and on the Carlisle to Settle Line. Some more modern trains also photographed as they appeared in addition to the Steam trains.

Virgin Class 390 Pendolino at Tebay

70000 Brittania at Tebay

46590 Leander at Tebay

46590 Leander on the Settle to Carlisle at Armathwaite

46590 Leander on the Settle to Carlisle at Armathwaite

Class 47 Diesel near Penrith

Class 390 Pendolino near Penrith

Great Western Railway, Long Rock Open Day April 13th 2019

Great Western Railway held an open day at their Long Rock Depot. A variety of engines were exhibited from Steam to Modern day diesel and even model train running undercover.  One of the new intercity Class 802 trains was renamed in honour of  the RNLI Lifeboat crew of the "Solomon Browne" who were all lost at sea in 1981 and Rick Rescorla who lost his life guiding others from the Twin Towers in 2011, so very well done to GWR on that one, great gesture.  A Network Rail support vehicle, some emergency service vehicles and a WW2 US jeep were also present.

As usual with these events unless you find a way of getting a preview without the public it is an uphill task getting images (without people). Although some with people do give an overall scene of the event. Overall it was a good event, good to see the engines up close but my preference would be to see the alive and moving!!!!

On the whole I think the event from GWR has to go down as a success, I wll certainly attend another should the opportunity arise.

Here is a selection of images from the day.

A full gallery of images can be viewed here: GWR Open Day 2019