St Gothians, Hayle, Newlyn and Marazion

Well it was sunny so I had to get around and about, very little activity but the light was good so some nice images. Bumped into Rachel at Marazion and we headed off to Newlyn. Had some fun trying to get the Cormorant as he was diving almost got it in the picture below but slightly blurred (I will get it next time) Hopefully the Northern Divers will venture closer in next time.

Buzzard at St Gothians: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority, F5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400, + 0.7 stop

Oyster Catcher Marazion Marsh: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority, F5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 400, + 0.7 stop

Stonechat Marazion Marsh: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority, F5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 400, +/- 0 stop

Cormorant Newlyn Harbour: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority, F5.6, 1/500 sec, ISO 400, + 0.3 stop

Northern Diver Newlyn: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority, F5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 400, +/- 0 stop

Frustrated by the Weather

Dark days, windy as hell, set to continue with rain thrown in for the next four/five days, just GREAT.  Still not put off ventured out on the last couple of days but my efforts were fruitless and unrewarded. (I need to stay at home on the settee more often).  Dull light and strong winds are the main obstacles,  nearly everything is holed up seeking shelter except a couple of wild birds and an idiot photographer (yes me) On the beach today at Marazion was just brill being blasted by sand and wind, and the results two images and sand all over the camera and van.  So onto the images, a Lapwing in cover at Stithians, a Gull in the open at Kyance Cove, Turnstones and a Grey Wagtail bearing the brunt of the weather at Marazion.

Lapwing: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 600mm lens, Aperture Priority, F4, 1/320 sec, ISO 400, +/- 0 stop

Gull: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 300mm lens with 1.4 teleconverter (420mm), Aperture Priority, F4, 1/5000 sec, ISO 400, +/- 0 stop

Grey Wagtail: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 300mm lens with 1.4 teleconverter (420mm), Aperture Priority, F4, 1/200 sec, ISO 400, + 0.3 stop

Turnstone: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 300mm lens with 1.4 teleconverter (420mm), Aperture Priority, F4, 1/50 sec, ISO 800, + 0.7  stop

A look back on Scotland

Ok with the pevailing winds and weather against me today and the next few days probably,  I have decided to post some images I took in Scotland before commencing this blog. In early 2007 I joined Niall Benvie a Scottish Wildlife Photographer for three days and got some nice images.  Niall's knowledge on the whereabouts and habits of the wildlife were of great benefit. Had I not joined his photographic workshop I guess I could of spent threee days in Scotland finding nothing.  All the images were taken with a Canon 1D mk11, 600mm lens ,100mm-400mm lens and occasionally a 1.4x converter. A beanbag or tripod support were used as required.

Red Deer:  This image was shot against a dark background, so I could capture the effect of the water as the Red Deer shook his drenched fur. A slow shutter speed and beanbag were required.  I also had to wait 30 minutes for the Red Deer to decide he was to wet and needed a drying out, so  a bit of patience required.

Red Sqiurrel:  A feeding station was set up by Niall to attract the squirrels in, but it is still not easy they run in get some food and run off.  600mm lens and tripod required here.

Crested Tit:  Again a feeding station is set up. We both walk in but Niall leaves me on my own for 1 1/2 hours as he says there is a better chance of getting an image with one of us there.  I caught this one on an old Scottish Pine and I am really pleased with it.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker: Niall knew of a pair of these that used a feeding station but he was sure one had been taken by a raptor of some sort. So the chances of me getting a shot were slim, however after 90 minutes this one duly turned up. So I had a "full house" as I bagged everything I went to photograph. (Like an idiot I didn't know at the time the GS Woodpeckers are only 8 miles from me at Stithians!!)

Stithians Today

Some good lighting for photography has enabled some nice images of the local birds. (feathered type) No rarities but it would of been a shame not to use the available light after our poor weather of late. One note, I did see my first KingFisher at Stithians as it flew past the main hide window about 4ft away, great sight. No photo though! Ok onto todays images taken at the Golden Lion, Southern Cut off and Main hides. Just confirmed by Steve Rogers, that the Wigeon in the last image is thought to be an American Wigeon hybrid.

Coot: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority , F5.6, ISO 400, 1/800sec, +/- 0 Stop  taken a the Golden Lion Hide

Little Grebe: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority , F5.6, ISO 400, 1/800sec, + 0.3 Stop, taken at The Golden Lion Hide

Canada Goose: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority , F16, ISO 400, 1/100sec, + 0.7 Stop taken from the main hide

Jay: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens, Aperture Priority , F4, ISO 400, 1/3200sec, +/- 0 Stop, taken at the southern cut off.

Blackbird; Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens,  Aperture Priority , F4, ISO 400, 1/1600sec, +/- 0 Stop, taken from the southern cut off

American Wigeon hybrid: Exif: Canon 1d MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority , F5.6, ISO 400, 1/2000sec, +/- 0 Stop, taken from the main hide

Calm after the Storm

Well went out today, nice and sunny great light for photography and saw nothing unusual, which was rather frustrating for  me .  However I shall try again tomorrow weather permitting.  Some pictures from today:

Chiffchaff: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 300mm lens with 1.4x converter (420mm), Aperture Priority, F4. 1/640 sec, ISO 400, + 0.7 stop

Mallard: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 600mm lens, Aperture Priority, F4. 1/5000 sec, ISO 400, + 0.7 stop

Grey Heron: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 600mm lens, Aperture Priority, F4. 1/3200 sec, ISO 400, +/- 0 stop

Redshank: Exif: Canon 1D MK111, 600mm lens with 1.4x teleconverter (840mm), Aperture Priority, F4. 1/1250 sec, ISO 400, + 0.7 stop

The Raw Power of Nature

Well, frustrated by the weather in my bids to get any wildlife shots, I decided if I couldn't beat it photograph it. I went down Porthleven to watch the first winter storm swell come in, and found about half of Cornwall had decided to do the same! I got lucky and found a parking space still vacant. So I was out on top of the hill over looking Porthleven Harbour watching this beautiful spectacle of natures power. Managed a few pictures and hopefully some excellent video.  Only got soaked once so not to bad. Here are the pictures below and hopefully some video later. Please double click to enlarge the images:

Maximum Power:  Exif: Canon 5D, 100-400mm lens (focal length of 220mm), Aperture Priority, F10, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, +0.3 stop               

View of the sheltered Harbour: Exif: Canon 5D, 17-40mm mm lens (focal length of 17mm), Aperture Priority, F10, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, +0.3 stop

Waves crashing into cliffs: Exif: Canon 5D, 100-400mm lens (focal length of 100mm), Aperture Priority, F9, ISO 200, 1/125 sec, =/-0 stop

High Tide: Exif: Canon 5D, 28-135mm lens (focal length of 85mm), Aperture Priority, F9, ISO 200, 1/160 sec, =0.3 stop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z67IUWC-OgE  here is the link to a short video