Bitter Cold but no Bittern

A very nippy day a Marazion, spotted the Bittern twice in brief flight but failed to get a decent image. I would say 99% of the marsh is completely frozen. Looks like all the birds are suffering big style.  A dog walker found a lapwing which couldn't move its feet completely frozen.  The bird was warmed up but wouldn't fly off, so someone took it home to warm up and feed, didn't look good though. It was almost impossible to get pictures after an hour or so my fingers were completely numb with cold.  There was a multitude of Redwing coming in and going out in a steady flow, Pippets, Fieldfare, Waterrail, Lapwing etc were also on the Marsh.  Onto the pictures:

Pippet on Ice

Redwing: One of Hundreds

Golden Plover: Looking stunning under the afternoon sun.

Bath Time for a few Redwings

Teal in Flight; They seemed to do a circuit every so often to warm up?

Magpie: At the end of the day

Lapwing: If you look carefully at his claw you will see it is completly frozen in snow and ice, hopefully this thawed out later and all is well

Day in the field at Marazion

Phonecall from work about 11am said take the day off, decided not to argue.  Also given the current weather decided I had better stick to the main roads, so it was of to Marazion again. Had to take regular breaks to warm up, true to form the Bittern made an appearance when I was in the van. (thats three times I have missed it, twice on a break and once changing converters on the camera) A selection of images today are below:

Snipe:  The snipe seem to be venturing out on a wider range getting closer to the camera at present, very obliging unlike the Bittern

Song Thrush: Couldn't get a clean shot due to bugs bunny behind him, but the shallow depth of field of the large telphoto lens has worked well here.

Field Fare: This one looked really colourful in the low winter sunlight.

Male Shoveler

Field Fare again

Heron in Flight.  My first chance to test the 7D AF and tracking on a clean background.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Positively Baltic Conditions at Marazion

Why is it when you get a new camera and are trying to test it the weather and light is rubbish period? Yes it was freezing cold down Marazion today with the odd sunny spell. Just three images to show and nearly some frost bite, god the wind was ice cold.  Got some gloves at Halfords on the way back may be I should of got them on the way there!!! Just the three pictures Peregrine Falcon, Shoveler and Swan.

More From Yesterdays 7D test

Ok rain and bad light mean't no new pictures today, and that work thingy interferes next week so updates not as regular from now on. Still here are some more images from Marazion.

Heron on Ice:  looking for a break in the ice so he can fish.

Crow on the edge of the Marsh

Teal flying through the reeds. Surprised the 7D Auto focus system got this.

Swan: Sun bathing in the warm winter sun.

Swan:  This swan in flight is a full size image no crop.  Could of actually done with it being slightly further away.

Water Rail got, Bittern missed (Twice!!!!!)

Tried out the 7D again down Marazion Marsh tweaked a few settings after yesterday but images still seem a bit noisy. Caught a Water Rail in the open on the frost bitten ground and it was present for about ten minutes. Spotted the Shoveller and thought I would stack the converters on the camera to get closer, just changing over when the Bittern did a quick 30 yd fly by over the reed beds before vanishing again. He appeared again just after Rachel left but again he was up and down to quick. Might try again tomorrow.  Below are todays images.

Dancing on Ice:  well not quite but this Heron couldm't work out why he couldn't get the fish; and just slid around all morning.

Water Rail:  This is my favourite image of the Water Rail foraging on the frost bitten ground.

Water Rail

Shoveller.

Bittern:  The second failure but a record anyway!

Reflection:  The light a Marazion is great early morning and evening and with still water you get a great mirror effect.

New Year, New Camera- The Canon 7D

It would be unfair to comment accuratley on the 7D, as I just unboxed it did some minor adjustments and went out to Marazion to test it. So a full report will follow on the 7D in a few days.

Chiffchaff

Heron:  Look closely at this shot and you will see where all the fish go!!

Heron Portrait Shot

Eye of the Heron:  This is taken from the shot above and posted as requested by Rachel

Stonechat: Another one just posing for the camera.

Snipe: Another go at snipe in the air, by stop/starting the focus with my thumb the camera is not allowed to search for infinity when it goes off target. So I iniate the focus and remove my thumb when the target is in focus and focus drive ceases immediatly unitl I press it again.  Still wasn't enough light for this shot today.