Porthgwarra

Headed out early today to Porthgwarra at 8am for some seabird photography. Unfortunately this wasn't early enough! I got there as the sun was on my left the birds were also coming from the left so two hours earlier and I would of been ok. Lots and lots of Gannets observed, and it is also good to see the coast in this area is a rejunvenated lush green full of life. When I went last year it was mostly brown and dried out.  Butterflies and small insects are in abundance so next time I visit I shall pop down on the heath instead of the cliffs and concentrate on some macro.

Gannet

Guillimot

A grey seal in one of the coves.

Gannets, there were many groups larger than this full of adults and youngsters.

Rubbish light hits back!!!

After a couple of days this week where the light was superb for photography it is now Dullsville again in Cornwall. Just a couple of common shots today from Hayle.

Common Sandpiper

Blackbird bathtime

Egret flypast

Grey Heron

A mixed bag today with Kestrel Video

Original intentions were to visit Dartmoor Wildlife Park however this was scuppered by the last minute change to weather resulting in a cloudy forecast, which equates to poor light.  This coupled withthe collaspe of my potential house purchase at almost completion point costing me about £3k, I wasn't happy.  To escape from all of this I went out for some surf photography, nothing doing so as Hells Mouth was close by I ended up there again.  Still bugggered by crap light, but a least I was surrounded by rugged coastline and wildlife, ace, things are looking up. Amazinly Kestrels were still in attendance, so yes they feature again, as does one macro shot.  I now realised I miss the 5D full frame camera when it came to getting a picture of Hells Mouth for you.  Still it is my intention to switch to Nikon in the next couples of months hopefully getting a D3/D300S combination of DSLR bodies.


                                      

? Five Spot Burnett, thanks John Rowe

A record shot of the Oyster Catcher on nest taken at some distance hence the poor quality.

Razorbill, I am still trying to get a good shot of this in good lighting in this one the eye beak etc can be seen, just.

On my previous visits there was a drowned gull in the water, this one also looked likely unfortunately to succumb it just couldn't get out the sea.

A nice suprise on the way back to the car park.

This Fulmar has chosen a precarious position to nest, about a foot from the egg is about a fall of about 200ft to the ocean!!

Just one veiw of Hells Mouth a full frame digital slr and wide angle are really whats required here.

Kestrels show off to the Camera

A revisit to Hells Mouth to retake the images I messed up yesterday. First off spotted an Oyster Catcher on its nest, bit far off for pictures.  Off around the cliffs to try and get seabirds again when I came across some Kestrels on the coastal path/cliff. With the 600mm and converter on camera I had to back off to get the shots.  Managed some but they didn't wait until I removed the converter for more pictures. Unbelievable how close though. Seen them on/off throughout the morning amongst others.  Also did a few shots a Godrevy but with the sun going in/out I called it a day. So back here, feel like I have been real lucky today. Hope you enjoy the pictures, and enlarge them to see them at their best.

Fulmar

Kestrel

Yep once he moved I was to close

Sometime later on the cliff path

One in flight

Razorbills

Feeding time for the Cormorants, I can see where the term "bit ones head off"comes from

Cormorant

Razorbills and Guillemots enjoying the sunshine

Guillemot

Kestrel obliging again

Another one behind me!!

Sand Martin Godrevy

Linnet after a dip

A windy Hells Mouth

Started today at Hayle no joy, dead at Marazion also.  Only place I found with any action was the North Coast at Hells Mouth. Photographing Swallows and Sand Martins in flight is diffucult but these sea birds are in a different league altogether.  So tripod mounted lens, AF that can't track these, so manual focus, gusting winds and birds travelling at a great rate of knots mean one thing. Lots of misses.  So here are the results not the normal standards but records shots, using new software Lightroom 3 also (just wizzed thrrough that so likely didn't help) All todays pictures from Hells Mouth, I shall revisit when the weather is better.

Guillemot

Guillemot

Cormorant

Razorbill

Guillemot

Under a Cloud at Stithians

Had to visit B & Q at Falmouth Saturday so thought I would call in at Stithians for a couple of hours. Unfortunately for me there was a cloud mass which appeared to be tethered to Stithians, two miles either side and it was sunny. It remained pleasantly dull for the time I was there. (Argh)  There wasn't much activity either, Cormorants having a lazy afternoon and a Moorhen and youngsters to entertain me. A cloudy day today meant installing speakers and a  subwoofer in the van, done at last so back to photography weather permitting. So its a poor show tonight  but it is like this sometimes.

Young Moorhen

And again

Begging for food

The two Moorhen chicks in the land of giants next to the Cormorant

Cormorant departing

The Teal which is residing in front of the main hide a present.

One from Croft Pool earlier, taken with a 300mm f2.8 I just got the depth of field wrong here!!