Canon R5 - First Time Out !

Elton Reservoir - 12.1.21

Over the last few days I've been setting up the new acquisition to the camera bag, the Canon R5 mirrorless camera, too so say it's a little complicated is a bit of an understatement but at least there's continuity with some of the familiar Canon menus but still loads of new features. Anyway with a forecast of some sun this morning I'm going to give the R5 with it's full frame and 1.6 crop sensor modes a bit of a run out, but not too many images thou as I'm still awaiting delivery of the not so available mega expensive 128GB CFExpress cards.

It's a great morning and probably the best light I've had in a long while, a quick scan I see the Scaup is still present sat amongst the Tufties but a little way out in the reservoir along with all the other suspects, hopefully I can get some images whilst it's still relatively quite.

I've provisionally setup the camera with settings I've previously used on the 5D4 and before that the 7D2 but there's still a load more I'm not used to so it's going to be a bit of a learning  curve. The first setting I'm unhappy with is the histogram in the view finder, although it's translucent I find it quite distracting during composure and I can't find the setting to turn it off ! 

The AF eye-detection is incredible quick locking on to the eye and not letting go, a massive improvement over the 5D and 7D AF systems, another feature I quite like is the MF button enabling me to change to custom settings for BIF at a single press, previously you had to press and turn a top knob which was way too slow. Lastly the ability to shoot at 12fps and above for action shots is a big bonus and lacking on the 5D. 

In conclusion, this isn't intended to be a camera review which there are plenty already on the likes of YouTube by users far more experience than me, more a record of my encounters and experiences. Anyway below are some images from the morning of the long staying Scaup and a Little Grebe that was active mainly showing me its backside until it eventually poping up struggling with a small Perch.

Until the next time, stay safe

Scaup

Little Grebe

Tufted Duck - male

Tufted Duck - female

Coot

Morning Out Before The Monsoon

Elton Reservoir - 15.12.20

With the imminent arrival of mega amounts of rain for probably for the remainder of the week I thought I check up on the long staying Scaup on Elton Reservoir to see how it's plumage is evolving. Its only a six mile or so drive to Elton and better still only a short walk to where I intend to set up on the edge of a small inlet called the "Creek" but as I mention previously I first have to navigate my way across what's now becoming Bury's biggest bog.

The light looks good, not too much sun light cloud and light winds and I'm looking forward to see what's on offer for the session. The Scaup is pretty much where it's been hanging around over the last few weeks in a small creek associating with a Tufted Duck which it seems to find some reassurance, well my appearance quickly puts pay to that and they both venture off to the middle of the reservoir, time to setup wait enjoying the sights and sounds of this little bit of countryside with the drum of city life in the background.

The Scaup eventually returns entering right into the creek almost at a point where a few Teal are dabbling around the edge of the vegetation, sat on the bank is a lone Little Egret motionless like a statue for what seems like an hour but my focus is on the Scaup, but occasionally something else catches my attention a Mute Swan involved in all sorts of contortions as it baths, flapping it's wings and bending it's neck in odd angels, I get a few images.

Now the images and more or less the same with several hundred on the card so I decide just watch a bit of old fashion birding, then a couple of dog walkers appear on the far bank which sets off the alarm bells sending the Scaup off to join the security of a group of Tufted Duck who wisely are keeping well away as the dog is leaping around. 

I've had the best of the light with the arrival of cloud thats probably a prelude to the rain we are likely to get later this evening. A job done well, see you in a few weeks.

Scaup

Tufted Duck

Coot

Mute Swan

Black Headed Gull

Airport Time

Clot de Galvany, Alicante - 2.3.20

Clot de Galvany is a small reserve comprising one large and two smaller reed fringed lakes quite close to Alicante Airport but not particularly close to my base in Murcia so visiting is generally only when I using the airport assuming the flight times work out.

Today I'm collecting my wife at the airport who's flying out to Spain early evening giving me the opportunity of a full day at the reserve, one target I'm hoping to see is a Ferruginous Duck that's been present for a couple of weeks so fingers crossed for a connection. It's a sunny day but blowing a whooly but at least I have the benefit of permanent hides on the three lakes.

Arriving at the first small lake I'm surprised to find it's been completely drained to allow re-profiling works of the various islands, with just a couple of White Wagtails present I press on the main small lake at the Clot. The wind is so strong most of the wildfowl are on the far side sheltering behind a couple of islands, I count 32 Red-crested Pochard, a couple of White-headed Ducks, some Cattle Egrets Spanish specialties but they aran't coming anywhere near, the rest very much what you would you would find back in the UK.

Cattle Egret

Pandemonium erupts as a female Marsh Harrier makes a low swoops at some unsuspecting duck but also scattering the Cattle Egrets very obligingly landing right on some dead trees right in from of the hide, the light is a little harsh but this is the closest I've been to these somewhat wary egrets in a long time, it's fill your boots time !

Coot

After all the excitement of the harrier spooking the wildfowl things settle down a little and I turn my attention to the ever squabbling Coots trying for "walking on water" images, it's a bit like when I was photographing White Wagtails earlier in February shooting hundred of shots for a couple of successes.

Red Crested Pochard

Occasionally a pair of Red-crested Pochard venture to my side for a very short period giving some sort of shot, with the strong wind and the sun angle now wrong I do my best, there's always another day.

The weathers deteriorated with even stronger winds, dark clouds appear and the heaven open up just making it back to the car before I get a soaking...few ! it not all sun in Spain. Time to call it a day and head off to the airport to collect my wife.

Foot note: At the airport I didn't realise that there was an international U23 football tournament being held at the Pinatar Arena at Pilar de la Horadada, several teams coming through included Scotland, Netherlands and Russia...well I never !

Quick Break

Murcia - 16.1.20

It's been a while since I last posted on the blog with all the travel over the last few weeks including a short break in Murcia, not so much for photography but just some sun to break up the grey weather back in the UK.

Anyway not a big post just a few images from the week including unexpectedly BirdGuides "Picture Of The Week" of a flight White Wagtail taken not long after arriving at the Clot de Galvany seen below.

You can see the news article by clicking the following link....https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week-22-28-january/

Update..27-11-20. I just been informed that the image of the White Wagtail has gone the readers vote to be included as feature image for January in Birdwatch Magazine's 2021 calendar. Thank you BirdGuides/Birdwatch magazine 

White Wagtail

Image was taken at the Clot de Galvany not to long after arriving at Alicante Airport which is around six miles away so easily worth a visit before heading south on the AP7 motorway.

Slender-billed Gull

These two images were taken at Los Urrutias which until recently was a great location to get near wading birds in the car, unfortunately after the recent floods just before Xmas the ground is so soft its not even accessible to walk without getting completely covered in mud.

Stonechat

One of my regular birds and locations being so close to the accommodation.

Little Ringed Plover

Salinas San Pedro another location I visit quite a lot, sometimes quiet sometime not but always a great winter sunshine walk along the beach at Torre Derribada.

Coot

Back at the Clot de Gavany in some great afternoon sunlight.

White-headed Duck

I was rather disappointed with this shot as I hadn't seen Whited-headed Duck for some time, a spur of the moment afternoon visit to Lo Monte Ponds, in the afternoon the sun is bang in your face !

Chiffchaff

Absolutely loads of these summer migrants to the UK around the area which winter in Murcia

Red-legged Partridge 

Another regular bird near the accommodation taken at Lo Romero Golf

Birtle Morning

Birtle Lodge, Rochdale  - 2.11.18

The sun's out this morning so I've decided not to waste the opportunity to spend to spend a couple of hours around the lodge up at Birtle, the last time there was a small group of Wigeon were present giving some good photo op's and theres always a change that Goosander will drop in.

As I only have a couple of hours free I have a quick scan to see what's about before I go to the trouble of unpacking all the gear, the Wigeon are still present dabbling on the surface weed amongst a group of Canada Geese so it's back a short distance to the car to collect the gear.

It's windless and the surface water flat calm, the light is reflecting some nice autumn colours in the water so all looks good for some decent images. The Wigeon arm't for are coming close but a pair of Little Grebe happily cruise close by occasionally diving and popping up only meters away when you least expect it.

The quiet of this small Birtle lake is a contradiction to all the hustle and bustle of a large metropolitan borough, the piece only occasionally broken by the squabbling Coots or the Black Headed Gulls looking to dive bomb and rob the grebes of there catch, some times it's all you need to do on days like this is to sit quite and watch.

Click image and view in full

Little Grebe