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

Cold Morning Walk

Birtle Lodge - 3.02.19

Short walk around the local lodge on a loverly sunny but cold morning, as to be expected the lodge was mostly covered with ice with only a small area of open water being bathed in sunlight. All the usual suspects present with the exception of a single Pink-footed Goose that was associating with Canada's, the first for me at this location.

What was pleasing was the anticipation of a Moorhen after leaving the frozen lodge making its way up a bank and across some snow to an area of grass making for some nice images

Here's some of images from the visit before the afternoon rain set in.

Keep warm everyone.

Click image to view

Moorhen

Pink-footed Goose

Tufted Duck

Cannop After The Snow

Over the last few days theres been quite a lot of snow in the forest but today its blue sky and sun so I'm spending an hour round Cannop Ponds to try and get images of the Little Grebe which are in residence

Its quite, the carpark has been closed by the forestry commission as its full of snow, the ponds are also frozen apart from the top end where all the wild fowl have congregated, mandarin, tufted and mallard in the main, little grebe constantly calling with that high pitched trill squabbling for territory, the sun is a little harsh for photography but still I'm happy to be out in this wonderful part of the country.

Sitting on one of the fishing platforms with the sun behind I'm quite near to the only area of water thats not frozen, an elderly couple throw bread for the wildfowl and the shy tufted ducks come close, in the sunlight the male's head with that beacon like yellow eye show iridescent green and purple colours not usually seen from this black and white duck.

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Tufted Duck (male)

Tufted Duck (female)

Never Ending Fog !

Managed to get out to Pennington Flash today after a number of foggy days,