Back To School !

RR Workshop - 25.1.22

I'm always open to trying something different and when I had the opportunity to use flash as a light source as opposed to just using ambient light I was keen to explore the possibilities. Today I'm having a short workshop with a gent that has been using flash for a number of years to freeze action and also produce different types of images with various lighting effects.

In the past when I've seen flash used to supplement or as a main light source the images always seems to produces a black background never to me looking quite right, that's not to say that was the intension. So it's the start of the learning curve exploring flash as a light source and no doubt incurring more expense for new kit along the way.

All the images below were taken using multiple flash lighting, the settings some of which make perfect sense and others completely baffling like f14 ! Some of the images the low front lighting has been removed to enhance the back "rim' light, in others the lighting levels reduced to give a darker image...see if you can spot the difference !

The Robin and especially the Wren are totally wild individuals and all down the skill and perseverance of the person proving the tuition over many weeks gaining the trust and confidence of the birds. Looking forward to future sessions, watch this space.

Wren

Robin

BOP's !

Wiltshire - 16.1.22

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to spend some time photographing Common Buzzard which in the passed I've had mixed success with, so today it's just over an hours drive from the FOD to a farm owned by a fellow photographer I'd previously met on a trip up in Scotland a few years back.

I'm located on a side of a high ridge ideal for "bops' as they can use the up draft of the ridge to cruise efficiently across the landscape, to get some interest road kill has been put out initially attracting a single Buzzard, perched on a post it's very wary sitting for maybe ten minutes before it decides to move and take advantage of the free offering, plucked feathers are flying on the wind and it's not to long the activity seems to be a magnet to other circling bops.

Thirty minuets have passed and there are now maybe eight or more buzzards present both dark and a striking pale phase bird, they occupy several posts along the fence line some just sat on the grass, the inevitable squabbling starts over what's remaining of the road kill. A couple of Red Kite take an interest but where the Buzzards are just wary the Red Kites are wary of the Buzzards but they are more agile swooping down picking up the last of the scraps.

It's been quite an experience being able to photograph so many buzzards at such a close distance with the bonus of a couple of visiting Red Kite, although the weather hasn't been great being a rather grey day it's been another new experience and one which I might just repeat in a couple of months.

Common Buzzard

Portrait of the pale phase Buzzard against the dark threatening sky.

Red Kite

Also presenter were two Red Kite, very wary of the more aggressive Buzzard and never landing unless they moved away.

Inland Sub-Mariner

Knotford Nook Gravel Pits - 14.1.22

At this time of year I'm always on the lookout for opportunities to get images of the various divers that visit inland water particularly if the lakes are not to large hopefully to get nearer the bird, and with reports of a juvenile Great Northern Diver on a small lake near Otley I'm off to see what's on offer.

Unfamiliar with the area it's soon evident this is a big fishing area and unfortunately the diver's located on a private fishing lake surrounded by a four meter high fence and a sturdy locked gate. A quick rece I locating a lone fisherman further round the lake and start chatting hopeful I can maybe blag my way in, but there's not chance so not wanting a wasted journey time for a change of plan.

Now I've photographed through fencing before and as long as you get the lens right up against the fence your in with a chance of a reasonable image, so with the sun in the right direction and finding a gap in the trees line that's the plan, its just a case of waiting for the diver will come within range of the camera.

The diver occasionally come within range but but frustratingly the trees are an issue but still I manage a handful of images, then and an angler appears with more gear than you can imagine pulled along on a four wheel trolley enough gear that would fill a transit van, a brief chat he's tells me he here until Sunday nights, three days !....time to call it a day. 

Happy I managed to get some images in the camera and even more happy to get out on what's turned into a cracking day. Stay safe.

Great Northern Diver - juvenile

Time To Get The Shorties On "

Denhall Quay - 5.1.22

Winter is the time to catch up with the "shorties" down on the marsh along the river Dee the and the hot spot at the moment being Denhall Quay a couple of miles further south of the more traditional location for me, the Old Baths at Parkgate.

Not being that familiar with Denhall I always like to check out the location first on the internet maps and as suspected parking is at a premium, so the plan is to arrive mid-morning and enjoy the sites and sounds of the estuary. 

Pink feet Geese, Curlew, Teal, Widgeon and Redshank can easily be heard amongst the cacophony of sound, with the bins Marsh and Hen Harrier can be seen at distance further out on the marsh, but the Short-eared Owls that are the stars of the action today.

Normally the action starts mid-afternoon and the reports are there are up to seven SEO's putting on a show at this location alone, on the marsh as a whole there must be more, twenty, maybe thirty over wintering, who knows !

Most people present appear to be photographers, some at locations along the road some out on the marsh itself, there's quite a bit of debate about photographers being on the marsh but the "togs" are easily matched by the many dog walkers or just walkers looking for somewhere different to walk.

Two o'clock a SEO is on the hunt and it's not long before up to five owls are in the air some meeting and interacting and even calling, you always need a keen eye even watching other "togs" which way thier pointing cameras ensuring you don't miss any of the action. 

Managing a last few images just as the sun is setting over the hills of north Wales it's been another memorable day and good to meet up with some familiar faces. Stay safe.

Short-eared Owl

Loverly Images !

New Image Website

Just a "heads up" on my new website I've been working on over the last few weeks to complement this blog, the site contains high resolution images from the birding world along with wildlife from my travels.

The main front page shows a selection of images located in the galleries, or if you prefer, just click "Galleries" to view individual bird groups.....go check it out !

Website....paulsamuels.smugmug.com

Link.........https://paulsamuels.smugmug.com

It's a Bit Chilly

Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire - 30.11.21

Whilst down in the FOD I was interested to note a Snow Bunting is regularly visiting a small pond at Cleeve Hill which towers above Cheltenham, a new location for me and with it only being twenty or so miles away I thought why not a visit.

It's an early start not wanting to get caught in commuting traffic arriving just before sunrise hoping to get there before anyone else waving cameras about, well I'm not the first by any means with several dog walker already ploughing off through the snow out into the darkness.

I'm sat in the car the sky red as the sun starts to appear, then the fog rolls in...would you believe it ! Not wanting a wasted trip I thought I'd leave the gear in the car (did I say that !!!!) and at least have a look to see if I can locate the bunting.

Heading of into the fog in what I think is the right direction I find the small pond the bunting has been frequenting...nothing ! Now just gone 8.30am and the sun is in charge the fogs departed and it's turning into a great morning but still no sign of the bunting, chatting with another birder who seems to have accepted it's off somewhere else he trudges back to his car, then at distance I see a bird on a post flicking at the snow which I'm sure is the bunting, and it is !....giving the bird a wide birth it's back to the car for the gear.

I'm back the bunting content hopping amongst grass heads poking through the snow occasionally taking in the scenery from a post or the wire fence. It's not long before I'm joined by other camera wheelders some taking more liberties than they should and the bird flys off lucky only to circle back.

A few more images and it's time to call time and head back eager to see the images I've managed, I usually have a hit rate of 1in 50 !....so fingers crossed, always learning !

Snow Bunting

Another Fish Diver !

Watergrove Reservoir, Wardle - 22.11.21

Every winter one of the divers usually puts in an appearance on some inland lake/reservoir in the region, this time it's a Red-throated Diver and no more than five miles travel distance ! the only issue is Watergrove is a fairly large reservoir but it's so close to home it's got to be worth a look.

It's a cracking day and full sun but that's ok as viewing the diver is generally has the sun directly behind. Already there's a few birders on site, the diver easily seen with the neck a dazzling white highlighted by the sun, better watch I don't over expose the whites !

Loads of waiting around as the diver is tending to remain loafing around in the centre of the reservoir, but as the diver starts feeding it can appear anywhere and not where you expect up to thirty meters from where it originally dived. Then I spot what I initially though was a Cormorant close to the wall..."oh no it's not"... it's the Red-throated Diver ! the closest so far, it's only on the surface maybe thirty seconds managing some images and it dives only to resurface back towards the centre of the reservoir. 

And that's it, the low light and the diver way off in the distance time to call it a day.

Red-throated Diver

Visit 2 - 23.11.21

As the light was still pretty good today I thought I'd have another couple of hours to see what's on offer. Arriving at the wall side the diver couldn't be further away on the far side of the reservoir never coming near so I decided to take the long walk round to the side towards the moors. 

The diver is in the bay I'm waiting for in to come a little closer, then boom it pops up right in front of me the closest its ever been so I freeze not wanting to spook it, it dives again and my chance to get to water edge, disappointingly it resurfaces further away managing a few shots with the 2x extender on board, not great quality, but hey ho at least I got some images !

Fish Divers !

Undisclosed Site - 3.11.21

I'm back on the road this morning for another session with the photogenic Kingfisher but this time....diving Kingfishers !

Now at my destination still quite early the fog still lingers, no matter as the light is still not good enough to achieve the shutter speed needed for these lightning fast birds, time to take a break and take in the autumn sights and sounds of the lake water fowl and the occasional skein of pink feet heading south in search of their next meal.

This morning I working with the mini tripod mounted Canon R5 using the electronic shutter at 20fps and a couple of PocketWizard radios, I'm using a iPad connected to the camera via Bluetooth to review and edit the images "on the fly" which appear after a few seconds, this way I can delete unwanted images as the number of images can soon mount up.

Still a learning curve regarding the best settings for low light and not "blowing" the whites, and most frustratingly trying to guess when the Kingfisher will take to the air and dive. Not the best images which is mainly down to the low light conditions resulting in a high ISO (image quality) but work in progress. Looking forward to the next time !

Kingfisher