RSPB Elmley. Shots from today. [Archive]

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Weggy

14-04-2007, 17:54

Despite a raging hangover, I forced myself to make the massive 5 minute drive out to Elmley. Glad I did. Another couple of birds I've not seen before, a beautiful day and saw my first chick of spring - a little coot. Hangover just about gone now :D

Little Egret doing a spot of fishing...
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4527.jpg

Yellow Wagtail - a new one for me. Really hard to get a shot - they're real lively little characters
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4613.jpg

Not a clue what this one is. Once it came off the nest, it went underwater for what seemed an eternity, before resurfacing several feet down to stretch of water!
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4638.jpg

Ringed Plover I think. He wasn't budging so I had a play with the f settings too. Thing this was the best one of him I got (out of about 50!)
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4680.jpg

Swan. Liked the way he was raising his wings into the sunlight.
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4702.jpg

Bunny. Again, the sunlight did this for me....
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4727.jpg

14-04-2007, 18:11

No3 looks like a Dipper - they actually swim underwater. All nice shots, but the last two do it for me. :)

RickMezza

14-04-2007, 18:27

#3 looks like a little grebe / dabchick.

Nice pics. How close were you to that plover :eek: :)

Weggy

14-04-2007, 19:41

Just looked on the RSPB site, and I agree #3 is a little grebe... the key part of the their description is "readily dives when disturbed, surfacing unseen some distance away"... exactly what it was doing.... According to their map CT, Dippers don't come this far south east... who said birds were stupid? :D

With the plover, I was literally on top of the poor thing, hence the poor angle with me hanging out of the car window! Those small rocks you see are actually part of the road track through the reserve!

Can anyone help with #2? Where am I going wrong to get that horrible looking background? The camera was being rested on the car door so was still, quick exposure at 1/1000... Any thoughts?

14-04-2007, 19:51

Can anyone help with #2? Where am I going wrong to get that horrible looking background? The camera was being rested on the car door so was still, quick exposure at 1/1000... Any thoughts?

Actually it is indeed a Grebe... too much brandy too early. :gag:

There's nothing 'wrong' with the background Weggy.I can show you a dozen shots with a similar effect taken with a variety of lenses - in fact most of them. It's not particularly atttractive I'll grant you, but it all depends on aperture used, and the nature and distance of the background from the subject. In this case the grass behind the birds isn't far enough away to be blurred as much as we'd all like. :)

Weggy

14-04-2007, 19:59

Actually it is indeed a Grebe... too much brandy too early. :gag:

There's nothing 'wrong' with the background Weggy.I can show you a dozen shots with a similar effect taken with a variety of lenses - in fact most of them. It's not particularly atttractive I'll grant you, but it all depends on aperture used, and the nature and distance of the background from the subject. In this case the grass behind the birds isn't far enough away to be blurred as much as we'd all like. :)

Cool, that's very reassuring CT - thanks :thumbs:

P.S. Do you have to mention alcohol?!?!?

14-04-2007, 20:02

LOL sorry. Poppin' the cork again now! :nuts:

Weggy

14-04-2007, 20:06

:gag:

I'm never drinking again.... :lol:

Weggy

14-04-2007, 20:58

One more from today:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r225/Weggy1978/RSPB%20Reserve/IMG_4520.jpg

DavePotter

14-04-2007, 21:03

Love the bunny pic.....

Weggy

15-04-2007, 08:57

Now I'm 100% sober, and the hangover has lifted, I've realised what was going on with the Plover... it was literally sitting on the road. I remember seeing two big boulders on the road around it too... Having looked in a bird book, it says they nest in shingle and small rocks... so there we have it, a nesting Plover... no wonder she didn't want to move! Hopefully there'll be some chick shots soon.... :D