Donna Nook, best time to go.

cosmix3

cosmix3

David Sullivan
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Hi,

Have booked some time off in November, and one of the things I want to do is get to Donna Nook, just wandering when the seals start to arive though, as the web site just says Nov-Dec, are they there all of November or is it best to go after a certain date.

Also having never been before what would you say is the best focal length for there, I have the 100-400 and 70-200 but am wandering if I should hire the 300 2.8 and some TC's.

Thanks for any help.

Mods, wasnt sure which forum to put this in, so if in the wrong one, sorry, and feel free to move.
 
Certainly 2nd half of Nov is normally pretty good. Wouldn't look to TCs as you won't want to open your camera on the beach.

Has to be a weekend to get out to the surfline as it is closed in the week. I ran 300/2.8 +1.3 last trip on a full frame body. Think I'd be tempted by 70-200 + 1.4 if you want to use a zoom. 100-400 might get a bit "gritty"
 
I've always gone early Dec but I'm not sure of exactly when to start going from. 70-200 and 100-400 will be plenty, although only take both if you have a lens on each camera as you won't want to swap lenes once you are out in the cold and wind. The last time I went I took the 600 with a 1.4 (wanted some shots of them out in the water) and it was overkill for the most part - the visit before with the 200-400 was perfect. Also take some sort of cover for your gear, even if it is just a black bag tapped over the lens, just to stop sand getting between all the gaps.

Make sure you wrap up VERY warm as it is C.O.L.D. out on the shoreline.
 
If I recall end of november is a good time. I know they're not popular but consider a uv filter. When the wind gets up over the flats you may well have problems with flying sand.
 
grumpybadger said:
Certainly 2nd half of Nov is normally pretty good. Wouldn't look to TCs as you won't want to open your camera on the beach.

Has to be a weekend to get out to the surfline as it is closed in the week. I ran 300/2.8 +1.3 last trip on a full frame body. Think I'd be tempted by 70-200 + 1.4 if you want to use a zoom. 100-400 might get a bit "gritty"
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul, Weekend, Umm was planning week time to miss the crowds, may have to rethink that, hadn't occurred about changing TC's on the fly.

Richard Peters said:
I've always gone early Dec but I'm not sure of exactly when to start going from. 70-200 and 100-400 will be plenty, although only take both if you have a lens on each camera as you won't want to swap lenes once you are out in the cold and wind. The last time I went I took the 600 with a 1.4 (wanted some shots of them out in the water) and it was overkill for the most part - the visit before with the 200-400 was perfect. Also take some sort of cover for your gear, even if it is just a black bag tapped over the lens, just to stop sand getting between all the gaps.

Make sure you wrap up VERY warm as it is C.O.L.D. out on the shoreline.
Click to expand...

Thanks Richard, running 2 40D's at the Moment, but hope to have a 7D before I go, either way will have 2 bodies with me, good tip on the Black Bags, also had forgotten warm close, need to look into that :D

The Matt said:
If I recall end of november is a good time. I know they're not popular but consider a uv filter. When the wind gets up over the flats you may well have problems with flying sand.
Click to expand...


Thanks Matt, UV may be a good call.
 
cosmix3 said:
Thanks Paul, Weekend, Umm was planning week time to miss the crowds, may have to rethink that, hadn't occurred about changing TC's on the fly.
Click to expand...
You can only get access to the sand flats at the weekend, so week days are out unfortuntely.
Thanks Richard, running 2 40D's at the Moment, but hope to have a 7D before I go, either way will have 2 bodies with me, good tip on the Black Bags, also had forgotten warm close, need to look into that :D
Good stuff!
Click to expand...
Yep, make sure you have very warm clothes. When I go, I usually have on fleece bottom under water/windproof trousers and on top I have 2 or three tshirts (one long sleeved at least) followed by a windproof fleece and a gortex everythign rpoof jacket over teh top. Plus a hat or a balaclava type thing over my head with the hood of my jacket up. On a VERY cold day thats still not enough! lol
 
grumpybadger said:
Has to be a weekend to get out to the surfline as it is closed in the week. I ran 300/2.8 +1.3 last trip on a full frame body. Think I'd be tempted by 70-200 + 1.4 if you want to use a zoom. 100-400 might get a bit "gritty"
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Paul :thumbs:
I am sure I read on their site about going
mid week as the week-ends get crowded

Well no wonder they get crowded if you can't get near the seals during a
week day


 
Thanks Again Richard, this is why I like this place, always peps willing to help :)

Richard Peters said:
You can only get access to the sand flats at the weekend, so week days are out unfortuntely.

Yep, make sure you have very warm clothes. When I go, I usually have on fleece bottom under water/windproof trousers and on top I have 2 or three tshirts (one long sleeved at least) followed by a windproof fleece and a gortex everythign rpoof jacket over teh top. Plus a hat or a balaclava type thing over my head with the hood of my jacket up. On a VERY cold day thats still not enough! lol
Click to expand...
 
Had read that myself Chris, which is why I was planning week time.

Cobra said:
Thanks for that Paul :thumbs:
I am sure I read on their site about going
mid week as the week-ends get crowded

Well no wonder they get crowded if you can't get near the seals during a
week day


Click to expand...
 
You can go during the week and see the seals in the dunes but if you want to trek out to the surf line then the site is closed during the week due to it being used as an RAF bombing range...
 
cosmix3 said:
Had read that myself Chris, which is why I was planning week time.
Click to expand...

So hopefully some kind soul will now tell us
if they are "Do-able" without getting to the surf line, or
its just not worth it at all week days, as I was thinking along those
lines myself ...............

Edit. b****r, must type faster
Thanks Paul :thumbs:
 
grumpybadger said:
You can go during the week and see the seals in the dunes but if you want to trek out to the surf line then the site is closed during the week due to it being used as an RAF bombing range...
Click to expand...

Now that could make for some interesting shots............. :nuts:
How busy does it get on a weekend?
 
When you planning on going Chris?

Cobra said:
So hopefully some kind soul will now tell us
if they are "Do-able" without getting to the surf line, or
its just not worth it at all week days, as I was thinking along those
lines myself ...............

Edit. b****r, must type faster
Thanks Paul :thumbs:
Click to expand...
 
cosmix3 said:
Now that could make for some interesting shots............. :nuts:
How busy does it get on a weekend?
Click to expand...

If you are early, its rarely too bad. You can always get clear shots. If you do go, please respect the seals and don't get too close. Just because they don't run away doesn't mean you aren't distressing them.

I'm planning on 3 trips this year/season.
 
grumpybadger said:
If you are early, its rarely too bad. You can always get clear shots. If you do go, please respect the seals and don't get too close. Just because they don't run away doesn't mean you aren't distressing them.

I'm planning on 3 trips this year/season.
Click to expand...

Most defiantly will respect the Seals Paul, is there home not ours, so won't disturb them by to get close, would rather take longer glass than risk distressing them. :)
 
Richard Peters said:
Very welcome, it a great place, you'll love it if you are fully prepared :)


Even when it is very busy out on the sandflats you'll still get shots easily. The sandflats are ....B.I.G.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Richard.
 
You should be able to go on weekdays and still see them pretty well. They put up a fence to stop you getting out any further than they want. When I went there were seals leaning on the opposite side of the fence. You could have touched them (but don't ;))
 
I can't find it but there was a very good post on TP about going to Donna Nook and how to behave around the seals. Perhaps someone else will have more luck finidng it and linking to it in this thread. I think it would be a good reminder to all thinking of going to Donna Nook.
 
seals are already here and there's pups on the beach/coves near me - got some shots on the weekend (not amazing, 400mm fromm cliff top about 100ft high)
 
Kev M said:
I can't find it but there was a very good post on TP about going to Donna Nook and how to behave around the seals. Perhaps someone else will have more luck finidng it and linking to it in this thread. I think it would be a good reminder to all thinking of going to Donna Nook.
Click to expand...

I had a scout around and found a couple of posts
on here and a couple of useful web links
Maybe it was the first link you meant MK?


http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1092752&postcount=36

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1132666&postcount=2


http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1029317&postcount=2


http://www.wildsight.co.uk/articles/donna-nook.html


http://www.ophrysphotography.co.uk/pages/donnanook.htm
 
Nice one Cobra, the first link is exactly the one I was thinking of. Photographers can be a selfish bunch at times and I think posts like that serve to remind us to look at the bigger picture and the consequence of our actions.
 
Kev M said:
Nice one Cobra, the first link is exactly the one I was thinking of. Photographers can be a selfish bunch at times and I think posts like that serve to remind us to look at the bigger picture and the consequence of our actions.
Click to expand...

Sorry Kev Got your name the wrong way around :bang:
 
Don't worry I've been called much worse.
 
Thanks All,

Chris, thanks for the Links, will read them as soon as I get chance.
 
Great thread, on the other side of the coin, id like to go to take phots of the RAF practising bombing. Whens the best time for this???
Dean:)
 
Don't think christmas day would work,me and my Big bro are both in UK ( me from Mid East Him from Afgan) this time so should think it'll be a big family party. Any other day i should be able to do

Andy
 
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