Transitional Experiments

This is always a strange time in the year for me. Not really wanting to let the birds go, but knowing that the woodlanders will become increasingly difficult to photograph as the foliage closes the canopies over. I know that as the breeding season gets into full swing, many birds will be worked around the clock, feeding young and themselves. This in turn often gives them a scruffy, worn appearance that will only be changed after their next moult later in the year, so i tend to give the passerines a bit of space at this time. The pull of the insects (butterflies and dragonflies) becomes increasingly irresistable, and soon i'll be shooting them, almost exclusively.
      So, with this at the back of my mind, and with a great urge to capture even better shots of the insects this summer, i started experimenting with my macro gear. What i wanted, was a method whereby i can 'stand off' three or four feet (to avoid flyaways), and still get some really close macro shots. My mistake in the last couple of weeks,, was thinking (hoping) that i'd be able to 'hand hold' my 300mm f4.
      As i have found by my patchy, sometimes dismal results, 'hand holding' a 300mm non VR lens, with a 20mm tube behind it, needs an impossibly steady hand. I'm not saying its not possible, as the picture of a fly below confirms,,, just difficult to the point of foolishness.
       So now i'm back with my trusty monopods again, after trying one of Chris's shoulder stocks, which he kindly lent me to trial. Sadly (sorry mate), i couldn't seem to handle the shoulder stock either. On reflection this combo obviously needs good support, and maybe as i get older and even more unsteady i'll be forced back to a tripod.

Snipe Fly, Nikon D300s, 300mm f4 with 20mm ext. tube, and small flashgun. (Hand held).

Re-direction

In a week when i got on my high horse, and in a fit of self doubt and pique,,,, deleted all my record shots from Bentley Wood, and Cerne Abbas,,, i'm afraid the Gardiner shutter hasn't produced much else this week. This Whimbrel is a shot from last Saturday,,, as is the Goldfinch. Its too easy to slip into a groove where you are just recording, and not really taking good pictures.

Little and Large

At the end of a good birding week, and with a couple of 'lifers' under my stressed belt, i am a happy lad today. Had a couple of hours up at Blashford Lakes today, and my first ever Little Ringed Plover performed a treat. Parading in front of the Tern hide, all but asking which side i wanted him from. A super little bird.

He was the undoubted star of the show today, but at one stage four of these little ducklings came by. Traveling without parents, so a bit unusual, and in a lake that is home to 20 pound carp. Can you guess what species it is?

Earlier in the week i was lucky enough to stumble on another wader i've never seen before. A Whimbrel dropped in at Ferrybridge. Barely visible in the habitat, their camo is amazing.

Windy Streaks

Nothing to do with soiled under garments, but elusive little butterflies in the wind. For several years i couldn't find a Green Hairstreak to save my life, but with the expert guidance of the members of the original Dorset Wildlife Papparazzi (you know who you are), i gradually learned how to adjust my eyesight to macro when searching for these masters of camouflage. Now,, a few years on, and i have lots of digital Hairstreak memories, but i'll never forget those few frustrating years. These aren't the best shots, because i had the wrong lens on. AGAIN! HHH.

The Wind,,, my old Adversary

Blowing a flippin' hoolie again today. Trouble is, it makes for extremely changeable weather, and all my photographic subjects hunker down out of sight. So,,, with this in mind Chris and myself decided to try and find a quiet spot for a bit of macro work. If you were under the impression that a Broad-bodied Chaser was a lady over forty without a hubby,,, you'd be wrong, because its a dragonfly. This is my first shot of one this season. A plump lady, well turned out.

Hoopoe Moment

I've never seen a Hoopoe! My wife has, but i haven't. So when one turned up in my local area i thought i'd like to see, and perhaps photograph it. Only a few birders, and toggers were on the scene at a location in West Dorset when my mate Chris and i arrived. Unfortunately my first encounter with this beautiful avian was completely spoiled by one complete nutcase who insisted on chasing it away. He had no other motive, but to spoil everybody's experience, and was abusive, belligerent and threatening to us all. As a result of this fool's childish outburst i came away after a prolonged vigil with just this record shot. Had our instincts prevailed in the face of our experience today, some of us might now be in police custody. Thankfully we resisted this temptation, and one fool's efforts to cause a conflict came to nothing. Sometimes i despair at the attitudes of some of my fellow Homo sapiens.

Catching Up

During the week and a bit since my last post, i have been splitting my time between the Dorset heathland, and Lodmoor. These two quite different habitats have been host to a lot of recent wildlife action. Lodmoor has its spring population of migratory and resident songbirds all shouting the odds, and staking their territories in the reedbeds, while the heathland ponds are giving up the early crop of damselflies, and dragonflies. Also on the heath now are the Green Hairstreak butterflies, (that i have yet to photograph this season) and other early species. Below is a fresh male Downy Emerald. Below that is a noisy male Sedge Warbler, and bottom a female Downy Emerald.