Saturday 27 February 2010

Tales of the unexpected.

Not a lot of pictures for two days birding and what there is are really only record shots, from quite a distance, but one bird from yesterday and another today were unexpected.
Obviously the whereabouts of Cirl Buntings is quite sensitive and we came across this one in
a flock of 200-300 Chaffinches.



Spring must be on the way as we saw several Bumble Bees, this Small Tortoieshell and what
we think is a Muslin Moth Caterpillar.
FRIDAY:
Started at Poltesco and flushed at least 5 Woodcock. In the bay were 7 Great Northern Divers and 1 Red Throated.
We spotted the Hen Harrier while driving past Goonhilly Downs and I took these very distant shots from the car. By the time we had parked up and walked onto the moor, it was gone.
As most of you know I have been struggling with flight shots. Having followed Steve Roger's advice, I am starting to improve (I think), but as the blue sky will tell you, I forgot to alter the iso's. Good job it wasn't something rare. Sue

18 comments:

  1. I think that your flight shots are very good! Well done on the cirl bunting, I think I've seen this guy only once in France. Quite hard to get pictures of it and you got it singing!!! A beautiful post once again.

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  2. Great post, excellent capture on the singing Cirl Bunting. The buzzards shots just need a slight increase in exposure, almost there.

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  3. Great find with the Cirl Bunting, and great shot too.

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  4. excellent birding in lean times, I like the Cirl and the male Hen H is brill.
    Sam

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  5. Hi there
    I thinbk your cat maybe a Ruby Tiger... well spotted, I also like the very well focused Small Tort!

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  6. Hello, it´s a pleasure to see this blog, great photo work, amazing photos, thank´s for sharing.
    All the best, have a nice day.

    José Filipe

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  7. Being from away, your posts are always so educational for me! I'd love to add some of your birds to my lifelist. ~karen

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  8. PS, What WAS Steve's advice about photographing birds on the wing?

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  9. Ya, what was Steve's advice? I have trouble with birds on the wing as well. I'll check back later and see if you left any good tips via Steve.

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  10. Good detail on the Buzzard despite the settings Sue. I'm still waiting to get close enough to a Hen Harrier even for a record shot. Well done.

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  11. Beautiful pictures of the flying birds. Good luck in finding more of them.

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  12. Nice shot of the raptors. Love it alot.

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  13. Lovely photo of the singing Cirl Bunting, I have never seen one. Great to see a butterfly so early in the year, no sign here yet and I don't think there will be for a while.

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  14. For the record is it possible to have a grid or site for the Small Tortoiseshell? Three species seen so far in Cornwall. Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Tort. Small White and Brimstone seen elsewhere
    Cheers
    John
    Cornwall Butterfly Recorder

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  15. Hi Sue - nice shots of the Hen Harrier - the flight shots of the Buzzard require the exposure to be raised to plus 1, (not the ISO), then the camera meter will expose correctly against the bright sky. Basically, the bright sky tells the meter to darken down, thus everything looks black. You have to fool the meter and raise it upwards!

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  16. Thanks everyone for your comments,thank you Steve for your advice.

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  17. Great blog! Congratulations from Portugal. Jorge Sousa www.ibernatur.blogspot.com

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