An International Evening with Focus Stacking and Penguins

Last night we had a Table Top evening at CCC and this gave an opportunity to play around with focus stacking a Lambretta, drown a couple of ducks and a Penguin and be creative with dried flowers. Thanks to Barry and Shelagh B for their set ups and Paul K for letting us see Intelligent Arsenal in a bit more depth.

RHS Gardens at Hyde Hall

As the weather was sunny, I decided to visit the RHS gardens at Hyde Hall on my way to talk at Billericay. The temperature was too low for a lot of insect activity but good to see Honey bees, hoverfly Melangyna, Wasp spp, 7-Spot Ladybirds and two other Diptera on the Camelias.

Misty Morning Toft Wood

Last week's warm days and frosty nights produces some great misty mornings so I took the opportunity to visit our local wood (planted in 2000) and begin a year of recording  the seasons there. I loved the way the low light produced great colours in the background and dew drops.

Coot and Gull Behaviour in Changeable Weather

After all the recent bright sunny weather, yesterday saw a change and so my visit to St Albans to photograph Coots had intervals of sunshine, heavy cloud and even some rain at the end of the morning. In the duller conditions, it was impossible to portray the Coot's red eye. The Coots were fairly active with lots of chasing but only one fight and that during a rainstorm. There were lots of Black-Headed Gulls in the process of moulting from winter to summer plumage and often displaying their kleptoparasitc behaviour  towards the Coots waiting around to pinch any food that they brought up from the bottom. The gulls eat different food from the coots – gulls are carnivorous generally etc whereas the coots are mostly vegetarian,  so, presumably, the gulls aren’t actually stealing food the other birds would eat themselves.

 

 

 

RPS Visit to Wicken Fen

Unlike my usual luck when arranging Nature Outings for the RPS, the weather remained fine and warm on Sunday and the Short-Eared Owls behaved and appeared on cue on Burwell Fen. I missed the best shots of the day when one SEO camer very close as the Highland Cattle were between me and the owl!! We also enjoyed great view of Yellow Hammer, Stonechat and Reed Buntings who were displaying well.

Wicken Fen - To Camouflage or Not

 Our two visits to Wicken recently have been in bright sunny weather with wonderful reflections. I enjoyed photographing the various ducks and water birds - the female Shoveller is wonderfully camouflaged in the reeds while the males stand out more. In the Gadwall, both sexes are well camouflaged (male shown). Coots will be obvious wherever they are perhaps related to the fact they are very territorial. Last two photos are of the noisiest species present during our water watching - the Little Grebes who were calling continuously and doing quite a lot of fighting and displays.