Antigua - Hummingbirds

Although back for just over a week now, I haven't got to the end of sorting the last 2 days of the trip but decided, rather than doing a retrospective diary, I would concentrate on species/groups. So, here, an overview of my remaining Hummingbird attempts - not fully edited nor all the images(!) but a selection to show their charm and difficulty in photographing with good postures and clear backgrounds. The first 6 the Antillean Crested Hummingbird and the last 4, the Green Throated Carib.

 

 

Welney WWT Faces Up to Storm Dennis

 I was very disappointed that I was not able to show off the delights of Welney in good light and pleasant working conditions to the Nature Group members, who came from many parts of the country to visit Welney WWT on Saturday, many taking part in the Swans Awake and Hares events. Here a few higher key images of the ducks and swans braving the wind and waves. The Little Egret made three attemps to cross the open water before finally making it. The swans, being a lot heavier, managed to navigate the open water but still often made several attempts to land.

 

 

 

Wicken Fen on a Dull Afternoon

On Friday we visited Wicken Fen with a group from the RPS Nature Group. It was very devoid of birds generally but good views of Kestrel and the Konig ponies and in the distance Marsh Harriers playing and Hen Harriers coming into roost ( we saw total of 3 males (not shown) and 2 females), which was a wonderful experience even if too dark to photograph properly.

 

Disco Fun - Hands and Colour

I can just about hear again after 2 hours photographing the local primary school's disco. Most of the shots were taken with fast enough shutterspeeds and single mode flash to get portraits of the kids enjoying themselves but I also like to do some slow shutterspeed work with strobe flash hoping that faces will just be caught in the flash. Obviously, these cannot be viewed on social media but here a few of the hands raised while the bubble machine is operating giving some great hand images plus one ghost-like image of a headless figure. (first six are 1 second exposures, last two 0.5 secs)

Antigue 10. Around Cocobay

We have been back in the UK a few days now and I am wanting to complete sorting images before memories of places and wildlife names fade too much. Here a miscellany with 1.2 Gulf Fritillary and caterpillar with Passion flower food plant. 3-6 Poor photo of cutting lawn Antiguan style with Cattle Egrets in attendance and surrounding scenry etc 7-9 Macro shots various insects 10. Focus-stacked Grasshopper using tripod.

 

Antigue 9. 'Sail and Snorkel' Cruise

 Early in our holiday, we booked a trip on a catamaran along the coast to a barrier reef where we could do some proper snorkelling and view the coral and also come back under sail. Well that was the theory but unfortunately by the time Thursday arrived the wind had strengthened so the sail stayed furled and only Holly, who had snorkelled before, was able to make it away from the boat. Second time in my life I have failed to view a coral reef. Unfotunately, I hadn't given Holly the camera!! So here some shots of our resort from the sea and the nearest I got to underwater paradise when swimming around the resort. (Last two shots commercial images for my records)