Gone Fishing

 Have you ever sat for hours on a river bank drowning maggots? (I mean fishing of course!) It can be a nice relaxing experience and it is obviously great when you manage to catch something but there can be long periods when you catch nothing but unless your life depends upon it you can walk away at the end of the day and wish for better luck next time.

For this Egret however his life literally does depend upon a decent catch so finding the right spot , at the right time is essential.

Although part of the heron family the Egret takes a different approach to fishing to the grey heron who will stand patiently in one spot (much like the dedicated fisherfolk on the river banks) waiting for a meal to pass by and then with lightning speed and great precision it will dart forward with its long neck and powerful bill and snatch a fish, or amphibian from the water. I have even seen one catch a rat and swallow it whole. The Egret on the other hand takes a more active approach and will stir up the water a little bit or flap from one spot to another, pause, search and then move on, or it will walk slowly , head facing down looking for something in the shallows.

The egret in the pictures above had certainly picked a good time to be in the spot he chose because while I was watching he caught 4 fish, all a fairly decent size. 

Beautiful Bluebells

 

You know that feeling when you look under a cushion and find a £20 note that must have fallen out of your pocket unnoticed? No nor do I, it is more likely to be a till receipt or a tissue in my house. But just imagine how good it would feel. Well that is sort of how I felt earlier today when I picked up my camera to get a couple of macro shots of a mysterious bug on our garden wall (more of that at a later date). After I had got a few decent shots I scrolled through to find a load of pictures from a recent day out that I had forgotten I had, then to make things even better I found a load of pictures from a day out before that too. I was so pleased I could hardly wait until I finished work to upload them.

So although the bluebell season has ended I still have a few pictures that I haven't processed yet, I don't want to overload this post with too many pictures so I will spread them over a day or two. Unlike my last post which was from a walk in Boilton Woods these were taken at Burton Mere, I think you will agree that these are quite special, such beautiful flowers and now they are gone for another year it is nice to still be able to enjoy their beauty.

I am so grateful for the beauty of nature and I am grateful that I found these almost forgotten images (I would have liked to find £20 too).

December Days

 I could have called today's post "Tits and Teasels" but decided against it.

These three pictures were captured at Burton Mere, the Blue Tits were waiting patiently but noisily to feed on sunflower seeds at a feeding station. I love these little birds with their black bandit masks. Talking of masks I have used a mask in the third image to create a black and white background so that I can show of the beautiful coloured plumage.

In the second image I have also chosen a black and white finish because I think it best shows off these wonderful plants.

Kaleidoscope

Today is a return to something abstract. This is another shot of ripples and reflections from Burton Mere over the recent Easter weekend.  

In most of the reflections shots I have taken I have used a fast shutter speed to give a smooth final image but here I have used a slightly longer exposure to create a more wispy effect. I quite like this, how about you???

You Know Spring Has Arrived When...

This morning we were blessed with beautiful clear skies and glorious early morning sunshine. It was a cold start to the day but definitely worth the effort of getting up and out early to capture the early sun on theses beautiful bluebells in the Gorse Covert at the RSPB reserve at Burton Mere.

I always look for the emergence of bluebells to signal that Spring has truly arrived. I have lots of happy memories of walks in woodlands where there were carpets of native bluebells and although this display is not as dense as some of those I grew up with it is still heartwarming and a boost to the spirits.

In A Flap

This sequence of shots was captured on Saturday at Burton Mere. This handsome Mallard drake was having a bit of a wash and brush up and with a little patience I was able to freeze the moment in time.

It seems like a lot of effort to me but it is an essential part of keeping in tip top condition.

Seeing The World Through Reflections

Today it was my intention to share more pictures from my recent trip to Venice but instead I have picked some images from a photo shoot this morning that were inspired by some of the pictures I shot in Venice.

So, I went to Burton Mere RSPB Wetland Reserve. I wanted to get there early before the weather turned bad and I almost turned back because the sky was clouding over and I thought it would be a washout. I was glad however that I didn't turn back because as well as getting a few nice shots of birds I was also able to capture some more ripples and reflections.

I have always enjoyed sharp and clear reflections but I have tended to look at the bigger picture, to see mountains reflected in the surface of a calm lake in the early morning for example. However, in Venice I noticed the more abstract scenes that appear when you look closely at the reflections in detail. There is so much going on in these images with the play of light on the surface of the water, the contours and even textures that you simply would not see if you just glance casually as you pass.

The first two images are cropped from the same picture and I think they are amazing, especially the first one which looks as though it is lit from below.

I like the third image because of the blue highlights reflecting a break in the clouds.

You cannot tell from these pictures what is being reflected because they are just a small part of the overall scene but I think they work really well and I know that I am going to enjoy looking closer at reflections when I go out with my camera in future.

Bluebells

Canon 100mm f/1:2.8  ISO 100   f/6.3   1/160 sec

I had intended to share some of my pictures of the carpet of Bluebells in the woods at Burton Mere but when I was trying to choose I was a little disappointed with them because although the bluebells make a fantastic display there is also a lot of greenery that detracts somewhat from the flowers.  The green was that sticky weed, like velcro which happens to be called "Sticky Weed" or more properly Galium aparine. There was masses of the stuff and it spoils the overall effect of the pictures so I may have to try again to get some better shots.

So instead I decided to share a couple of macro images which are, I think, really beautiful.  You don't have to be a genius to see that the two pictures are of the exact same flower and the camera settings for each shot are identical. There is a slight difference in the angle but the principal difference is the lighting with the first image lit solely by the sun, from behind while the second is also lit from in front using a small hand held torch.

I really like both images, they have different qualities, I like the colour of the flowers better in the second image but I like the background effect in the first. If you have a favourite why not leave a comment, and let me know the reason for your choice...

Forget Me Not

Canon 100mm f 1:2.8

ISO 100    f/4.5   1/100 sec

ISO 100   f/3.5    1/100 sec

I had gone to photograph the bluebells at Burton Mere and as it was a beautifully sunny morning the prospect of capturing some great images filled me with hope as I set off.

Before I got to the main show of bluebells however I spotted a magnificent spread of Forget Me Not's and so I stopped to get a few shots. They really are such beautifully delicate flowers and they make a nice display in the dappled  early morning sunlight.

In Flight

I have chosen these pictures for today because I love to see birds in flight. With smaller birds it is harder to capture the detail because they move so much quicker than larger birds (although some smaller birds like Humming Birds which I have posted before are great because they hover and so it is possible to get get shots while they are in motion).

Large birds such as those in the pictures above fly so gracefully and compared to the way they lumber around on the ground either in the water or in flight they look so elegant. Take the Whooper Swans in the first picture for example, I love the shapes made by the wings, and the way they use every individual element to control lift and direction. They also make it look effortless while in the air but they expend so much energy getting off the ground.

The Cormorant in the second image was flying a bit more quickly and seemingly with greater purpose. he looks so streamlined with his neck stretched forward and his feet tuck in tight against his body.

The final shot is of a small flock of Pink-footed Geese. Again I like the different shapes as their wings flex and bend powering them through the sky. I also like to see the cooperative nature of geese in flight as they fly in sagitate flocks, using an arrow or v-shaped formation to help give each other extra lift and lighten the load.

Great Tit!

Continuing the theme from the other day of colourful British birds here is a Great Tit and I think he is absolutely stunning.

I am really pleased with this shot. Looking at it I remember a time earlier this year when I visited Boilton Woods and I held out some seeds in my hand and fed some Great Tits as they perched on my thumb, it was quite a thrill and a happy memory.

Well Spotted

Last Saturday I took my first photo of a Great Spotted Woodpecker when it visited a bird feeder at WWT Martin Mere. I was really surprised to see it feeding on sunflower seeds, it was a real treat.

So today as I visited the RSPB reserve at Burton Mere I didn't expect to have another opportunity to photograph another of these elusive birds but I did and here is the result. This little chap flew in across the fields to a feeding station and in these shots you can see him eyeing up the feeders. Just after I got these pictures he flew to the feeders and ate his fill before flying off across the fields again.

They may not be the sharpest shots but they show that being in the right place at the right time really pays off...

One, Two, Three!

I thought I knew what these wading birds snapped recently at RSPB Burton Mere were but I have forgotten and feel slightly foolish. Even so they're rather nice.

Common, Me?

I have been jumping around with different themes in my posts recently and today is no exception, although the subject of today's pictures wasn't doing any jumping as he sat for ages posing for me. I had really expected him to scurry away into the reeds but I was able to get right down to his level and stick my macro lens right up close to get these shots.

This is a Common Toad and I spotted him on the path at Burton Mere RSPB reserve. In spite of being called common he has something of a snooty attitude and I like the way he confidently stood his ground. Even with me shoving a camera in his face and another walker stopping to have a closer look he maintained a dignified air before casually creeping away.

Windy Marshland

Today sees the last of the shots from Burton Mere for a while and the focus today is on the reed beds and the motion of the wind.  Certainly in the first three pictures you can see the wind tugging at the fluffy coating on the bull rushes or bending the reeds.

As well as the way these pictures capture movement I also like the warmth of the colours.

Windy Wetland Skies

I have gone for a selection of landscape images for today but the real star of each of these pictures is the sky.  Again these photos were taken at Burton Mere RSPB reserve on a windy Saturday morning.

In the first two pictures I was struck by the double decker cloud effect and in the final image I also like the unusual cloud formations.

Where's Wally

These three pictures were taken yesterday at the RSPB reserve at Burton Mere where I met some helpful and enthusiastic wardens. It was a very windy morning and the reserve was busy with visitors come to see the Long Eared Owl which has recently taken up residence.

The first of today's pictures shows a pair of Canada Geese which very noisily took to the air near me, I was lucky enough top get this shot as they flew past.

Picture two is of the owl, its the full shot as taken in camera and although you can just make out the owl you can also see how effective its camouflage is.  The third image is a crop taken from the main image and is slightly enhanced.  It was a little difficult to focus but it is possible to see the beautiful owl asleep in the morning sun. There were a number of serious twitchers absorbed with watching the owl and a number of other photographers with some serious gear, I experienced just a little "lens envy".

The final image is of a Robin (yes I have shared a few recently but they are such lovely little birds and always willing to pose) and a very fine specimen too.