Caught Out

 On my way to Santa Cruz one day during my holiday I stopped off at Mount Madonna State Park. I wanted to walk in the redwood forests again before taking a road trip across country. I had paused at a lookout spot to take in the views across the valley over the tops of the trees when all of a sudden this magnificent Turkey Vulture flew into the clearing in front of me. I scrabbled about to change my lens hoping that the vulture would hang around long enough for me to get a few shots. I think that being caught unprepared i didn't get the setting exactly right, a much faster shutter speed that the 1/800 sec that I used would have been preferable but even so I did manage to get some decent shots as the bird swooped and  turned in front and above me before heading off once again in search of food.

These birds were a common sight along the highways in California, presumably attracted by the amount of roadkill. Although they are not particularly pretty birds to look at they certainly play an important role and they look majestic when they're soaring high above on the thermals.

Whenever I travel somewhere new I am always keen to see the different wildlife and on this trip I was treated to some really wonderful sights. I didn't get to photograph them all but I am pretty happy with the results for those that I did. 

If you have enjoyed these then look out for future posts when I will be sharing more from my trip.

Commemoration

 This might look like something of a photo dump but I have been trying to find time to sort through my shots from the recent 80th Anniversary Commemorations of the Battle of the Atlantic at Liverpool at the end of May, and now I have done I wanted to share the best of them.

On the day there were flypasts from a small selection of aircraft; an exceptionally rare  Supermarine Seafire, a version of the Spitfire designed for flying from aircraft carriers, a Fairey Swordfish which was a submarine hunter that would fly low and slow before releasing its torpedo ( a tactic that left the crew very vulnerable). My grandad worked on these planes when he was in the Fleet Air Arm during the war. And then of course the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight consisting of a Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and an Avro Lancaster, always a magical sight to see these legendary aircraft in the sky.

Old Masters

 

So I may have gone a little over the top with the number of pictures for today's offering but I couldn't help myself. To be honest I could have shared loads more images of these beautiful flying machines.

This is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performing a flying display at Rhyl in August. I have been privileged to see these fly on many occasions because I used to live very close to where they are stationed at Coningsby in Lincolnshire. I would hear the sound of the Merlin engines and rush out of the house to see them overhead, it was always a joy.

Of course the history of these aircraft is sad as many pilots were lost and it is a fitting tribute to see these planes preserved. The Lancaster is the only flying example of the plane in the world.

I remember stories that my dad told of watching these planes in action above the south coast of England where he lived during WWII which were exciting and frightening at the same time. 

On the Wing

 Here are a few more images of the majestic Red Kites. 

They are such graceful birds and they seem to fly effortlessly and always watchful for the next meal.

At first just a few birds were circling overhead but as the afternoon wore on large numbers appeared above the ridges all around until 150 or more were gathered waiting for the butchers' scraps that are provided each day. Watching them as they hovered over the feeding site and then swooping down at high speed was a real spectacle, it was amazing to see how they avoided colliding with each other and then snatching pieces of meat off the ground before flying up to eat while on the wing.

While they were waiting many birds practiced their aerobatics, dive bombing other birds and performing sudden direction changes  before looping up and soaring away again.

I cannot begin to describe the feeling I had watching this spectacle, it is a sight I will never forget and something that I hope to experience again. If you ever get the chance I would highly recommend it.

High Flyers

These Canada geese caught me somewhat by surprise. I had seen a flock feeding on one of the ponds at Burton Mere but these took of in a flap from a field just outside of the reserve. Just one or two came first but a couple of minutes later a larger group took to the sky and then an even larger flock flew up and overhead before settling on the pond beyond the grassy bank behind me.

Often when you see geese in flight they seem to fly in good order, there is a pattern and structure to the flight but as you can see from the second shot it isn't always that way and sometimes they seem to almost tumble through the sky.

Under Attack

So yesterday I posted some pictures of singing frogs, something I had never witnessed before. 

Today I am sharing a series of pictures captured a few days previously from the walls of the medieval city of Provins. I knew that there was a bird of prey display within the city but I was was not expecting to come quite so close to the display itself. Taking in the view of the countryside surrounding the city I was surprised as this European Vulture flew past. I wasn't really prepared for wildlife photography and but I was equipped with my 24 -105mm L series lens and the quality of the equipment really shows in these images.

Initially the vulture made a couple of solo passes but then it was quickly surrounded by a flock of pigeons and some crows that mobbed it.  After a while it took refuge in one of the ruined towers further along the wall before presumably it went to play its part in the flying display for the paying public.

Soaring

Today I am posting my 1500th blog post!  That is something of an achievement and when I realised yesterday that I was going to reach this milestone I wondered what I would be able to share, I hoped to find something special in my portfolio but as it happened the three images I have fopr you were taken today and they are a fitting choice.

I have had a busy day today but I found time this afternoon to visit Burton Mere. I wasn't really expecting to see very much but there was quite a variety of species to be seen and with it being the hottest day of the year so far it was good to get out and soak up some sun.

Towards the end of my visit I spotted this buzzard soaring overhead, this was quite a surprise and I didn't have the settings quite how I would have wanted but as it swooped and soared above me I managed to get a few shots the three above being the most usable.

I had snapped a Sparrowhawk earlier in the day but it was too far away to be any good, and just after the buzzard flew by a Marsh Harrier also took a low pass but it was too quick for me to get anything other than a snap as it disappeared in the distance.

Although it would have been great to get pictures of all three the fact that I saw them all in such a short space of time was enough to put a smile on my face.

High As A Kite

It was a lovely evening and I was lucky enough to get home from work in time to enjoy a brief spell out with my camera. 

I had gone down to the common to photograph my daughter-in-law and George the horse that she looks after. While we were there however George got spooked by this guy in his powered paraglider. He and his colleague took off from the common and took a flight across Liverpool Bay but in the process the noise of their motors startled George and a couple of other horses out for an evening ride.

That being said I quite fancy this activity, I can imagine what a wonderful sensation it must be to take off from a field and then gracefully look down on the world below gaining a new perspective. Especially on an evening like this when the sky is clear and the sunset gives a beautiful golden glow.

I would love to be looking down and maybe even taking a few shots, but I also love this image especially the way the light catches the leading edge of the parachute and the face of the pilot.

Up With The Birds

Tamron 150 - 600mm f/5:6.3 

ISO 250   600mm   f/10   1/320 sec

I had pulled into a lay by for a short break on the drive from Amsterdam to Vejle (Denmark) and I hadn't intended to get my camera out at all, but as I got out of the car to put some rubbish into a bin I spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker low down on the trunk of a tree. I grabbed my camera and approached as quietly as I could but before I could get a shot he had flown away. Disappointed I turned to go back to the car and saw this beautiful male Peregrine swoop past.  I managed to snap a couple of quick shots before he disappeared and although this isn't the sharpest of images I was pleased to get it. If you look closely you will see that this bird has been ringed.

Although I missed the woodpecker on this occasion I did manage to photograph one in Gothenburg a few days later so I will be sharing that one in a few days time.

Flying High

I have had a week off work and I have really enjoyed not having to think about the job and I have managed to get out with my camera on five of the last six days.

Yesterday I went to Mere Sands Woods and while waiting (unsuccessfully) to get a shot of a Kingfisher I practiced taking shots of birds in flight. I managed to get a couple of decent shots I think but it will be a while before I get around to posting them here so for today I have chosen a few more shots of the gulls that invaded my picnic on Saturday.

Although these birds appear to be hovering they were actually gliding past at speed. Apparently they fly between 15 - 28 MPH with their most efficient loiter speed being 22 MPH I would say these birds were "loitering with intent".

Soaring

These common gulls had stopped by to share in my in-car picnic on the beach at Black Rock Sands. I had eaten a delicious Scotch Egg and a Stromboli bought in a local cafe/deli and there was no chance they were going to get any of that. 

I had also bought a cherry bun for "dessert" but I didn't really enjoy that so I threw a chunk out of the window to the waiting gulls thinking that they would tear it apart. To my surprise and amusement one bird swallowed it whole and then seemed to stagger around with a hugely swollen crop. I was a bit more careful to throw smaller pieces for the other birds and was again surprised to see the already stuffed bird fighting with his comrades over the other scraps in a disgusting display of greed.

I was impressed by the aerobatic skills of the birds as they snatched tasty snacks midair.

I took a number of pictures of the birds in flight as they were soaring effortlessly in the strong easterly wind. I think these shots capture the supreme skill of these birds and I particularly like the light in the first image.

Anyone who has had a seaside picnic will have been pestered by gulls and they're widely considered as pests but they are really quite attractive birds.

Take to the Air

A few more action shots today from my afternoon shooting the kite surfers and wind surfers at West Kirby during a spectacular high tide and strong winds.

I don't know about you but I think this looks like a lot of fun.

I was pleased to capture the first shot as the two surfers appeared side by side, almost in sync with each other. 

I also like the concentration on the surfers face in the second image, it is almost as if he is looking at the camera but I think he was actually concentrating on how he would land this jump.

In the third image I like the sense of scale added by the huge wind turbines in the background and the feeling that the guy is about to fly out of the frame.