Day 4 a the hide and the results

Arrived at the farm around 08.30 today. Still cold around 3 degrees and the wind is still here as well. Today I have decided not to deploy the flash guns as it seems to be sunnier. Got some good results today however I think that If I had deployed the flashguns I would have had more as I would then have had more opportunity to take shots of the birds when they were in the shade. This time I concentrated on a particular spot on the branch and waited for the birds to come to me. I used both lenses 500 and the 300 and found that I was using the 300 more. The nuthatch very busy again today and also the woodpecker is getting closer still. I think he is getting used to me now. No sign of the sparrowhawk and the longtail tits. Why, I do not know. The light seemed to on the branches for longer today I put this down to the nights getting longer.

I used the sidekick and ballhead today. I wanted to try this as it seems more versatile that the normal Wimberley head. I found it very good and it is more flexible and you can lower the lens so much easier than with the Wimberley, where you would have to alter the legs.

I think in future I will deploy the flash guns as it allows me more flexibility and also allows me to use a shutter speed of 1/250 at iso 200 at f5.6 and f8 of a second. At times today the shutter speed went down to 1/100 of a second at f4. This was also at ISO 400 where as with the flash guns I could use ISO 200. Therefore allowing for better results and also if the subject is static the image will be sharp.

Considerations for the future. I am thinking of putting another log in place to try and bring in the woodpecker. I am thinking of getting some water and putting it on the logs as sell so that they look better. I am also going to look for another log to replace this one as it is looking a bit bashed now. No doubt down to the squirrel.

After talking to Martin I found at that there are hares on the farm. I think a early morning recce is called for to find them.

Bird Migration - Slimbridge 2009

Hi all it has been a while since I have posted any work on here. As part of my Degree I have been looking at bird migration. This is an area of photography that has interested me for a long time and there is so much that can be photographed with migration.

The day I went to Slimbridge I had been watching the weather very closely. It said that it was going to rain. By now I had had enough of the Great British Weather and also of the wrong predictions of the weather men. I decided days before no matter what the weather I was going to go to slimbridge even it was raining, as I needed to take some pictures.

I got up and as per usual it was raining, I stuck to my guns though and drove the Hour and 1/2 to Slimbridge. When I got there although very cold it was sunny and perfect weather for photography.

Another good thing was that the reserve was empty, with this I was able to go where ever I wanted and was not be disturbed, I think I saw 6 people all day most of them photographers.

Something I have always liked doing is to take flight shots, however I wanted to be more creative in what I was doing. Slimbridge is well known for its starling roosts over the winter months. I remember it last year being amazing to watch. Recently I have been talking and following Danny Green and I have seen his photograph titled "Starling Wave" which one the best in nature in the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 Competition. I had decided in advance of going to Slimbridge, that I would try to something similar.

Like danny this is a project that I will continue over the next couple of months. As I think that this area may pay of in the long run.

To be Continued...