OSPREY

21-04-2018 Near Wigtown Bay, Dumfries & Galloway

An early morning start and great news to find both birds at the nest site. Light was very poor as the sun was rising behind the nest but I used a Canon 1DX and 2 x TC to capture the best shots. I tried the 7D with both 1.4TC and manual focus with the 2 x TC but the results were poor. I returned in the evening for better light just as EP was bringing in nest material.

Male "EP" (Pale Yellow ring) was present with an un-ringed female. EP had been at Wigtown previously but had nested at this site last year. He is 15 years old and was born at Abernethy in 2003.

 EP with nest material

Changing over

FIRECREST

09-03-2018 Wombwell Ings

Another early morning visit for the little duo in lovely sunlight; unfortunately the AF on the old 7D was frustratingly slow and there were only a few good images from many opportunities. The Firecrest entertained initially by chasing the YBW away from its favourite ivy clad tree.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER

09-03-2018 Wombwell Ings

Another early morning visit for the little duo in lovely sunlight; unfortunately the AF on the old 7D was frustratingly slow and there were only a few good images from many opportunities. The Firecrest entertained initially by chasing the YBW away from its favourite ivy clad tree.

FIRECREST

06-03-2018 Wombwell Ings

An early start and I almost immediately located the Firecrest in the bushes alongside the riverbank. Within a few minutes the YBW had started to call as well. I used my back-up 7D mki direct to the 500mm lens with a monopod. Light was poor and I had to go as low as 1/160th second to maintain an acceptable ISO. AF was really slow and frustrating with the 7D but I managed to get a few keepers over a couple of hours.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER

06-03-2018 Wombwell Ings

An early start and I almost immediately located the Firecrest in the bushes alongside the riverbank. Within a few minutes the YBW had started to call as well. I used my back-up 7D mki direct to the 500mm lens with a monopod. Light was poor and I had to go as low as 1/160th second to maintain an acceptable ISO. AF was really slow and frustrating with the 7D but I managed to get a few keepers over a couple of hours.

FIELDFARE

04-03-2018 Green Moor

Heavy fog but Adobe Lightroom did pretty well here, still a little noisy but acceptable.

FIELDFARE

Birdwell & Green Moor 1st to 3rd March 2018

Bad weather and significant snow brought Fieldfares into the suburbs and villages. I took pictures at work near Birdwell and then at home in Green Moor when up to 4 birds visited the pretend apple tree after I had tied up some apple halves and laid others on the ground. As soon as the snow had gone, so had the Fieldfares.