Panic Over!

The internet problems have been solved, I've ditched Vodafone and gone with three. Their hotspot dongle, allows Maja to do her emails while I'm doing this blog.

A few days ago we went for a walk round Blackbrook Reservoir although there is some litter the water is very pretty, there were a lot of fry near to the bridge and a variety of the common water birds. In the woods above the lake the floor was carpeted with bluebells. As we returned to the lakes there was a bird of prey hovering but it was too far away to identify. The Grebes pictured below caught my eye and I was convinced that they were going to do their dance. But following this head bobbing display, they separated and swam to opposite sides of the lake.

All were taken with
Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

problems

i'm having internet problems. typing this on my kindle. might be a week or so before it is sorted and I can post photos again.

Two very different places 20 April 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

This Rabbit, doing a fair imitation of a meercat, was captured in a field close to a water meadows near Maldon in Essex. The area is quite similar to Watermead Park in that it is a collection of lakes formed from gravel workings, surrounded by trees  and water filled. There the similarity ends, the litter surrounding the lakes ruins the countryside and it has to be said, most of it is angling related. There were broken anglers chairs, bits of rod, bait bags a broken reel, beer cans and food wrappers all discarded around the fishing pitches.

Despite this I did get a couple of pictures of Coot and Grebe like this one.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

I was glad to get back to Leicester (and those that know me will know that I don't make that statement lightly). Watermead Park is so much better and although we can criticise our local councils for many things, we should give them a vote of thanks for the parks around Leicester and Leicestershire and hope that we can enjoy them for many years to come.

The first pond I saw as I walked from the car park had a couple of Mallard with five chicks, three of which are pictured below.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

There was a variety of butterflies racing round collecting the early pollen and lots of blossom. at the far end of the lake, close to Worcester Crescent entrance this moorhen was exploring the small pond in the corner of the park.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Another Fishy Tale - 6 April 2011

I'd walked most of the way round the lakes at Watermead and was on my way back to the car-park with not a single worthwhile photograph. Skipper was just ahead of me with his stick, he always selects a stick to carry or for me to throw for him - preferably into the water. He turned to face me and dropped his stick for me to pick up, but as I approached it I caught sight of a Heron on the edge of the lake, to my left.

It was concentrating on something and didn't even notice Skipper. Calling him quietly, I stepped back behind a bush and out of sight and prepared my camera. I took a couple of pictures before the Heron struck at his quarry in the water, unfortunately the photos of the actual strike only showed his back, hidden in the reeds.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1300 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

But when he came up again, he'd caught quite a sizable fish, which he proceeded to eat. I got some pictures but when he repositioned the fish to swallow it I had to move to a better position, he caught sight of me and flew away. Still it was an interesting interlude.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

I continued on my way back to the car-park, where I again put some nuts and seeds on a fence post and waited to see what would appear.

As usual it was the Robin first and he seemed as if he'd decided to pose for the camera.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

He was followed by another Robin who, after a shouting match, flew back into the bushes. Then a Great Tit and a Blue Tit both were seen off by this bully before I could get their pictures.

Then a pair of Chaffinches came along, the female managed to get something to eat before he saw her off.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

But the male was quite persistent, every time he landed the Robin chased him away. But he soon came back for another go. Eventually he seemed to develop a strategy, he'd fly in and land on the lowest fence spar, the Robin went into the attack and the chaffinch, instead of flying away, flew up to the post and grabbed a few seeds. Then as the Robin flew up to attack, the Chaffinch flew down the other side of the fence to the bottom spar again, then repeated the process, every time the Robin flew down the Chaffinch would fly up the other side and grab a beak-full.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

It was fun to watch, but I think the Robin got tired because later he flew into the bushes and didn't even object when the female Chaffinch returned.

A Good weekend - 3 April 2011

It looked as if the weekend was going to be fairly slow, around Watermead a lot of the birds from the winter have gone and we are back to the usual collection - with most of them not putting on a show. On Sunday I was cycle-walking Skipper, he likes that it gives him a good run and being a Border Collie it's something  he needs - lots of exercise.

As we reached the Thurmaston end of the main track, I heard a young mother say to her child, "look he's got a fish!" So I stopped and looked again at the lake, there right in front of us was a Grebe with a fish in its beak.
Before I could get the camera out it dived and shortly after a fish skipped across the surface, but then the Grebe resurfaced with an even bigger fish in its beak. This all happened in a few seconds and I was still astride my bike, but I took what pictures I could and though they're not the best quality I thought I'd show you these two.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/5000 @ f 5.6,  iso 1600, 400mm



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/8000 @ f 5.6,  iso 1600, 400mm

They were the only pictures I got on the way round the lakes. But when I returned to the Meadow lane car-park I had some time to spare and a few bird nuts and meal worm in a container in the back of the car so I put some on a fence post at the end of the parking area and sat in the car with the camera at the ready.

At first nothing happened, but after about ten minutes a Robin appeared, it's usually Robins that get in first especially when there are meal worm about. He hopped about for quite a while, posing and sometimes seemed to be looking right at me.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ f 6.3,  iso 1600, 350mm

There was a brief exchange with the male blackbird, who came to investigate the food and took away a beak full.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/125 @ f 6.3,  iso 1600, 380mm

But then it started to rain and the birds disappeared, so I started to pack my camera away and turned to put it in its bag when I caught a movement in the bushes halfway down the car-park. A grey Squirrel popped out and ran down the fence, he looked around then ran towards me - so out came the camera again and I took some photos as he came closer.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f 6.3,  iso 1600, 200mm

He ran up the fence, to where the birds had been, and feasted on the remaining peanuts. He stayed for quite a long time, despite the rain and hail. After about fifteen minutes he'd obviously had his fill. he climbed down and disappeared into the undergrowth.