ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Thursday 10 December 2009

NO CROPPING (10/12/09)

Before you look at these images it's supposed to be an 'O' in the title.

A lovely day again, spoiling me it is. Actually got a sunrise so no excuses, breakfast and out.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     Went down the road towards Porthcothan, could here twittering and chirping so got myself and the dog insinuated into a bush. First mistake of the day, damn wet in there it was and full of rabbit burrows. Molly thrashing about after rabbits, yipping and snuffling down their holes.......... (excuse the expression) curtailed the birding. Not a bird to be seen or heard for miles. Extricated myself, with minor scratches, wet knees and soaking feet. The wellies still damp from yesterday were discarded in favour of trainers before departure. We headed down to the beach to run some of the energy off her.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA        Blackbird a male one. I'm not cropping any of today's images as it wasn't till I got back that I realised I had not only left the camera on centre weighted spot metering but on bracket as well. One in five have turned out OK.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       Pied Wagtail..... Can't half run.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       Carrion Crow I hope! Bit small and tidy for a Rook. Love the way all Corvus strut and pose. Corvus/Corvi I trust that's the right term. Been doing my homework..... Promise.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       This is the same bird, doing what it's supposed to eating carrion, in this case a dead Flounder.

Suddenly noticed the bus to Padstow was due so hurried from the seaside to the bus stop, arrived just as the bus was approaching, threw out my arm, forgetting poor Molly was on the end of that one, almost put her into orbit. Sorted ourselves out and puffing fit to bust said. 'Thanks for waiting.' The driver replied. 'You look as if you've been dragged through a hedge.'    'If only you knew!'

Upon arriving in town, I decided to walk the old railway line towards Wadebridge. It's actually called the Camel Trail, sounds posher for tourists. I have to agree it has a more romantic ring to it.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The Little Petherick Creek Bridge. It was high water today, there is a footpath runs around the creek, which at low water should yield sightings of birds other than the swans and mallard I noticed. It would also get one off the railway line, which is lethal. No trains anymore just bicycles. They hire them at both ends. It wasn't pleasant today. I can't imagine what it must be like in summer.

image       These trees are common in Devon and Cornwall. They are a conifer? Certainly evergreen, presumably imported in Victorian times and then self seeded. Anyone know what they are?

Saw this little mite sunning itself, so swapped lenses and here it is.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA        Dunlin, it looks sort of rounder than the ones readers kindly identified for me in the summer. It's also on it's own and waited for me to switch glass. The ones I saw before you couldn't get anywhere near and there were dozens of them. Could be fat, thick Dunlin, I suppose!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       Ever faithful a Black-Headed Gull. Easy, Oh! so easy. Six months ago not only would I not have had a clue what it was but would still have messed up the shot. Thank you all for your encouragement.

Just at the start of the trail, there's a fresh water pond, it's dammed, like a swan pond, not damned, like me. Looking over the old railway bridge, look what I saw and not twelve feet away, had to zoom out.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA       Little Egret.....OK, for this, zoomed back in.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA        Little Egret at 50mm, it's sitting in a black hole under the dam wall. Thank heaven I had the foresight not to switch the camera from spot metering....The Devil Looks After His Own!! Life doesn't get much better.

Eventually even the best models get fed up....... Away it goes.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      And then it's gone.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     Quite how I got the last two, I don't know. Was so excited could have crushed a grape......Much, much, much more excited than that....Hope it's not the same bus driver................'Now you look like you've been dragged through a hedge and wet yourself.'.........If only you knew!

As I say no cropping today, minimal Photoshop today, just a absolutely perfect today. I have a few seascapes and landscapes which I will run up over night as we are back up to Dartmoor tomorrow. The forecast is still looking good. So out with the panorama head on. My panorama head, can't afford one for the tripod.

All the best.

11 comments:

  1. Certainly looks like you had a good day,
    No wren I see (or can't see)but can't have everything in one day. great shots. putting mine to shame, well the ones I got today,

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  2. Beautiful bird shots as usual,I think your mystery tree is a scots pine,we have them in the garden,your tree looks similar.How are you getting on with the slow cooker,have you cracked the art of using it yet ??

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  3. Tony, Wrens is two a penny, T'was the Gold/Firecrest I wanted. Must admit, a Wren would be good. Elusive wee devils!

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  4. Hi Adrian.

    You are getting some good bird shots now and I reckon soon you will be getting some better still.
    Dunlin..ummm I do not think so... the orange legs suggests maybe a Turnstone or Redshank to me. The longish bill looks more Redshank but we will wait for the judge.
    We have walked that part of the Camel Trail as far as Wadbridge . Totally flat and six miles long. The bridge shot is good and I reckon it was around there you photographed the Little Egret. There is always a few along that stretch.

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  5. You lucky devil - fantastic Egret photos.

    (I assumed that the title was going to lead to a photo of a toothless sheep!)

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  6. Hi Adrian, you are best at landscapes, but whats this, the Little Egret? That is superb.

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  7. Trevor, only due to your encouragement. there's another wee pond just after Padstow on the right.
    There she be...As they say round here. didn't walk far it was hell with bicycleists.
    Thanks John, is it luck? I'm pleased as punch, like a dog with..............You know the rest.

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  8. Thanks to you and your kind Bob, isn't it the dogs bits! made my year! Without your perfect shots I would have never taken the time to capture the beauties. I've still a long way to go. Problem is as always the curve is exponential. Merry Christmas.

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  9. Matron, they are not Scots Pine they have no bark. If you like good bird shots look down my sidebar the blogs what I follow bit. They have inspired me and their work I aspire to. Slow cooker on hold, due to lack of ingredients. Will fire it up tomorrow after a shop.

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  10. Adrian, another excellent post, that had me chuckling as I read it.
    These bird pictures are excellent too. The Little Egret, and flight shots; gonna have to start getting some tips from you.
    Your 'Dunlin' looks suspiciously like a Redshank.

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  11. Cheers Keith, thanks for the ID. Have just got a very dodgy connection here on the edge of Dartmoor

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