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

Tuesday 9 March 2010

I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE (07/03/10)

I opened the van door about half an hour after first light and was assailed by the tapping of Woodpeckers. Same old story I knew roughly where they were but, as I’ve come to realize that’s a world away from finding them. This morning I found not one but two. Here they come…………….

image      I put a little ring around it ……………Just in case you were to have trouble finding it.

image    Likewise here. This is number two you have to admit that this is better than the first. Now all I have to do is find a way of tempting them within range……..No! A shotgun isn’t an acceptable solution.

This passed over an hour, a nuisance in a packed schedule like ours. However, I now know that whilst engaged in beating their brains out against a tree they stay put. Tomorrow a tele-extender and a long lens all bolted down on a tripod.

We arrived back home frozen, starving but cheerful. Even a bad image is better than no image at all.

It being a Sunday I had a fry up for breakfast. I’d just started into the bacon, egg and tomatoes when out of the corner of my eye I caught movement on the feeders. I slid back the window retrieved the camera from under my wellies, don’t ask! I said we were hungry, bingo, back came the Nuthatch.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA First a back view.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThen back view with head.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHe swapped feeders for the front view.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Then back to the seeds for a side view. A little smasher……I just pray that this is a Nuthatch……Ever had a stone cold fry up? There’s a lot to be said for muesli!

Now we were going to have a wander up to the snow line today but what with one delay after another I decided to postpone this and go for a quick run on the lake ferry.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  Wandering down to the ferry jetty I looked back to see this low cloud filling the valley head. A bit noisy is this because I was still hand holding a telephoto. Just as well because ten minutes later I was treated to an aerial goose display.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   A pair of Canada Geese.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    Next two and a half pairs.

We eventually made it to the Ullswater Steamers jetty, and were given a complementary ticket. This because, just over a year ago, I delivered what will be a new steamer for them and a couple of the chaps recognised me. Last time I saw them was in Maryport……….Can only think that my boat handling made a lasting impression!

The trip around the lake was wasted from a photographic point of view. I spent all the time chatting to the skipper and drinking coffee.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    No matter, it was a bit murky for photographs. Molly had a whale of a time the wheelhouse floor is just about at passenger head height. I lost count of the number of unwary tourists that got a quick lick in the ear whilst passing. Better received by some than others it has to be said.

To finish what has been, totally by chance, a very rewarding day of outs. Tonight on Mollies pre dinner run we saw a couple of Dippers. Things are getting out of hand. Whilst we are ticking boxes, for every one ticked I find two more. We still have yet to see a Red Squirrel, a Red Deer, visit either of the old lead mines, find the Buzzard, the list is endless. That’s without mentioning the damn Woodpeckers. I had (slightly) more success with a certain ferry ticketess who took my fancy. The decision is to have one more day here then move down to Windemere for a week, catch up on e-mails and of course post all this. You insomniacs out there must be suffering by now. Then come back either just before or just after the Easter chaos.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA little corner of Ullswater.

That’s all for today.

  

7 comments:

  1. All the photo's are interesting and lovely,but the shots of the geese are stunning.How do you get such sharp images of birds flying,mine come out blurred.

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  2. Matron, I'm not sure and that's being honest, I suspect mine are just about acceptable it's feel. Will drop an e-mail giving you the benefit of my ignorance.

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  3. OMG... the Canada Geese! They are AWESOME! I'm so proud of our geese. lol

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  4. Adrian, a birders treat! Such an obliging Nuthatch, giving you such good all round views. I'm sure the Woodpeckers will fall to the lens next.
    Your flying geese are excellent too. Not easy. And, they are Barnacle Geese; a much bigger tick than Canada Geese :)

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  5. Krista apparently you can't claim them. They are Barnacle Geese. Thought at the time they were flying well!!

    Keith, so they are, there are hundreds of them up here. I see the difference the black comes further doewn their necks. Thanks.

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  6. Gb, this weather is incredible, just wish I were fifteen years younger and could get on the tops. The snow is treacherous up there, windslab over ice for the most part.

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