CONFUSED PART THREE (16/09/11)

I have moved back down to Darlington as it’s the Water Works open day tomorrow. Sunday as well so Water Works open days……………..I need a change and it’s pouring with rain.  So there should be plenty of water for the Works.

I need help. All the gannet pictures I shot of them in flight have fringing………..now why. It’s quite possibly my awful technique but I'm not so sure. I purchased a Sigma 50mm-500mm zoom lens some years ago. It seemed like a good idea at the time and for much of the time it works well even at the 500mm end. I would now buy a prime 300mm given the choice and bang Zuiko teleconverters on it should I need the extra reach. I need a Lottery win the lens is six thousand pounds…………Wow!

     If you can offer polite advise then give it a click. This was shot without IS on.

Back to charming. Shot the same way. I love looking at these Goldfinch. Again they will enlarge.

     Two days of Gannet watching and I come back with Goldfinches……….There’s an American Lady who will have something to say about this.

          A fledgling with ………’Problems Down There!’

            A juvenile, I hope. The first looks fluffier so I’m going for younger. I’m only confident it’s a Gannet because they seem to accept it………….I bet it’s what those snobby birders thought was a Razorbill…….they are black and white but so are Guillemot……they always remind me of tiny penguins. I’m a little surprised they didn’t send me off in search of an Emperor…………mean people they were……..I should have let Alfie eat their bloody sandwiches.  I’ll get back here in June imagine seeing hundred of fluff balls perched on these tiny ledges. Plus Puffin. It must be a wonderful if smelly experience.  That’s all from two great days. Or nearly all.

               The nearest I got for you Keith. it’s an arse end view but not particularly helpful. They are the very devil to sort out at this time of the year. Some are growing feathers, others shedding them. I have endless trouble when they look like the ones in the book.

                 I’ll go with the majority.  But am tending to go for a young Yellow Wagtail. A tick for me if it is………….. See!……. I'm learning the lingo.

Perhaps I got off to the wrong start with the trio of experts yesterday. I really thought they were geriatric S.A.S. All dolled up in cammo jackets and trousers.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have shouted….. ‘Eat dirt dogs!…. Incoming!’… I learnt this expression from a war movie, been waiting years to use it.

I had the best place………..I was first. One had the cheek to ask me to move I was in his way. “Excuse me! I know. I’ve been here an hour taking blurry pictures and enjoying myself. I am fully aware of the best spot for out of focus images and if you don’t put your lunch away you won’t have any.”  That told them!

Imagine in the breeding season there will be hundreds of Muppets here. I was thinking of joining the RSPB and to be fair their wardens have always helped me when I’ve shown them snaps from the camera. They are lovely. Why do they allow these folk in the club. I have stopped using hides on their patch. Yes I take the dogs but they are no real bother. They know to lie still. Yes! They do kick off from time to time but there is usually bugger all happening.

Back in my comfort zone tomorrow……………….great big machines. Have a great weekend.