Molly is happy again but hopping along on three legs. I decided that three miles of walk was probably not a good idea. I’ll take the camera to the narrows tomorrow when she will be better with a bit of luck. I found some birds this morning and having tied the dogs up managed to creep quite close. I also slithered through some sheep shit so have a pullover to wash.
I did try using the 2x teleconverter on Little Bertha but I have to focus manually and the focus ring is a bit quick for me. I’ll get used to it and you get what you pay for. I am very pleased with the lens. I can go out for a walk and not think of the effort entailed.
A belated Happy Birthday to KEITH and Happy Birthday to TREVOR.
The rest of you just have a great week unless you too have anything to celebrate in which case raise a glass to me.
Lovely pictures Adrian, some years ago I took some half decent photos of oyster catchers eggs in their nests up near Dornoch on East coast. Difficult to spot as they disguise the nests really well in the shingle on the beach. Hope Molly's leg is better.
ReplyDeleteCath, I quite like seeing birds as I see them. I do crop square but only lose bits of the edges. I've plenty to work with. Why is it big birds are far away and little birds will come close?
ReplyDeleteHalf a dozen Oystercatchers here. I'll get some pictures.
Molly is still not using her leg but she is happy again. She was a real mardy bum yesterday and wanted carrying everywhere.
Finally catching up after a few days.
ReplyDeleteFirst up, I hope Mollys a lot better. What happened?
Second, ta for the birthday greeting. Had a great day out watching Nightingales.
Now, birds. Correct with all the ID's. Only one I'm not sure of is the Pipit.
Awkward little blighters to tell apart; for me, anyway. Sadly Meadow Pipits visit the coast too, so their names aren't much help.
Bertha is performing well.
Keith, nothing she just woke up yesterday and wouldn't put any weight on her leg. She was a sad dog. Today she is fine but still won't use it. I've felt it all over and probed the pad and she doesn't seem in pain. She will be fine. I hope so, I love the wee dog.
DeleteGlad it was a good Nightingale. They look like Pipets to me. Are you sure you weren't celebrating a meadow Pipet? I think there is another called a Forest Pipet. Very rare so can be discounted from my bird IDs.
I had a phone call this morning from a half hearted birder he said. Had it got a few stray feathers on it's head. I said by gum it has. He said it will be the Red Breasted Merganser. I just wish they would fish closer to the shore.
It's a great lens, a lens for the working man. IS is better switched off at long range as it tries to stabilise waves. I wish I'd got one years ago. I don't find the pump zoom a problem I just lock it at 400mm.
Good job for Molly. The now, those birds, right on there accept the Rock Pipit should have been a Meadow Pipit, sorry.
ReplyDeleteBob, thank you. I'll now call all Pipets Meadow Pipets. Hey four years ago I wouldn't have known it was a Pipet. You and a couple of other birders have pointed me in the right direction. Thank you but what is the difference? Just so I'll not look silly next time.
DeleteAre you really sure? It is looking at nesting in rocks.
The Red Breasted Merganser is a real killer for me. Sorry again, Lifer or liver or whatever the term is. Proper birds are like Plovers and any difference is marked so dumb clucks like me can tell.
Post us a couple of Pipets, I use Collins Bird book and the RSPB site. Rare it is that either have male/female....Winter/ summer illustrations. Most remiss of them.
Many shore and meadow birds are very hard to spot. that's why your plover comes so close as he thinks you can't see him. Some of these nest in the pebbles. Nice shots as you not only show the bird but is habitat.
ReplyDeleteRed, these nest in pebbles. I will try and get back here I have never been in late summer.
DeleteGlad that Molly is feeling a little better today Adrian, I hope she's up for a long walk tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteLittle Bertha seems to be working well in seeking out those birds for you, it's a pity those Mergansers didn't venture a little closer though.
Those Pipits?...as Keith says they're not the easiest of birds to tell apart. I think I'll go with the general consensus and say they are Meadow Pipits. The one in the second image appears to have light coloured legs which my book says is one of the distinguishing feature for M. Pipits...Rock Pipits have 'dark' coloured legs! .....It's good fun, this birding game!
Thanks for the Birthday wishes...[;o)
P.s. One of the books I find most useful for bird ID's is...Field Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe by Paul Sterry. A majority of the illustrations it uses are actual photos, which I find more helpful than drawings. Reasonably priced too £6.25 from Amazon.
Trevor, she will be fine, I'll pass on your best wishes.
DeleteI sit here in the van gazing out over the loch and all the birds seem to fly or swim up and own the middle. Little devils. I'll have another look when it gets light as I suspect there are two different Pipets some are smaller than others.
Thanks for the heads up on the book. I'll order a copy when I get to Foyers.
have you used your 2x converter on live view, it will focus in auto but is a bit slow to do so, not much good for birds unless they stay still for a long time.
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Peter, thanks for the tip. I'll try it when the sun rises.
DeleteWhat I really like about these is the time of day you took them in. The light is perfect.
ReplyDeleteMersad, as early as I can. The mornings have been a bit dark, these were shot from low down at 0640h GMT.
DeleteAmazing camouflage, and great photos, as always.
ReplyDeleteFrances, for a brightly coloured little bird they are almost impossible to find if they stay still.
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ReplyDeletevery nice shots....congratulations ADRIAN...
ReplyDeletewww.serkanmutan.com
Serkan, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat place looks like a rock lover's paradise. Have you ever been interested in rocks?
ReplyDeleteMaria, not seriously but there are places where the formations are spectacular.
DeleteI have both Rock and Meadow Pippits here in Eagleton and, like Trevor, I tell them apart by the colour of their legs and the rather longer hind claw of the Meadow Pippit.
ReplyDeleteGraham, to all practical purposes they are the same then. I'll keep a look out for the Rock Pippit.
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