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

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

A ONE BIRD BLOG. (15/05/13)

It is a beautiful day up here. A northerly breeze is keeping the temperature manageable. It’s freezing. Not gloves cold but just a bit on the nippy side of comfortable.

I sat out for a couple of hours this morning trying to persuade birds to come within range of Bertha. There aren’t flocks of anything here. A pair of Oystercatchers, a Grey Heron,  a couple of Mallard, a few Chaffinch and a pair of Black Throated Divers. Several something elses………_MG_0432 copy    This is a view of the light on the Corran Narrows. No I didn’t swim or crop I used Bertha who for those that don’t read my gibberish is a 400mm prime telephoto that weighs almost a ton or tonne now we are metric.

_MG_0436 copy

_MG_0438 copy  This is a Pipet…….a rare one I hope. I think it is a Meadow Pipet that is having a holiday at the seaside. There again it could be something else. There are a couple of pairs or so nesting on a gravel spit. These are cropped to within an inch or pixel of their lives. It’s low water now so I’ll wait till this evening and have another go. There is another similar sized bird but without a stripey chest. I suspect it’s the female.

The colour calibrator has still not arrived but I have a heap of maps. GRAHAM. called in on his way south to Glasgow and very kindly stopped and got me half a dozen OS Maps. It was lunch time and he went away with an empty tummy. I don’t eat lunch as I have two breakfasts and an evening meal. So much for northern hospitality. Sorry Graham I never gave it a thought. Many thanks for the maps.

I’ll get some night time shots today as it’s set fair. I can’t promise bird shots as I’m a rubbish birder.

That’s all for today.

Posted by at

38 comments:

  1. Nonnie15 May 2013 at 15:47

    rubbish birder? I don't know what this means, Adrian. but your photos are never rubbish!

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    1. ADRIAN15 May 2013 at 16:28

      Norma...it means not very good at taking snaps of birds..This is what I aspire to KEITH
      This is a brilliant bird snapper.

      Delete
  2. Gillian Olson15 May 2013 at 15:50

    Nice to see you are getting some sunshine. Beautiful scene and views of the Pipet, definitely not rubbish.

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    1. ADRIAN15 May 2013 at 16:34

      Gillian, you don't want to see the trash bin. Less than fifty percent hit rate. Good job I'm digital. It's always sunny in Scotland....I wish.

      Delete
  3. holdingmoments15 May 2013 at 16:04

    My best guess would be Meadow Pipit, but I stand to be corrected. Pipits are a bit tricky to tell apart at times. Couple of good shots though Adrian.

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    1. ADRIAN15 May 2013 at 16:39

      It is Keith. I took some pictures a couple of years ago of them doing the courtship flit up in the air and hover and then drop routine. Kept me amused for ages.

      Delete
    2. ADRIAN15 May 2013 at 16:40

      PS. thought I'd done well getting as far as Pipet.

      Delete
  4. E. Salonen15 May 2013 at 16:18

    Great pictures!

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  5. FOREST SNAPPER15 May 2013 at 16:32

    your photos look great to me too,keep showing them.


    peter

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    1. ADRIAN15 May 2013 at 16:42

      You are a confidence booster Peter. Many thanks.

      Delete
  6. The Herald15 May 2013 at 17:24

    See!...there IS a bird photographer in there!!

    Great images Adrian..keep 'em coming!

    Now this is where it gets tricky cos I'm going to disagree with the maestro <:-{ and say that I think the bird is a Rock Pipit!.. my reasons (grown up birder talk!!) Location (you say they are nesting on the shore?)
    Size and shape and dark colour of bill - Heavy streaking down chest and flanks - Pale buff and prominent supercilium (the stripe over the eye)

    Then again I could be completely wrong!!!...[;o)

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    1. ADRIAN15 May 2013 at 18:02

      Trevor, No there isn't a bird photographer in me...Yet!. I can't push colour on birds. I was going to go for Rock Pipet. Because it has a long hind toe.
      Supercillium is my sort of wurd. A magical and stunning word for eyebrow.
      You are spot on Keith is a bit of a Muppet at times. At other times he is spot on, had Hooded Crows round today. I gave him a ring but they buggered off before I got the camera mounted. Who says only women gossip?

      Delete
  7. Horst in Edmonton15 May 2013 at 20:16

    Wish I had your Canon Camera and Bertha. I would have a field day. Keep on clicking that shutter, and have much fun. I just wish I was there with you.

    I just found out that I may have my surgery in June, no official word yet but fingers crossed.

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    1. ADRIAN16 May 2013 at 07:41

      Horst I was only thinking about you yesterday. Good luck with the operation.

      Delete
  8. Bob Bushell15 May 2013 at 20:59

    Lovely Bertha, she takes fine picture, and, yes, it is a Meadow Pipit, I think!!!!

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    1. ADRIAN16 May 2013 at 07:42

      Bob, I thought so. They seem to be nesting in a strange place though.

      Delete
  9. Red16 May 2013 at 03:01

    I like the way you captured the pippet on the seaweed...natural looking. Who says you're not good with birds?

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  10. Pauline16 May 2013 at 03:08

    Don't know about the bird but that is a pretty scene. Nice to hear Graham has caught up with you.

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    1. ADRIAN16 May 2013 at 07:43

      Pauline it was really good to meet him after all these years.

      Delete
  11. Magic Moments16 May 2013 at 07:14

    Beautiful day and amazing photos Adrian..

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  12. Graham Edwards16 May 2013 at 07:46

    I've just woken up and read your post. Glasgow! I was wondering where I am. I get lots of both sorts of pipits in the garden at Eagleton and I'm surprised that I haven't done a recent post with comparisons. I must try and remember to remedy that.

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  13. Graham Edwards16 May 2013 at 07:48

    PS Don't worry about the lunch. The tea you provided was what I needed. I'd had a huge Calmac breakfast on the ferry and I tend not to eat much when I'm driving anyway.

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    1. ADRIAN16 May 2013 at 08:09

      It was very good to see you. If you fancy breaking your return journey then I'll be at the Camping and Caravan Club site. It's on your left about a mile before Glencoe village. Follow the signs for Glencoe visitor centre.

      Delete
  14. Douglas Mcfarlane16 May 2013 at 12:40

    Great images as always Adrian the pipit is indeed a Rock Pipit for the reasons Trevor has already mentioned (black bill and pale eyestripe) a nice find, I spend hours watching them catching flies off the seaweed when I go to Jersey, quite a comical bird at times

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    1. ADRIAN16 May 2013 at 15:55

      Douglas, It is a Rock Pipet. Many thanks. I spent a while on the RSPB site and it also has brown grey legs not red.

      Delete
  15. grammie g16 May 2013 at 15:09

    Hi Adrian...While you have been fooling around with Bertha I have been jacking up a post on the back deck, and trying to figure out how to fix the darn thing ; ) It has taken a few days, so I haven't been around!!
    Now I love the first shot gorgeous!! I didn't see and rubbish birds there, looks darn good to me, as far as ID I out on that one!! ; )
    Grace

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    1. ADRIAN16 May 2013 at 15:57

      It is a Rock Pipet Grace.

      I hope the post is fixed.

      It was freezing this morning and in keeps showering. I have been playing with Bertha but with little success so far today.

      Delete
  16. FOREST SNAPPER16 May 2013 at 19:54

    Great photos Adrian, telling what these birds are called, i will leave that to the experts out there.

    peter

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    1. ADRIAN17 May 2013 at 06:32

      Peter, I've spent a few minutes on the RSPB site and am pretty confident that they are Rock Pipets.

      Delete
  17. DawnTreader17 May 2013 at 10:46

    Blogland is an interesting place to live. When a blogger goes missing from his own blog he might turn up on another... :) I like the light in the first photo!

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    1. ADRIAN17 May 2013 at 11:01

      Monica, interesting is very kind....You could have chosen Strange.

      Delete
  18. Maria18 May 2013 at 03:20

    Those 400mm's weight a ton, but I still need them. Mine is very heavy too, but it's very much needed in my case.

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    1. ADRIAN18 May 2013 at 06:39

      They are a bit heavy to be a pleasure to use. Take good pictures though.

      Delete
  19. J_on_tour22 May 2013 at 09:16

    It must be a job trying to keep your lady friend still !! Whats your f-stop, shutter speed and ISO comparisons for say something like the first shot ?

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    1. ADRIAN22 May 2013 at 09:26

      Jay, it's a tripod job. I have used a monopod but tripod and remote release is best.
      The first one is shot at at f5.6. 1/800. ISO 400.

      Delete

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