Thursday, December 29, 2011

2011

So seen as everyone else in Bloggerland is summarising their year I thought I'd join in.


This year saw me discover my own proper patch at my Uni lakes and so allowing me to find my own birds!


Talking of finding my own birds I managed a whopping 42 self found ticks! Of which 8 were lifers! Highlights being;


Ad Caspian Gull at Rainham, bit dodgey but a first winter at Bartley last week made it proper
Family party of Whooper Swans on a Scottish Loch- STUNNING!!!
Black Tern on my Uni lakes with an Osprey on my first day back from Easter- WAHOOOO
Wood Sandpiper- 2 on my Uni lakes
Water Pipit- at Frampton RSPB whilst watching 7 Temminck's Stints!
Quail- just like everyone else!
Great Shearwater, Sabine's Gull and Pom Skua in Cornwall, seawatching 'self found ticks' always feel like cheating, although a Roseate Tern flypast was immense!
Little Stint on my Uni Lakes in late autumn after chasing round a flying stint after there were semi-p's everywhere, still stonking!
A new coastal patch (hopefully) added Black Redstart and Snow Bunting
Bean Goose and White-fronted Goose, like everyone else I just strung some flyovers...


And my self finding highlight a Rough-legged Buzzard at Donna Nook, you just can't beat it can you?!


What will next year bring? A self found BB rare? (isn't this how everyone finishes their yearly summary?)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Upton

Popped down to Upton this afternoon, not much of note bird wise but good to be back!


Some more photos with the new camera attached below, shame the light was rubbish!


ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
F stop: f/2
distance to subject: 30ft


ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
F stop: f/2
distance to subject: 30ft


ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec
F stop: f/2
distance to subject: 30ft


ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec
F stop: f/2
distance to subject: 30ft

Monday, December 26, 2011

Canon S95

Got a new camera for Christmas, the Canon Powershot S95.


Had a play around with it today and its brilliant! Here's a few shots I managed in the awful light today with my dodgey old Kowa TSN-2 will hopefully be upgrading this and getting a proper digiscoping kit in January for my 21st.








ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec
F stop: f/2.8
distance to subject: 750ft


ISO: 400 
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
F stop: f/2
Distance to subject: 20ft




ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
F stop: f/2.8
Distance to subject: 50ft 


 ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/60
F stop: f/2.8
Distance to subject: 1500ft
 ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
F stop: f/3.2
Distance to subject: 40ft
 ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/320
F stop: f/2
Distance to subject: 30ft


ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
F stop: f/2
Distance to subject: 40ft


Not sure I like Photoscape that I'm using to edit the photos or maybe its just my editing skills!

I've added some detail underneath each photo, any advice appreciated! Will keep posting on here my efforts and hopefully I'll improve as I keep practicing!

Also present at Bittell today were 2 interesting 2w gulls. One I am sure was a Yellow-leg and the other I think was an large NW argentatus type, poor photo of the second bird attached