Sunday 29 April 2012

A day out at Penclacwydd (WWT Llanelli)

Rare Bird Alert had a report of avocet at Llanelli so we decided to have a look. Unfortunately the avocet had moved on but still we had a very good time in the British Steel Hide. First of all a Common Sandpiper:


A distant view, so I used the 1.4 extender on the 500mm lens, ISO1000 f8 @ 1/1250sec.

Then from the front of the hide there was a shout that there were blackcaps about. I did not catch up with those but manages this shot of a whitethroat:



Same kit, ISO1000 f8 @ 1/4000sec.

To the back again and there was a flock of 50 to 60 black tailed godwit - this is one of them:


And amongst them I noticed 5 knot:

Friday 27 April 2012

Grey Heron at the Kingfisher Hide

Bird activity rather quiet about Teifi Marshes reserve but Grey Herons are becoming more regular at the Kingfisher hide. Here are two images from Monday:



500mm lens, 1000ISO f8 @ 1/640sec.


Same kit ISO1000 f8 @ 1/3200sec.

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Red Kites at Gigrin Farm

Had a wonderful afternoon on Saturday at Gigrin Farm. Booked the Big Tower Hide - well worth £20. Took over 800 images - about 80 usable images and 5 wow images. Here is one of them:

Taken with my Canon 400mm f5.6 lens - very good for birds in flight though I did get some great images with the 500 as well. ISO 1000 f8 @ 1/1250sec.

Grey Heron at the Kingfisher Hide

This photograph was taken of a Grey Heron flying in front of the Kingfisher Hide at the Teifi Marshes Reserve. Funny how frontal images of herons make them look like leggy un-coordinated birds but the side view makes them look like something out of Jurassic Park!



Taken with my usual kit (but no converter on the lens) ISO1000 f8 @ 1/6400sec.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Marloes Mere glossy ibis

On Sunday we decided to go down to the Gann and Marloes Mere. There was not much on the Gann but the three glossy ibis were in the field before the hide. Took this photograph and they then moved even further away. Wind was much to cold to hang about so did not wait for them to return:

Near the hide I saw this co-operative willow warbler:


Then on the way home stopped at Ty Rhyg (again) and this time I did have a view of the Great Grey Shrike!

Monday 16 April 2012

A visit to the Dyfi Osprey Project

On Saturday we went up to see the ospreys at the Dyfi. The female was on the perch alongside the nest but we did not see the male, though apparently he was perched on a nearby tree. What we did see was good views of a male and female redpoll on the feeders in front of the hide:

Taken with my 500mm lens with 1.4 extender, ISO 1000 f8 @ 1/500sec.


Taken with the same kit, ISO 1000 f8 @ 1/800sec.

On the way back decided to look at the harbour area for purple sandpiper, but no luck. On the way back along the prom I looked towards the sea and saw a dolphin jumping. Managed to park the car and spent an enjoyable half hour watching and taking photographs of a pod of up to 6 dolphins in the bay. They were quite a distance out so this is my best effort:


When a fishing boat approached the dolphin went with it, surfing on the bow wave:

Wednesday 11 April 2012

The American Ring-billed gull

Ceredigion Bird blog has been reporting this bird consistently but I have not manged to see it recently. On Saturday morning we parked near the Station Road entrance to the Teifi Marshes reserve and went into Cardigan shopping. On the way back, just after the old bridge we looked at this gull - only about 5 metres away - and I recognised it as the ring billed gull - but no camera! On Sunday I took the camera to look for it again. There was no sign of a gull, but as I was giving up a gull flew up the river, turned round at the new bridge and came back down and landed on the other side of the river. It was the ring billed gull. Waited some time for it to cross the river and come a bit closer. Managed this flight shot:


Taken with my Canon 500mm lens 1.4 extender, ISO1000 f8 @ 1/800sec. (Handheld as I had not been to get my tripod at this time).
And this closer image:


Same kit but with tripod ISO1000 f8 @ 1/2500sec.

After a quick look at the Curlew Hide we returned to the car and heard a bird singing in a bush alongside the river:


Again same kit f8@ 1/500sec. hand held.