Tussle

The Great Black-backed Gull had a nicely decomposing fish head, the Carrion Crows wanted it so a tussle began. They were a bit far out, as the tide was falling and Ryde Sands are expansive.

Canon 5D Mk III with 500mm f/4 L IS and 1.4x Mk III teleconverter.

Click to enlarge for best quality.

 

Sunny Saturday

My work patterns coincided with a weekend off this week and, as Saturday was supposed to be the best day of the four days, weather-wise, it was a pity not to go out. I generally avoid going out at weekends because there are usually way too many people around, with their kids and dogs and it generally aggravates my misanthropic side. I like dogs, though, but not when they are allowed to disturb the birds.

Anyway, here in the UK we have to make the use of any good weather we get so I put my camera gear in the car and went out. I have a new camera bag which fits both cameras and all three lenses, except the 500mm's lens hood, although it doesn't leave much room for anything else! It's a nice bag, a Vanguard Alta Sky 53 which, even with two camera bodies and the lenses, including the 500mm f/4, doesn't feel too heavy once you're wearing it.

The traffic was atrocious due, not only to the fact it was a pleasant weekend day, but also because of roadworks. I work for highways in the office and we get the brunt of people's displeasure but it's no wonder people get thoroughly annoyed (although a lot of them could express it rather more politely). I wasn't amused to get to the end of the main diversion route for major works only to find that closed and I had to do a U-turn and go back the way I came.

I got to Seaview, parked, looked over the sea wall, saw a seething mass of humanity and canines, may or may not have said something very rude out loud, got back in the car and went to the Duver and Bembridge Harbour. That also had a large number of dog walkers but everyone could spread out and it wasn't so bad.

In the end, it was a pleasant walk between St Helens and Bembridge in nice weather. There were a decent amount of birds about, the numbers are building up again as we go into autumn. Wader numbers are building up and, hopefully, winter will bring the usual numbers of geese, ducks, divers and waders.

Ravens

Over the past few years, Ravens have steadily become more common here. Not that long ago they were scarce and required a visit to Culver or the western end of the island to see.

On leaving Culver I went to Seaview, as the tide was falling and the rain was stopping. Parking the car and getting my camera out, I noticed a large black bird on the sea wall by the car park. A Raven! Not only that,  there was another one on the rocks the other side of the wall and they were joined by a third one. The first one wasn't bothered by the continuous procession of humans passing it, even stopping and looking at it didn't faze it, although it would have been off at a moment's notice.

The light was absolute crap and a black bird against a much lighter background is a challenge even for the most modern camera system, especially when the sea and sky are both a horrible white colour.

Wet

It had been raining for best part of two days but I couldn't stay inside any longer. I was bored and, by lunchtime, both bored and annoyed, so put my stuff in the car and went to see what was about.

Culver is always a good bet for migrants in spring and autumn so, as it was raining, I went there in case of any grounded ones waiting for a break in the weather to cross the Channel.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Whitethroat

Whinchat

Northern Wheatear

I was soaked, and so was my camera and lens, but it was a nice walk, with some good birds around and, best of all, no people. It may look less than appealing outside when the weather is dismal and the temptation to just slump in front of a slasher movie or Star Trek is almost overwhelming, but it does pay to go out in horrible conditions and it's often not quite as atrocious as it appears.

Wild West

I don't often go to West High Down as it involves a 40 minute drive via the county town to get there. That said, it is a nice walk once there. It is probably the quietest place on the island with no manmade sounds at times, apart from the occasional Ryanair 737 on approach to Bournemouth airport or slightly higher jets heading into London.