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.