Samhain

The end of October has brought a high pressure system which has resulted in overcast skies for the past few days - 'non-weather' I call it, flat grey sky, no rain, no wind and definitely no sun. However, I thought it was still worth going out to see what was around so I put my cameras and binoculars in the car and went to Seaview. It was just after high tide so I was hoping that some sanderlings or turnstones would be about. No. I had forgotten it was half term so people, their kids and dogs were out in force, with not a bird to be seen - apart from gulls, of course.

The beach being full of people and dogs, I crossed the road and went into the little nature reserve. The hide was unlocked and there was nobody in there - result! Bird-wise there were plenty of Coots, a few Moorhens, a couple of Mute Swans (one adult and a grown cygnet), a couple of Little Grebes, a Little Egret and a Mallard. In the reeds were Blue Tits, I am not sure what they were feeding on, probably insects.

I put the R6 Mk II on to the 500mm lens, plus the 1.4x extender, to make it 700mm rather than use the 5D Mk III as I felt that it would be better in the poor light, with the inevitable higher ISOs that would result.

Click for largest image.

R6 Mk II, 500mm f/4 L IS and 1.4x extender (iPhone photo)

In the hide (iPhone)

View from the hide looking south (iPhone)

On the way back to the car, I saw a couple of Goldfinches on teasels nearby. Firing off a few shots yielded a couple that were not bad at all, I didn't expect much as I was hand holding the big lens.

After Seaview I went to Culver to see what was there. Not a lot, as it turned out. but I did manage to get a reasonable photo of one of the many Stonechats present.

Behind a substantial-looking electric fence were the local sheep which the National Trust keep on the down to keep the grass and shrubs at bay.

Yarmouth

On the way back from Farringford, we went to Yarmouth to see what birds were about on the river. While approaching Yarmouth from Thorley Road, a female Marsh Harrier flew low across the road. Typical when I'm in the car and can't take a picture. Cracking views though.

The tide was high and still rising and a lot of birds were present on the little islands, including Teal, Widgeon, Canada Geese, Cormorants, Oystercatchers, Lapwings and gulls.

The sun was harsh and you are shooting into the light, so conditions weren't ideal; also as it was very warm, around 18C, the dreaded heat haze was present.

Canon R7 with Canon RF 200-800mm lens.

The (or 'a') Marsh Harrier appeared, across the other side of the creek opposite the old station, towards Wilmingham Lane. It was too far away for a decent shot (and, again, the heat haze was bad) so I went for 'bird in its environment' shots instead.

Robins were singing from the tops of shrubs

Walking back to the car park, a Redshank was close to the path. It was searching for morsels in the mud and took no notice of me.

Farringford

A complete change of scene, with a visit to Farringford gardens near Freshwater. There wasn't much in the way of fungi, but there was a nice blackening waxcap and a cute little gathering of shaggy inkcaps (a.k.a. lawyers' wigs). The Farringford house and grounds was owned by Alfred, Lord Tennyson for around four decades and the nearby Tennyson Down was named after him, with a monument built on top.

Canon R6 Mk II and Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS macro lens. Click for largest images.

Blackening Waxcap

Blackening Waxcap (the other side)

Shaggy Ink Caps (at f/2.8)

Shaggy Ink Caps (at f/11)

No idea what these are (stack of four images)

 

Back at Osborne House

More focus stacking, at Osborne House this time. Results were mixed, again, but better than previously. This is an excellent year for fungi, as we have had a wet summer and the autumn, so far has been wet and warm.

The camera will stack photos for you, if you set it to, but I have found that it isn't very good at it and you end up with some 'interesting' results, so I stack them in Photoshop.

Canon R6 Mk II with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 IS macro lens. As usual, click for best image.

Slimy Waxcap (Gliophorus irrigatus)

 

Seaview

A visit to Seaview and Hersey NR at high tide. High tide, especially just after high tide, is a good time to photograph shore birds. There wasn't much about but there were some turnstones, a rock pipit and the usual gulls.

I took some photos from the sea wall but also from among the rocks to get down lower although my knees weren't too keen on the latter.

Click on each one for the largest size and better quality.

Rock Pipit with Canon 5D Mk III and Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS

Turnstone with Canon R7 and Canon RF 200-800mm zoom

Turnstone with Canon R7 and Canon RF 200-800mm zoom

Turnstone with Canon 5D Mk III and Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS

Turnstones with Canon R7 and Canon RF 200-800mm zoom

Just across from the pay and display parking area is the little nature reserve of Hersey. The hide is often open during the day although the light isn't great as it faces south so you are taking photos into the sun.

Little Grebe (Canon R7 with RF 200-800mm)

Little Egret (Canon R7 with RF 200-800mm)

Grey

Contrary to the forecast - again - it was overcast. The light went from merely bad to shockingly bad as the afternoon went on. I am convinced that 2024 has been cloudier than normal.

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, spring being the other, but the declining light levels and deteriorating weather make it a bit depressing sometimes. Therefore leaving the house is a priority, especially as my time off is rapidly coming to an end and I go back to work on Friday.

I went to St Helens Duver, an area of sand dunes, and Bembridge Harbour to try out a Canon R7 that, on a whim and against my better judgement, I bought in Currys last week. I put the 200-800 on it which, with the crop sensor of the R7, gives ridiculous reach equivalent to 320-1280mm. It doesn't physically change the lens' focal length of course, but the subject will cover a larger area due to the smaller sensor.

All photos were taken with this camera and lens, apart from one of a friendly Jackdaw which was taken with my 5D Mk III and 500 f/4 L IS prime lens.

Click on each photo to see the largest size.

Carrion Crows with a dead rabbit in the car park

Jackdaw with 5D Mk III and 500mm f/4 L IS lens

The photos would definitely have benefitted from a dose of sunshine but aren't too bad. I was initially unimpressed when I looked at them in Lightroom but, once imported into Photoshop, looked massively improved.

I had the camera set to cRaw which is a lossy Raw file and recommended by more than one person on YouTube but, as I've found out, neither Lightroom nor Photoshop's AI Denoise functions work with it. I'll go back to using Raw instead as my attempts at manually removing or reducing noise leave a lot to be desired. People are scared of AI, it seems, but - used correctly - it is a great tool. If it makes life easier, then it's all good.

Foibles aside, the R7 is a decent camera and a good addition to one's equipment alongside a full frame device. I think I'll offload the 5D Mk III at some point, even though I'll keep the 500mm, as I need cash for a photography trip to Skomer that I have booked for May 2025 with Nature's Lens.