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.

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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.