Some recent images in Cornwall

Below are some images taken over the last month around the county.  There's been some gaps in the blog posts recently, mainly because of being busy at work and some family things which take up time.  Plus it's dark in the mornings and evenings so sadly my hobby has taken a back seat!  Anyway, these shots below are a round-up of what activity there has been:

Whooper Swan at Helston boating lake - Jan 2013 - calling continuously

 

 

 

Golden Plover at Colliford, part of a flock of 50 feeding in the fields by Dozmary Pool.

 

 

Firecrest at Helston Sewerage Works. A Siberian Chiffchaff was also present but I couldn't get the right shot. Try again some sometime!

 

Black-necked Grebe at Newlyn Jan 2013. One of my favourite images of this long-stayer in the harbour.

 

Chiffchaff at Swanvale - quite a pale bird but the buff flanks rule out Siberian.



Male Black Redstart at Portscatho harbour - this individual has been wintering here.

Female Black Redstart at St Gothians

Today is the first day for over three months that I have been able use my 600 f/4.  The wrist plaster is off and for once I can feel some strength in my arm.  I had forgotten how heavy this beast of a lens actually weighs.  Once on the gimbal you soon forget that and concentrate on the subject in hand - this time an obliging Black Redstart in perfect early morning sunshine.

EXIF Detail: Aperture Priority: Ap F/6.3.  Shutter 1/160s.  Exposure -0.7EV.  ISO 125.  White Balance: Cloudy. Focal length 600mm. Tripod mounted.

Male Black Redstart

Black Redstarts seem to like the rotting seaweed on Cornish beaches and this male was no exception. Their natural dark colour blends well with the black seaweed but is a nightmare for a decent image! That said, this will be the last posting of Black Redstart images this season. The three birds in the Little London area have given me enough of a runaround this winter. All three images have been cropped 50%.

Wintering Black Redstart

Black Redstarts are regular winter visitors in Cornwall and can usually be found near rotting sea weed, where food is plentiful. Two birds were seen today on the beach at Marazion.

A morning on a Cornish beach

A stunning day and a photographer's dream...no wind, no rain, just intense, low sunshine behind you. Perfect. I spent four hours in and around Marazion and Little London beaches. 350 shots later, I was more than pleased with the mornings haul. Nothing rare but some very photogenic birds. Given the bright conditions, the all-important shutter speed was naturally high, sometimes up to 2000th second. Aperture was set to f/9. ISO was set to 250. Exposure -0.3 . WB changed to Sunshine. The camera was used in FX Full Frame mode and I used the 1.7x TC with the 600mm F/4 lens thus equating to about 1000mm focal length.