So as you may have gathered from various other posts, I got a new camera and was delayed in taking it for an outing for a while, but last Saturday me and Nikki (Mrs PB isn't best pleased she's named already lol) went to Portland for a wander.
Having previously been very much a lazy photographer, paying little attention to settings... if it was a bird and flying then it was shutter priority and whack it up to somewhere above 1/1000, if it was sitting still it was aperture priority, somewhere about f5.6. I'd discovered damsels like F8 to get the whole body in focus head on, or a bit higher for dragons, as they're a bit longer. And that was it.
Unfortunately, I'd been experimenting Friday evening with the new teeny weeny lens, and I'd changed all sorts of settings. Because I'd slept Friday night, by Saturday morning I'd forgotten about that. Doh!
Most of these shots required far more computer fiddling than I normally do, but I'm looking forward to trying again with better settings, as the low light capabilities are supposed to be very good.
I started at Ferrybridge and there were a lot of Dunlin about
And amongst them 3 or 4 Oystercatchers
There were a couple of Knot about, and also a load of Turnstones, but don't think I got any salvagable images
Lots of Ringed Plover, some of which abandoned the mudflats for the shingle, which surprised me
My first "in-flight" effort
A Little Egret flew in, and proceeded to patrol the shallows
Whilst just a bit back from the water, a White Wagtail played "I'm the king of the castle"
The worst of the problems with my poor setting choices was to become apparent.... Wheatears against a shingly/sandy/scrubby background caused all sorts of focus issues...with my eyes as well as the camera lol
A couple of Wagtails flitted about, I think just to annoy the Wheatears
And then a small flock of the Little Plovers alighted amongst the camouflage
Looking back to the mudflats, more Carrotbills
In the field, in the murk, this looked much darker, and the white looked much whiter (if that makes sense). It was with a small flock, of what I thought were sparrows. Apparently not... Google Lens came up with Twite, the Linnet, then Lesser Redpoll, and after consulting my book, I reckon Linnet.... I think I've only seen them with their breeding red on...
There were maybe half a dozen Wheatear that I spotted
Another look back at the mudflats, with the Little 'Uns as I was headed to the car to head to Portland Bill
Standing proud
On the railing headed to the car park, juvenile Starling, just beginning to show its' spottiness
So I pootled on, to the Bill, and coming down the hill I spotted a Kestrel, so decided my first job would be to walk back up... but I got distracted, by "The Ages of Gull"!
I headed on back up to where I'd seen the Kestrel
And then all of a sudden, a second one appeared, much clumsier, and looking fluffy....youngster!
He caught sight of something, and made good his escape
Something blue caught my eye in the grass... Common I think
I thought at first, first Small Copper of the year, but now think Meadow Brown, with the emphasis on Brown!!
Sparra!
The younger Kestrel decided to tap into the local communications network
Not sure on this one, size was difficult to judge, and I've massively fiddled with the lighting... thrush? pipit (in the area)? stance reminds me of a blackbird?
The older Kestrel decided the quarry was better than the cables
And a juvenile Stonechat felt the same, but kept a distance from it
Heading back down the track toward the cliff top, two dragons caught me eye, within a couple of feet of each other
Rock Pipit.... ... maybe
My old mate, giving me the eye!
Grey Seal, popped it's head up 3 or 4 times, to the delight of the watching folk
Greater Black Backed Gull....
MeadRockOw Pipit!!
Well, there ended the first trip out. Hopefully I'll remember to look at the settings before I start nest time!!
Thanks for reading
Stay Safe All
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Some cracking photos PB, and nice to see the LRP.
As for your thrush/pippet, like you I feel blackbird stance. Taking the thickness of the power cable into count, assuming it was the same cable run as the one the kestrel was on, the bird could be larger than initially thought. But like you, my ID often leaves a lot to be desired.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
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Regards, Hazel
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Lot to learn