Odds & Sods 2023

What a lovely sequence of photos Angus, well done. Hope all the water problems are fixed now?

A message for all but especially for Catlady ... saw this on 'X' & took screenshot for all who are not subscribed

Thanks, SnappyMac. Lots of grins on my face. Got really lucky.

Thanks, BD.

Lens is Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary, at 600mm. Reviews I've read suggest that 600mm is the worse setting for this lens. It produces soft images.

The reviews also point out there is a lot of glass in front of the camera, due to the lens; which means we need lots and lots of sunshine. Quite normal, really, but perhaps more pertinent for a general purpose zoom lens like the Sigma.

The lens was mounted on a monopod (via a quick release attachment, no gimbal), which I keep extended as I walk around. I look like Gandalf; though it's brilliant for walking up and down steep rocky slopes (e.g. Helvellyn) or rocky, boulder strewn coastlines. Also great for bashing down annoying nettles and thistles in the way of one's photography.

Too right about the R7's focusing. I've turned down its sensitivity as much as the camera will allow. Still too sensitive, especially when compared to my old 80D. Move camera/lens half a millimetre and focus changes.

Another issue is all the focusing strategies get in each other's way. You can see the little squares and rectangles pulsing in and out. I have further hovering sequences, which I'll post later on, which would have benefited from me turning off eye tracking.

I guess this is where back button reprogramming would have come into its own. I can turn eye tracking on and off without going through the menu. I must try it out.

Thanks, Catlady.

Water problems fixed. Caused by original builder of house not connecting cistern overflow pipe properly - bodge job, with pipe at angle. The pipe developed a crack over subsequent years, which leaked when the ball cock didn't turn off the water. I had to take the cistern off to replace the syphon, and found that all bolts, connecting plates and screws to attach cistern to pan and wall had rusted. They just disintegrated in my hands!!!!

Local ScrewFix are getting good trade out of me. They should recognise me by now, but sadly their staff turnover is immense, a reflection of the times.

Certainly looks like a spider Angus, wonder why the Kestrel didn't eat it straight away?

That, Wendy, is a really interesting question which I don't have the answer to.

I can understand the Kestrel in SnappyMac superb photo not eating the vole where it caught it. Better to fly off to a safe place where it can't be seen eating it.

But the spider in my photo is more of a swallow straight away job, no tearing off small bits from a large carcass. The Kestrel did not fly to a secluded place to consume the spider. It landed in, if any thing, an even more exposed space.

WendyBartter said:

A message for all but especially for Catlady ... saw this on 'X' & took screenshot for all who are not subscribed

Thanks Wendy, we had an article in our local paper, really good news.

Just a couple of Jackdaws Canoodling on next door's TV aerial ...