STICKY POST
Wednesday, 26. November 2008, 20:01:00
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Thursday, 2. July 2009, 22:44:32
butterfly, birds
The heat wave continues, and now, pushing midnight, the temperature is still in the lower 70s (20s for those who prefer centigrade). Early morning is the best time of day to be out. It's still relatively cool then, and is certainly favoured by the woodland birds. Such as this cock linnet, which was happily surveying the passing insect life.
LinnetAnother early bird was this vibrant yellowhammer.
YellowhammerAnd even the kestrels were out and about.
KestrelDuring the morning a sparrowhawk flew overhead (I could see it from my window), and the wagtails were hopping along the ornamental pond. But it was the butterflies and corvids that caught my eye at lunchtime. Precious little else was venturing out into the heat. I think these are large whites.
Large whites
Next a photo of one of the many rooks I saw. They were all rather splendid, but this one did me a favour of gliding by at a fairly sedate pace.
RookThis last shot has me puzzled. I saw it in the distance, sticking out of the treetops. Judging size is always difficult, but it just doesn't look right for a crow. Is this a raven?
Raven?Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
Wednesday, 1. July 2009, 23:26:12
dragonfly, foxglove, 3D, Pied Wagtail
Tuesday, 30. June 2009, 22:45:04
boris johnson, goose, gull
Every now and then the camera presents new opportunities. I was in London today, by the Thames, and had spent a few minutes photographing some lesser-black-backed gulls and greylag goslings. I was heading back to the station, when I came across a small pack that roams around London and occasionally pauses en masse. Their prey this time was a relative - and cooperative - newcomer, and one who in recent times has gained unexpected (but possibly short-lived) popularity. It's a blue variety of a more traditional red species.
The press packAs for the object of their attention, it was none other than the Mayor of London, the impossibly blond Boris Johnson. He was launching part of the bid for the 2018 World Cup. Alongside him in this first shot is Simon Greenberg, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Chelsea FC.
The Mayor of LondonNot content with the World Cup, Boris went on to promote "Warm Up Weekend". This is a sports weekend which takes place later this summer as part of the 2012 London Olympic build-up.
As for the wildlife, the lesser-black-backed gulls were prominent today. This one was scavenging along the river shore.
Lesser black backed gullAnd, more unusual, a family of greylags were promenading on the north bank, beneath the Tower of London.
Greylags
GoslingCamera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Monday, 29. June 2009, 23:50:52
woodpecker, thrush, 3D, mortality
...
Most days watching nature is a wonderful affirmation of life, but today brought out the other side of the coin. These first two shots were taken a few minutes apart, early this morning.
The first is a juvenile green woodpecker. It was beneath a building and I suspect a window collision as the cause, though there were no visible signs on the building above.
Just a hundred yards away I came across a second fatality, possibly the result of a fall (it was beneath a tree).
Lunchtime I went in search of more pleasant things, and thought I 'd succeeded with this thrush.
The thrush was quietly feeding along a country lane, but a few seconds after this shot it hopped over the hedgerow into a sunlit field. I stepped across to take a better shot, but before I could even raise the camera a sparrowhawk had dropped from an overhanging tree and with the merest flurry of feather and two muted squeals, it was gone (and so was the thush). It lasted less than 2 seconds from start to finish.
Finally, I'm still working on stereoscopic images. They will improve as I get more practice, and I will almost certainly go cross-eyed in the process. But today's effort is I think an improvement on the butterfly (at least I intended to take this). As before, focus in front of the image (click to enlarge it) and the hedge should pop out into 3 dimensions. It can take a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of seeing them it's quite easy.
click to enlargeCamera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
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