AN UNFORTUNATE CAMERA PROBLEM, AND IT STOPPED RAINING-EVENTUALLY, AND THEN WE HAD A LITTLE SUN.

AI decided to have another look for the Short Eared Owls at Lowesby but again had another failure,whilst on site I again met up with another gent with a camera who like me had not seen the birds for several weeks, and he had been visiting every day, I manage once a week. So I headed for the Red Kite village to make the best of a bit of sunshine. On my arrival I quickly had my packed lunch, at the same time, keeping an eye out for the birds. Eventually I got out of the car and picked the D850 and got ready to mount it onto my tripod, I noticed a movement of the lens on the body, which when held firm the lens was moving a reasonable amount , as soon as I started taking some images the camera was struggling in focusing, I however persevered and managed to get some not perfect but reasonable images of these wonderful birds. I have since returned the camera and found that the chrome lens retaining ring had come very loose allowing the lens to wobble about considerably, this has since however been tightened in place and all appears to be good, but I've just got to wait for all the rain to move away and then get out and test the set up.

It was noticeable on this visit that the birds would not come very close at all as on the previou visit  and I would estimate that for most of the images the Kites were in excess of 200 metres away. in fact for some they were over 300 metres away, not easy with a camera that was struggling to focus .

Red Kite over Main Village area.

The following images are taken from several locations around the village, the first time I have followed the birds so much but it put me amongst a much larger number of birds , where ever I looked birds were circling and chasing, superb to see and watch.

This pair were circling in the middle of the village , near to the feeding area.

Several birds were circling together but no sign of aggression, may be different when the food is out.

Another bird with wing tags , a Midland  bred bird.

So many birds were circling in pairs

This image is taken over the area where the birds are fed.

Little Owl Site No. 6.

This is the only site I have seen a bird at for a  considerable time, where have they all gone ??

Dunnock, Eye brook Reservoir.

Several feeding on the ground where some body had thrown some seed delightful little bird.

Thank you for your visit, I hope its not been spoiled by my camera problems.



Ihope for my next post, the camera and lens are behaving and all is well.

ANOTHER VISIT WITH THE RED KITES.

I decided for  my afternoon out to have another visit to see the Red Kites with a stop off on route to check on the Short Eared Owls, again unfortunately I saw none, I did how ever see  a single bird last week, so to date I have had seven visits and seen up to three birds on four occasions, I will get some images yet. So after a quick visit I got under way  to the Red Kites which are not far away from Eyebrook  Reservoir so on arrival I parked in my usual gateway an had my packed lunch, all the while reaching for a camera  as a continuous stream of birds approached, this visit I  had taken both my cameras, the D810 & D 850, I still find the D850 with my large lens very heavy but its getting easier, so after about an hour in my gateway I decided to try a second gate as the light was not  that good, I had a little sun for a short time but then the clouds returned, we always have something to complain about light wise. I had a most enjoyable afternoon, its fascinating to watch these birds .

Red Kite, Near to area where they are being fed.

This image taken with the D810 and Sigma 50 - 500 lens out the car window , the birds appeared to come closer if I stayed in the car.

These images are all separate birds, as about a dozen flew into the area. D810 again.

More  birds arriving.

On having a recount I think these add up to about 19 new arrivals,  this carried on for most of the afternoon not continuous  but reasonably regular. D810.

Some of the above arrivals came that little bit closer. D850.

I decided at this time to get out of the car,, I still find the D850 with the large lens very heavy since my stroke, I think next time  I will mount then on my tripod, this sat on the back seat of the car, only about a metre away. what a fool.

These birds kept circling around for about half an hour then settled nearer to the feeding area.

You can almost read its mind, " I'm watching you."

All these birds had me firmly spotted but did not appear over bothered by me as in previous visits.

Only theses two birds landed in the tree that was full of them last week.

Starlings in Tree.

Just for a very short time, some Starlings and a thrush suddenly landed in a tree nearby, but soon departed upon seeing all the Red Kites.

 then moved positions to a small country Lane only to find another set of birds arriving, by this time the clouds had returned and the light was getting poor. 

This bird then  appeared in between two trees , so it was a case of point and hope for the best, unfortunately this was all of the bird I managed to get in the frame, it shows the white wing tags  that shows it is a bird tagged in the Midlands. After  this the light got worse so I headed home, but a wonderful afternoon.



Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did in getting the images and being with these beautiful graceful birds