The last few weeks

Although I’m not a huge fan of the ‘dear diary’ type blog posts, I figured as it’s been a quiet month and with a week without Internet access coming up on the Isle of Mull, I’d update you all with what’s been going on these past few weeks.

1. Discovering a pair of Kingfishers 100 meters from my front door
2. Purchase of a Wimberley MKII and Gitzo 5541
3. Photographing stock shots of local species
4. A quick trip to the Great Bustard reintroduction programme
5. Preparing for the Isle of Mull

Kingfishers, on my doorstep!
Yep, that’s right! Despite living in London and my local park mainly being used for dog walkers and kids playing football, it turns out there are a pair of Kingfishers living on the small pond! I went down to try and spot them the other day, and within 10 minutes there they were (well one of them). Good news, if I can work out how to get the most out of the location that is!

New tripod
Yup, I finally replaced my ageing (and borrowed!) Manfrotto setup with a Wimberley MKII and Gitzo 5541 carbon fibre tripod. I’m looking forward to putting them through their paces in Scotland – keep an eye out for reviews coming soon…

Stock photo’s
With what little time I have had recently to go out with the camera, I’ve been concentrating on getting shots of the species I see all the time but usually ignore, because of that fact. It’s silly, but even the most seemingly mundane subject can produce a nice image in the right circumstances so I’m trying to not take them for granted anymore – like the Jackdaw shot above. A bird that is very skittish and so common in my local park I usually pay them no attention, but by spending some time with them on this occasion, just before sunset on an overcast evening, I was able to get some nice images of them.

Great Bustards and Pied Wagtails
I paid a visit the Great Bustard reintroduction projectburried deep within the Wiltshire countryside, with fellow photographer Nick Lewis. Our guide for the visit was founder and director of the project, David Waters – a very nice man with a huge passion for the GB and very informative too. No GB’s displaying on this occasion but I’ll be back again later in the year. I did manage my first Pied Wagtail shots though, whilst eating lunch after the tour of the GB facility.

Preparing for the Isle of Mull
Camera cleaned, batteries and accessories packed, warm, cold and wet weather clothing on standby! It’s that time of year again for the annual trip to the Scottish Highlands with my good friends and fellow photographer Colin Pickett. This will be our fourth year visiting and every year we seem to have more equipment than the previous year…this year being no exception, with a secret weapon in our ranks…more details on that when I return, if it was successful!

So, with no Internet access for the coming week ahead, I bid you all happy shooting…