Turnstone and Black-headed Gull

Two more edited shots from the weekend before last, when some glorious – if fickle – light was available.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,000th sec, f/8, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/500th sec, f/8, 400mm at ISO 400

Distance to subject: c 7m

Common Gull

This Common Gull is one for Toffeeapple, who is often among the first to post a comment and always has something nice to say...

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/250th sec, f/6.4, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Trio of Turnstones

Such was the quality of light over the weekend here on the North Norfolk coast, it was possible for the first time in a while to drop down the ISO. The result, of course, is cleaner images with far less noise.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/250th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Common Gull

Lovely tonal values in this shot, I think.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/160th sec, f/6.4, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Cock Pheasant

It's interesting, isn't it, how this Chinese import has come to be so emblematic of the British countryside.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/2,000th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at IDSO 640. Dostance to subject: > 20m

Black-headed Gulls (with attitude)

A quartet of shots showing just how vocal and animated Black-headed Gulls can be when staking out a claim to a patch of ground.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,000th sec, f/8, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/160th sec, f/6.4, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/125th sec, f/6.4, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,000th sec, f/8, 400mm at ISO 250. Distance to subject: c 5m

Snow Buntings (abstract)

Technically there was little to recommend this shot when I called it on to the screen, but I did like the way the birds have been caught against a bright sky and there is something about their Arctic homeland in the feel of the shot.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/320th sec, f/6.4, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: > 15m

Curlew

Another image shot in RAW, converted to an 8-bit Tiff file and then levels adjusted before applying a 7% blue filter to counteract any yellowing of the 'monochromes'.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/200th sec, f/7, 400mm at ISO 640. Monopod. Distance to subject: c 4m

Red Squirrel

In pretty gloomy conditions neither of these images – both of captive individuals – should have worked (1/85th sec is way too slow for predictable results at a focal length of 400mm) but what they lack in sharpness they more than make up for in their sense of intimacy. The key, I think, with captive animals is to compose the shot in such a way that the setting appears as natural as possible, paying as much attention to the background as, for example, to what the animal is doing. I do think both of these images look as if they may have been captured in the wild. Also, if you have to shoot through the wire mesh of an enclosure (as I did here), get the front of the lens as close as possible without the risk of scratching the glass and ensure it is absolutely flat to the fencing. That way, the wire strands will virtually disappear, too close to register in any intrusive way.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/85th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: c 4m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/85th sec, f/5.6, 370mm at ISO 640. Distance to subject: c 3.5m

Female Bearded Tit / Reedling

Another Bearded Tit from the weekend, this one a rather dainty female.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/160th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 640. Distance: c 6m

Bearded Tit/Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)

For a short spell today in North Norfolk – between skies leaden with rain showers and then later near gale-force winds – there was the most glorious light. This brace of shots of a male Bearded Tit emerging from the shadows of the reed beds into a shaft of sunlight were the highlight of a wonderful afternoon at the Pensthorpe nature reserve.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/400th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 640. Distance: c 6m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/400th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 640. Distance: c 6m

Common Gull (Larus canus) monochrome

A simple enough shot, but I like the sense of a bird utterly at home in its watery world. The images were created by adjusting the levels first in CMYK and then again having converted to mono. Each was then given a 6% LBB colour filter to cool down the low colour temperature, which can result in yellowish monochromes.

Canon 1Ds Mk II, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,600th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400

Canon 1Ds Mk II, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,600th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Such a common bird, but nevertheless one of my favourites. The matching beak and legs are very handsome, together the white and grey are striking and – because it's fearless and happy to make a nuisance of itself – It's always such good value for wildlife photographers. This one had just scared off a group of Snow Buntings.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/800th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: c 5m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/800th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: c 5m

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Two more Turnstones from a recent trip to Salthouse beach just a few minutes from home in North Norfolk. Interestingly, according to the BTO, the Turnstone – which can flip over stones of almost its own body weight – has been recorded feeding on a variety of food sources, including birds' eggs, chips and even carrion.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/500th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: < 4m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/400th sec, f/9, 400mm at ISO 200. Distance to subject: < 6m

Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis)

North Norfolk is blessed with regular visits from Snow Buntings and these were part of a flock of around 35 individuals which would fly off in unison when disturbed, normally by a Little Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull or human walker. When they did so, they would form a loosely knit ball and would circle overhead until assessing that the coast (literally) was clear. In summer in the Arctic, the birds have white heads and underparts; here, in autumn/winter plumage they have a much more sandy hue. According to the RSPB, they are a scarce breeding species in the UK, placing them on the Amber list.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/500th sec, f/6.3, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: c 7m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,000th sec, f/9, 400mm at ISO 640. Distance to subject: c 7m

Sitting pretty

I know it's not an emotion of which they are capable, but this pair of ducks seemed perfectly content, tucked up in the grass together, their work for the day just about done.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/2,000th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 320. Distance to subject: < 5m

Little Gull (Larus minutus)

Sympathetic colours and an interesting perch make this shot of an adult Little Gull in winter plumage.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/2,700th sec, f/10, 400mm at ISO 500. Distance to subject: c 5m

Thistle head macro

Proof if it were needed that beauty lies in some unlikely places. The head of a thistle shot with the afternoon sun just starting to dip below the horizon. The 'golden hour' in miniature.

Canon 350D, Canon EFS 60mm f/2.8 macro USM, 1/125th sec, f/2.8, 60mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: < 25cm

Black-headed Gull & Turnstone

Two more edited shots from yesterday lunchtime's hour spent on the beach at Salthouse in North Norfolk, just along from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's visitors' centre at Cley Marshes.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/250th sec, f/14, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: > 5m

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/200th sec, f/13, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: < 4m

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

A trio of Turnstones – one of the shots designed to show just how effective their camouflage is – from 30 minutes spent on the beach this lunchtime.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/200th sec, f/13, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: 4m 

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/200th sec, f/8, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: 4m 

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/400th sec, f/11, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: 4m