A little fall at St Mary's
For the last few days we’ve had damp-to-wet, mild conditions with a decent Easterly wind – perfect Autumn fall1 conditions – so despite the predictably crappy forecast (thick low grey cloud – and the forecast was depressingly accurate as it turned out) my buddy Mark Mowbray and I decided to spend a few hours from midday, casting an eye over some of the local venues in the hope that we might find a bird or two to shoot.
There had already been reports of interesting birds in the vicinity – Dusky Warbler and Great Grey Shrike at Tynemouth, Red Breasted Flycatcher and Red Flanked Bluetail at St Mary’s, Barred Warbler at Newbiggin, Yellow Browed Warbler at Blyth and more – all good, typical Autumn stuff, and all birds I’d be very happy to photograph.
We arrived at the car park at New Hartley at just after 12:30 and started a slow “birder’s stroll” (nothing in nature moves more slowly than a birder looking for something interesting to ogle!) along the path towards the first of the old “shooting butts” – a quick look at the shrubs and then on towards the wetland, was the plan…
We didn’t get far: within a couple of minutes we’d seen a tiny little something flitting between the branches of the Sloe bushes… then another something… then another.
Goldcrests – and a good few of ‘em.
I was delighted: one of my favourite birds by far, and – if the decent numbers in front of us were anything to go by – there’d been a bit of a fall.
No real photo opportunities though, and the birds eventually flitted (it’s the only word for Goldcrests!) to the next butt…
...Where they joined – and were joined by – more and more of the little gems. It had the makings of a proper event, rather than the generous handful I’d initially imagined.
There were other birds too: Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were hawking small insects from above the shrubs (as an aside, the number of insects about were good news for the survival prospects of these birds and the Goldies); and increasing numbers of Redwing were flying in over the sea and landing all around.
By the time we’d reached the wetland there were birds in every bush – Redpoll in the Willows, the Bluetail was still about, a handsome – and delightfully approachable – male Siskin, Garden Warbler, Barred Warbler, Redstart... Just what a birder wants to see.
But the weather was exactly not what a photographer wants to see – it was so heavily overcast that of the following images, not one is under 1600 ISO, and some – like the Willow Warbler – are 2000 ISO. It doesn’t matter that the 7D can do high ISOs (and it can), the nature of the light makes images look flat, grubby and generally grotty. You can recover some lost ground in conversion and PP, but it’s not the same as having good light to start with.
Still, these look OK, I reckon.
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
As I said, there were other birds about too:
Willow Warbler
Siskin
Siskin
Siskin
Siskin
If I’m honest, I’m not hugely happy with the Siskin images. It’s not just because they’re at 2000 ISO, they just lack something to my eyes – but hey, this is the first time I’ve had a Siskin anywhere near my camera and these are full frame, near as makes no difference, so it’d be rude not to!
Every available part of my anatomy is currently crossed in the hope that there’s a repeat performance and some light next weekend!
1 When weather and bird movements on the continent combine to force (hopefully large) numbers of birds across the North Sea onto the East coast, you’ve got a “fall” of migrants.
Cracking stuff Keith, love the Goldcrest images! I think the one on the Rosehip is my favourite.
Very kind of you, Mark – it means a lot coming from you.
Funny though – the rosehip image doesn’t really do it for me. I like the intimacy of some of the others, and – on balance – I think the first one’s my favourite, if only because of the BG, which I think adds some interest.
I wish there’d been some light, though!
It also has to be said that I wouldn't be as blasé about 1600 and 2000 ISO bird photography if it wasn't for Lr 3...
Some good shots here. It would be better to edit out the poor ones though – some of the vegetation spoils the goldcrest images, and the siskin ones are a bit soft.
Keith,
You’ve got some very nice images here. I have to agree with Mark W about your goldcrest pics some very nice images all in natural settings too.
One thing that puzzles me though is photoman’s comments, goldcrests like dense foliage and pics are so much better when they are showing the birds natural behaviour and settings. There’s nothing worse than a bird out of its natural environment in my opinion.
I also find it strange that he comments on your siskin images too when you’ve already stated in your post that you aren’t too happy with them – quote “If I’m honest, I’m not hugely happy with the Siskin images.”
It would be nice to see if photoman has any better images himself – its easy to criticise when you hide behind an alias.
Enough of my rant – I think you did great considering how poor the light and weather was on our day out. That siskin has to be one if my highlights of 2010 its not often you get within a couple of meters of siskin without hides etc.
Thanks for the comments, Photoman.
I’m afraid I can’t really agree with you about the vegetation in the Goldcrest images – as Mark suggests, that’s what Goldcrests are about – and speaking personally I feel the foliage in these shots adds context and character to the images that’d be lost without it.
Still, to each their own!
And yes, the Siskins are just a record of a remarkably confiding bird, rather than great images: being six feet from the bird (getting close to being too close for the lens to focus on) was a bit special.
I guess it’s worth repeating that I’m a birder with a camera rather than a photographer who happens to photograph birds, and I’ve always said that I intend to be honest with this site and post the not-so-good along with the good: nobody I know gets only brilliant images every time out, and I think it’s helpful to let visitors see that we all have to take what we can get, sometimes.
I never would have guessed ISO 1600 and up. If anyone had asked me I’d say no higher than 400. That is impressive. Your post work is excellent.
I can take little credit really, John – it’s just a case of making sensible choices of camera and software, and spending some time working out how to get the best out of them.
Considering the lack of light, I’d say your shots are awesome and at 1600, whoa.
I’m your opposite, a birder who equally likes photography. I shot with a Pano FZ 100 and am happy with my results. Not as fine as yours, take that as not even close, but these old tired eyes they are good.
regards
Bob
Watch out, out there, it’s a New World we live in!