Tag Archives: photography

A first visit to Stodmarsh NNR, Kent

May 1, 2013 by Toby Houlton | 0 Comments

I’ve made a small vow this year to travel to some of the reserves that take a little longer to get to and made a start by heading to Stodmarsh, just outside Canterbury. Considering this was early April, spring hadn’t yet bothered to show up and the car dashboard was telling me it was -4.5 degrees on the drive over at 5am. A chilly but beautiful sunny day found us arriving and taking our (my wife Maria also came along) first steps on the reserve. I have to say I was really impressed. So many opportunities await in this place. The reserve sits on the flood plain of the river Great Stour and is a huge reedbed interspersed with a few woody areas. There are a few hides to visit and a lovely walk right round the valley that takes you through the reedbed.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1250s, f5.6, ISO320, -0.3EV, 1.4 Converter

We chose to visit the closest (Reedbed) hide which overlooks a lovely shallow lagoon. We could straight away see a Great Crested Grebe fishing in the shallow water, a bird which I can’t help but try to get images of –

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceos cristatus)

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1250s, f5.6, ISO320, -0.3EV, 1.4 Converter

This bird was hunted for fashion reasons in the past, almost to extinction in this country, but thankfully now is a familiar site.

We also had great views of a Marsh Harrier flying low over the reedbed, it wasn’t particularly close but I think this image helps to show the amazing habitat –

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600s, f5, ISO320

We had heard that a Penduline Tit had been showing quite well but despite getting directions we couldn’t see where it was meant to be. I did find some other fantastic locations that looked likely given the number of bullrush seedheads but no bird. We then chose to walk around the reserve, through the reedbed and were treated to view of Bearded Tits (no photos this time!) giving away their location with pinging calls that carried well in the stillness. Definitely a place to try again for this species. We also spotted more Harriers ( no surprise given this location) and a Water rail zipped across the path. Finding ourselves at the Marsh Hide, a quick glance inside showed it to be very busy (even though it was very early still) so I decided to give it a miss. It wasn’t until i’d taken a few steps away that I realised that all the lenses were pointing in the same direction and it clicked that something of interest must be about. I could just about see over the reeds and spotted a very big grey bird in the distance which turned out to be a Crane, the first time I’ve ever seen one. I decided I had to try and get a couple of shots, even just a record shot would do, I just couldn’t pass it up. I popped on the 1.4 converter to get the extra reach and managed to find a little space with which to get a better view and a few snaps.

Crane (Grus grus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1000s, f5.6, ISO200, -0.3EV, 1.4x converter

Although this is a BIG bird, much larger than a Grey heron, it was a long way off so I’m really pleased with the images I managed.

Continuing our walk we ended up following the path right round through the reedbed, across some fields and back along the riverside. The woodlands where the path bends back towards where we started held lots of small birds and it was a bonus to spot a few Bullfinches moving around. I also saw my first chiffchaffs of the year. I did get some images but they were instant deletes, these birds don’t sit still for a second and I dodn’t get any I liked. Still good to see though. We ended up passing the tower hide, a hide that is much higher as the name suggests and overlooks a large expanse of water. I didn’t go in here but would think that it would be good in the winter for wildfowl. I nipped back in to the reedbed hide before leaving and managed a few last shots –

Teal (Anas crecca) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1000s, f5, ISO200, -0.3ev

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600s, f4.5, ISO320, -0.3EV

Definitely a place I’d like to go back to. If you are interested you can find information HERE

Posted in Birds, Photography, Wildlife Photography Also tagged Crane, Great Crested Grebe, Marsh Harrier, nature, Stodmarsh, wildlife |

Park Life…

April 23, 2013 by Toby Houlton | 0 Comments

I have to admit that I would be the first to overlook photography opportunities in a local park, preferring to be out in the middle of nowhere. However they can often be a great source of subjects which are often habituated to people and are an excellent way to practice techniques on subjects that aren’t going to be really flighty. The added bonus and the main draw for me is the heronry in the middle of the lake, one which has been used year after year and yet I’ve never actually made the short trip to see them.

The weather hasn’t been too kind up to easter so when the forecast for easter sunday was for a glimpse of sun I jumped at the chance to get out with the camera and an early trip to the park was planned.

The potential is instantly obvious – corvids all over the place and far from shy, plenty of wildfowl on the lake and always doing something interesting and the herons of course. On this morning there was one busy bird that was gathering material for the nest.

Starting with the corvids – I just had to make the most of being able to get some close up details

Rook (Corvus frugilegus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/800, F5, ISO 400, VR ON

Whenever you see these birds in the countryside they always seem really timid, not surprising when you realise they are often shot as pests. It’s also easy to think that they are “just” black birds whereas when you have a chance to study them in the sun amazing blues and purples come through too. I’ve always been fascinated by that beak so had to get a shot of that frightening tool –

Rook (Corvus frugilegus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/800, F5, ISO 400, VR ON

It’s clear to see the differences between a crow and a rook with these two images.

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/800, f4.5, ISO400, VR ON

Finally for some reason the Jackdaws were playing hard to get – here’s an image for comparison –

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/800s, F5, ISO400, VR ON

The main draw of the park for me was the heronry. Often quite skittish birds when seen in open countryside, this was an opportunity to get some flight shots and behaviour I hadn’t previously seen.

Start with a preen and cleen