Tag Archives: rook

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 portrait

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 –

Close up of a rook head and beak

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.

crow eating peanuts

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 portrait

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

Grey Heron preening

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600, F5, ISO400

Off we go!

Grey Heron takes off from the nest

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600, F5, ISO400

Going down

 

Grey Heron in flight

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600, F5, ISO400

Grab the right looking stick!

 

Heron carrying nesting material

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600, F5, ISO400

Weave it in to the nest

 

Grey Heron building nest

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm, 1/1600, F5, ISO400

Hope you enjoyed the images, looking forward to visiting when little herons might also be peeking over the nest.

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Siskin bonanza at Feathers Birdcare

March 10, 2013 by Toby Houlton | 0 Comments

The winter of 2012/2013 does seem to have been really good for Siskins and what better place to try to get some images than at Feathers Birdcare in Salehurst, Sussex. They have reported large flocks hitting the feeders hard and this seemed a good opportunity to attempt some shots of these lovely little finches.

Mist and cloud wasn’t exactly what I had in mind weatherwise and as these little birds don’t exactly sit still very often it would be a test to get some sharp shots. The tip of the day seemed to be to wait until the bravest birds came down to feed which then triggered a mini avian avalanche as the floodgates opened for the rest to follow. Similar to Goldfinches, these birds seem quite argumentative and with places at the feeder closely guarded other birds were queueing up on nearby perches waiting for their chance to feed and this was the best opportunity for photographs.

Female Siskin - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4.5 @ISO400, VR ON

Female Siskin – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4.5 @ISO400, VR ON

Male Siskin (Carduelis spinus) - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm F4, 1/250, f4.5 @ ISO400, VR ON

Male Siskin (Carduelis spinus) – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm F4, 1/250, f4.5 @ ISO400, VR ON

Female Siskin - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm F4, 1/250s, f4.5 @ISO400, VR ON

Female Siskin – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm F4, 1/250s, f4.5 @ISO400, VR ON

 

Aggressive Siskin

Aggressive Siskin

Beautiful male Siskin - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4.5 @ISO400, VR ON

Beautiful male Siskin – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4.5 @ISO400, VR ON

In addition to the Siskins there were of course all the normal birds you would expect to see. It was however one unusual visitor that caught my attention. Rooks were feeding in the field behind and decided they would take a look at the feeders. Everyone knows that these birds are very resourceful so I wasn’t surprised to see one “doing a fruitbat” hanging upside down on a feeder and managing to get a beak full of sunflower hearts for it’s troubles. A lovely looking bird and worth a few images. You would be forgiven for thinking these birds are pretty much black in colour. The following images would hopefully make you reconsider.

Rook portrait - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4 @ISO400, VR ON

Rook portrait – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4 @ISO400, VR ON

 

Rook portrait - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4 @ISO400, VR ON

Rook portrait – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4 @ISO400, VR ON

Rook portrait - Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4 @ISO400, VR ON

Rook portrait – Nikon D300 with Nikon 500mm f4, 1/250s, f4 @ISO400, VR ON

 

 

Posted in Birds, Feathers Birdcare, Photography, Wildlife Photography Also tagged , |