Recent Greeting Cards

Despite better weather for walking the dogs, there doesn't appear to be much 'on the wing', as happened today. 

Instead of postings from the morning, here are some greeting cards I've recently had printed.

Canada Goose

The weather on Monday morning was horrid, but this morning rather better - less windy, no rain to speak of, some helpful light.

The only image worth keeping was a Canada Goose at the Research Park, taken with a 100-400mm lens with a 1.4 convertor on a Canon 7D - handheld.   Quite a magnification so not much of a crop.

There are pairs of Canada Geese, sometimes displaying.  This one was having a morning ablute.

Sheep - The Cam, Fen Ditton

Certainly the first sheep to have been photographed this year, and probably the last.   I don't know the breed but will spend more time trying to identify it.   I imagine they are bred for wool, and perhaps meat, and the lambs have very woolly legs and the heads of the adults are woolly and rather attractive and characterful, for sheep!   I wonder how rare a breed it might be.   The sheep are in the field adjacent to this well maintained garden.

Wicken Fen - Birds

A glorious morning for a visit to Wicken Fen, and I wasn't alone with the dogs all the time - both Miles and Richard were out with their respective, impressive sets of equiment.   There is increasing bird activity but the birds were at a considerable distance too which made any decent images impossible to come by.   However, the blog is an excellent way of keeping a photographic record of the year.

A Dunnock was in full voice, I think the next two images are of a Hen Harrier but the colouring doesn't seem to be that of either a male or female, then a couple of Buzzards and finally a female Mallard.

Owen's first visit

I had been introduced to Owen back in February but this was his first visit to our home.   What flexibility babies have in their hips (last photograph) at the tender age of 13 weeks!   He was held by his father while adoringly watching his mother!

Milton Country Park

I hadn't been to Milton Country Park for several weeks.   My own fault really as I don't like being told off for not having the dogs on leads in the restricted part of the park!

The birds are busy again, chirping away and seeking a mate.   It was perhaps the most tuneful morning yet this year.   The Long-tailed Tits seem to be pairing now and not in large flocks as they are in the winter.   About 15 Goldfinches were enjoying willow blossom and then the highlight was seeing a Kingfisher in thick vegetation at a distance.   Just have to try and photograph it though....

'Creative' alongside The Cam

I find it difficult capturing decent rowing photographs, and wouldn't risk having a camera in a single scull to produce something different.   I seem to be using quite a lot of slow shutter speeds these days, or panning.   These were taken alongside The Cam on Sunday morning.

'Creative' Swans

Yesterday I saw some lovely photographs of a pair of Mute Swans taken in Kensington Gardens.   Time this morning also to take some Mute Swan photographs but with a different approach.   I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to use a slow shutter speed, on occasion, and create an ethereal impression.

Lazy Otter

The light was variable this morning.   I don't recall seeing such a large flock of Linnet before, although I believe this is a characteristic.   The flock was feeding on rough ground and seemed to take off for no apparent reason, fly round and return.  The male Mallard seemed to have plenty to say!   I have seen juvenile Great Crested Grebes throwing out a leg behind them (without knowing why) but not an adult.

Panning and Heron

I hadn't done any panning for a long while so when walking through Cow Hollow Wood next to Waterbeach Station, the light and absence of wildlife on the wing, lent themselves to having a go.   I think the trees were planted to commemorate the Millenium.   I love the muted pastel colours.

Earlier I had seen a Grey Heron which was in front of a very busy background and converting to monochrome has helped it stand out a bit better.

Random selection of recent images

Just as the title suggests - random images taken recently.  

As March progresses it is exciting finding more and more birds to photograph.   Where were they during colder winter months?   A Goldfinch, a male Reed Bunting, a Black-headed Gull still in winter plummage and a frozen cobweb.

Mothering Sunday flowers

Each Mothering Sunday I'm blessed with flowers and cards from a couple of young women who are not offspring or 'steps'.   These flowers are continuing to give a lot of pleasure.

Dogs seen on recent walks

I went to see if I could photograph the Kingfishers again but they were not in evidence this morning at Bottisham Lock - either by sight or sound.

I enjoy photographing the responses of other dogs on meeting our dogs, often unfamiliar to them, and sometimes with a stretch of water between it and ours, as with the Greyhound.   The Pug isn't allowed off its lead and Saluki, if that is what it is, was out on a run with its owner.   The second photograph of the Saluki makes it look as though it has just the one leg (hence the first photograph of it to confirm it has at least three)!   It actually has four legs.....   The Terrier was to have a hair cut this week sometime.