A varied week

Last Updated on December 20, 2021 by Kevin Agar

A real mixed week. Went to Littondale for the weekend. Sandra walked to Malham and I walked as far as the waterfall behind the caravan park in the hopes of getting some decent Kestrel shots. Sat for over an hour near to the waterfall but only saw the Kestrel in the distance. On the return walk I disturbed a Roe Deer and got a few shots of it’s bum before it decided to stop and look at me

Roe Deer

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1000 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

I heard a familiar sound as I was walking back and when I looked up I saw the source of the noise, a Spitfire. Not my usual photographic subject but an opportunity too good to miss

Spitfire

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/6400 s. f/8 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

It was a quick grab shot and I wish I’d used a slower shutter speed to give the propeller a bit of motion blur, but it’s better than nothing

There were plenty of Meadow Pipits on the way down the hillside but all too far away to photograph. Going through the farmyard at the bottom of the hill there was a Spotted Flycatcher. I’d seen one in the same place in previous years so they obviously like the area

Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/4 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

Back at the caravan I managed to get a few shots on my perch setup of Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Blue Tit

Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1250 s. f/8 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/7.1 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

Siskin, Carduelis spinus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/7.1 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1600 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

Lesser Redpoll, Carduelis cabaret

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2500 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

On Monday morning I had an early start and went to Adel Dam for 05:15. Things were very quiet at the march hide as the Sparrow Hawk went through so I proceeded to the lake hide. Again it was very quiet so resorted to photographing the flowers until a fox came to the waters edge and the ducks started quacking to let it know they’d seen it.

Honeysuckle

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/60 s. f/8 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

Fox

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/400 s. f/5.6 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

Nothing else at the lake other than a lot of Mallard with ducklings and a few Mandarin ducks, so returned to the marsh hide and met up with Clive. Light was very poor as it was a clear blue sky and the sun was directly in front but did manage a few shots of the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/320 s. f/5.6 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

Decided to return to the lake hide and now there was a Heron fishing on the far side of the lake. Watched it fishing and catching a few sticklebacks before it flew to the island in the middle and caught a duckling. It happened so quickly the duckling didn’t stand a chance. Mother nature is very cruel but it’s all part of the food chain.

The regal