In praise of the 'Nearly' pictures.

I've been spending a lot of hours in a wildlife hide. First of all just enjoying being close to a beautiful Kingfisher and taking pictures of it on a perch. 

But now it's time to try for a more ambitious picture and this weekend saw some really near misses. But the Kingfisher either just skirted the focus zone or was going in the wrong direction. But it's great to get some blurry visualisations of the picture I'm after and confirms it's worthwhile to continue and try harder.

Hopefully more luck next weekend and also some more sunshine. The second set of pictures were shot at a really high iso.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. In flight, but not in the focus zone.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. In flight, but not in the focus zone.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. In flight but going the wrong direction.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. In flight, but not quite in the focus zone.

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. In flight, but not quite in the focus zone.

Wagtail

Wagtail and some more infrared

Hedgehog - Erinaceus europaeus

Hedgehog - Many thanks to Joyce who can get up to 3 Hedgehogs a night into her back garden. Really wonderful little creature !

Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer -Emberiza citronella

Badgers

Badger - Meles meles

Black Bear - Ursus americanus, Anan Creek, Alaska

Black Bear seen at Anan Creek wildlife viewing site. This site is quite close to Wrangell, Alaska and can be reached via boat or float plane. From the shore it is a ten minute walk to the viewing platforms.

More pictures can be seen here: www.davidarmitage.net/Nature/Anan-Creek-Alaska-2013



A Black Bear peers out from the rocks at the rivers edge. Anan Creek.

A Black Bear cub waits for Mum at the rivers edge. Anan Creek.

Badger - black and white

Bagder - Meles Meles

Green Woodpecker

Pays to always have the camera ready ... a Yaffle outside and a Green Woodpecker visits the front path in search of ants. Never before seen in the garden. Focus alas slightly infront of the eye ... lets hope there's another visit in the future !

Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis

Summer meadows and Badgers in the grasses

Real combination of equipment this week. Badgers photographed with the 300mm on the D800E. The meadow pictured with the Samyang 14mm (uncorrected in post) and the 70-200 f4. Finally the Grebe and Nuthatch photographed with the 70-200 mounted on the Nikon v1 via the adapter. A really fun combination albeit hit and miss.

Badgers - out and about.

Twitton - summer.

Click to view a slightly larger version ... the original is a Panoramic stitch with a dimension of 16936 x 11385 px ! Note some stitching work to be done with the cables : )

Twitton, Kent. Summer 2013

Badgers - Meles Meles

Male and Female Woodpecker

The Female is much more nervous and suspicious of the photo hide, so lovely to get a picture and not disturb her.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos major

Much better Woodpecker pictures today !