Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

[mikep]

Hi

The last day of my 4 day trip was somewhat disappointing - almost constant rain and overcast - tricky light for my kit and experience... however...

Quite liked watching this Grey Heron going about his stealthy business!

Heron stalking by mikep_eos, on Flickr

First time I've seen Black Tailed Godwits... and this Greylag Goose crashed the party!

Greylag Goose and Black Tailed Godwits by mikep_eos, on Flickr

and I finally had a closer encounter with some Redshank (one of my favourite birds at the moment - but I don't know why!).

Redshank by mikep_eos, on Flickr

Hope you enjoy the shots! I'll definitely be going back to Slimbridge late autumn / winter, as it's quite a spectacle apparently!

All the best, Mike.

[MX5]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

Mike - thanks for sharing. Sounds like you enjoyed yourself ... apart friom the weather. Still I for one like photos in all weathers (after all most of us live in the UK).

You might want to consider the WWT oop norf (Martin Mere) next time.

[mwphoto]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

The WWT places tend to be best in winter when the geese come back from the arctic - may be snow on the ground, ice on the ponds etc so interesting opps. As MX5 mentions Martin Mere is worth a visit (tho recommend you ignore the 'zoo bit' and use some of the further hides ) the whoopers were there in great numbers last winter and for an example shot have a look here - also lots of ruff about earlier this year here. Andgood numbers of avocet about although they were a bit distant even for the big lens - shot here

Also if you happen to be up in the 'real north' check out Caerlaverock on the Solway (south of Dumfries) - a bit wilder than either Slimbridge or Martin Mere

[davidportwain]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

Lovely shots. I especially liked the goose in the rain. Two questions: 1 please advise what lens you used and 2 please advise about photography in the rain, how did you protect your camera ?

Thanks
David

[mwphoto]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

David - picking up on your second question - I have a total of 4 alternatives for protecting my gear - one of the first two being preferable

1) use a wooden hide on site with seats/windows!
2) use my portable waterproof hide (from Stealth Gear)
3) use a bin liner over the gear (obviously with a hole cut at the lens end!) and a waterproof cover - again from Stealth Gear
4) give up and go home if it gets too bad!

All my gear (1D3 & 4 plus a bunch of L series lenses) is 'weatherproof' but I kind of don't like to rely on that!

Hope this helps

Mark W

[mikep]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

Lovely shots. I especially liked the goose in the rain. Two questions: 1 please advise what lens you used and 2 please advise about photography in the rain, how did you protect your camera ?

Hi David

I was using my 550D, with a Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM (the non L one). To protect my kit when taking shots I used mwphoto's option #1 (I sat in a hide)!
For walking about in the rain, I simply put my camera under my rainproof top!

@MX5 - I do intend visiting ALL the WWT eventually! Living south of London makes the trip oop norf a bit lengthy, so I'll try and combine several things into one trip! As to the weather, I believe in the saying "there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing!".

Cheers all. Mike.

[Hereford_EOS2]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

To protect my kit when taking shots I used mwphoto's option #1 (I sat in a hide)!

Now that answer put a smile on my face, I like it.

[DianaS]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

Love the redshanks with their reflection! So much to see at Slimbridge - I try and stop there en route to grandchildren in Britsol, but often run out of time!! Did you se the otters - could watch them for hours, too!

[Nathaniel]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

Mike, thanks for sharing. I like the Heron pic the best as it shows "stealth". Slimbridge is one of my favourite places to relax and enjoy watching the birds- and to photograph.

[mikep]

Re: Slimbridge WWT - Day 4 of my trip

Thanks Stephen, Di and Nat!

@Di - my closest WWT is Barnes, London, but the Redshanks there are usually quite some distance from the nearest hide! At Slimbridge, they were much closer, so I managed to get quite a few shots, but the light wasn't great and it was raining! Glad you liked them! I actually remembered to try and get the reflection as well this time - I normally forget that bit!

@Nat - I have some other shots of the Heron that have come up really well, but I liked this the best for the same reason you state! I thi.nk Slimbridge is the best WWT I've been to! Big and spread out, but so much to see!

Cheers guys 'n' gal! Mike.