It was somewhat overcast today, and it's been drizzling most of the evening. I've been keeping an eye out for foxes but so far no luck (doubtless they'll be having a party as I type this and will vanish in an instant should I go and look). But I did see a badger wander up the garden steps. And yet again I failed to get a picture. I was inside. It was moving quite fast. And by the time I got my wits about me it had gone. One day… I tell myself… one day.
After the excitement of yesterday's deer I have nothing quite so special to report from my lunchtime wanderings, though I did see a sparrowhawk in the distance, and the sudden explosion of pigeons as they flocked in the opposite direction. And then two buzzards came overhead. This is the pick of the shots I managed.
Buzzard – click to enlarge
Camera note: I used the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The shot was taken on aperture priority set at f/7.1. Exposure compensation was +1. This slows the shutter, allowing more light and reducing the risk of the bird becoming a silhouette against the sky. Shutter speed 1/2000s. ISO 800. Focal length 400mm.
Cynthia23
24 Oct 2008Amazing photograph! :up:
Words
24 Oct 2008Thanks. It was good to see them come a bit closer than usual.
SittingFox
25 Oct 2008Great picture – almost worth a whole day's set! Interesting to see it after I was id'ing my rough-legged hawk shot from Waterton – you can really see how closely related these two species are.
As for badgers, well, they're in a class of their own when it comes to British mammals :whistle:
Words
25 Oct 2008Thanks Adele. Yes, they're very similar to the North American hawks. As for badgers, I think they have the touch of the vampire about them… you know, impossible to capture on camera.
UrbanExtension
26 Oct 2008Great picture of the buzzard. Could you let me know how you get such good shots against a bright sky? My bird pictures always end up as nice sky and a black dot… but your pics are brilliantly exposed. Thanks. Jane
UrbanExtension
26 Oct 2008I really should read the comments under the picture… I see you have explained how to get these shots. Thanks. Jane
Words
26 Oct 2008Jane, it depends on how close the bird is but using spot metering I tend to dial in +2/3rd or +1 compensation, ocassionally going up to +2 if I'm photographing into a very bright sky. The risk is that if the bird comes too close (yeh, right) the shutter speed drops right down and you get a close-up blur.
UrbanExtension
31 Oct 2008Thanks for the tips. I'm off to the Florida Keys soon and it's there "hawk" time of year – as hundreds will be migrating down the Keys. So I will test this out. Jane
Words
31 Oct 2008Start of with a small amount of compensation +1/3rds should do unless you're aiming into the brightest part of the sky. Have a good time at the Keys.