Buzzards (Borde Hill Gardens)

We took a trip out to Borde Hill Gardens in Sussex today despite the continuing lack of sunshine. The gardens were pretty, but not spectacular. As well as a woodland area (where we saw a pair of female pheasants) there's a fishing lake and some interesting garden features. The gardens would no doubt have looked better with some decent light!

Italian Garden at Borde Hill

Garden statue

Lake

As ever though it is the wildlife that catches my eye, and right at the start of our visit we popped into the 'plant sales' area. Overhead I could hear some birds calling. There were three buzzards circling overhead. Two adults and a youngster, judging by size. Bad light is the curse of these moments, a white/grey sky and no sunlight to catch the detail. These needed a fairly extensive rescue job, despite pushing exposure compensation to its maximum.
Common Buzzard

Pair of buzzards

Camera note: Landscapes all taken with the EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens. The buzzards were caught in the EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. gdare

    27 Aug 2008

    I like the garden, despite grey sky 🙂

  2. Words

    27 Aug 2008

    Thanks, Darko. I would just like to see some blue skies. It's been a miserable summer so far, and now it's nearly over 🙁

  3. gdare

    27 Aug 2008

    But I have heard on the news the other day that you will have very nice September,weather like it was supposed to be in August :up:

  4. Words

    27 Aug 2008

    That would be nice! 😀

  5. cakkleberrylane

    27 Aug 2008

    Still – amazing photos! The buzzards in different positions are wonderful!!

  6. Words

    28 Aug 2008

    Thanks Cynthia. It was a nice trip out, and made a change from my usual haunts.

  7. chthoniid

    28 Aug 2008

    Looks like a great place to visit.

    Sometimes an external flash can assist with shooting birds in those circumstances. Of course, you have to be close enough for it to have an effect and be able to trigger the flash at very high shutter speeds.

    It looks like you did a good job processing the shots- not an easy subject to extract detail from.

    And England bet SA in the cricket- there must be smiles all around 🙂

  8. Cynthia23

    28 Aug 2008

    Your photography is always great. It captures the atmosphere of the day perfectly. It looks like it was a great day. YEAH! for us who love your photography. 🙂

  9. Words

    28 Aug 2008

    Brendan, I didn't take the external flash with me on that trip (error!!!), but it wouldn't have helped with the buzzards. They were way too high. I doubt even a 'better beamer' would have helped on those shots. I used the internal flash for the statue shot (but that limits the shutter to 1/250).

    I'm not sure about the cricket though. A South African captain won the match :whistle:

  10. Words

    28 Aug 2008

    Lois, thanks!

  11. SittingFox

    29 Aug 2008

    Wonderful picture of the buzzards displaying :up:

  12. Words

    29 Aug 2008

    Adele, they were only overhead for a minute or so, but great to watch and slightly closer than I'm used to seeing them.

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