Well today was good. You kind of know it's going to be special when the first shot of the day is of a sunlit heron reflected in the stillness of the pond. The early morning colours at this time of the year are just about perfect.
I took plenty of shots of the heron from different angles, and it was while I was busy with the heron that I heard some loud splashing from another part of the pond. A carp was leaping, and it became a game of 'guess where I'll surface'. I watched several leaps where the fish was gone before I could focus (too near, too far, too right, too left) when finally I got my reward. Bang in the centre of the frame and close enough for the camera to grab a focus. This is a shot I've wanted for a long time. The gorgeous light and the reflection are big bonuses!
On a normal day that would have been enough, but things were just as good at lunchtime. First there was a hobby, a small peregrine-like falcon. These are summer visitors and will soon be heading south for the winter. They have distinctive vertical barring, and a reddish rump (both visible in these shots)
One of the local (native) sparrowhawks also put in an appearance, scattering the flocks of house martins.
The midday light isn't as good as early light, but it has its advantages, such as allowing fast shutter speeds when photographing these little devils. Yes, it's time for the rats. It was roughly autumn last year when I started to see them in Regents Park in London, so clearly autumn is a time when they become more visible/active. As with the London rats, the Falmer Pond rats were busy picking out fallen seeds. When I get time I'll put a proper album of the rats together. For now , here's a small selection of today's shots.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
serola
16 Sep 2011WOW! That jumping fish is really a great catch :hat:
fainoantonietta
16 Sep 2011great :star: :star: :star:
Dudley
17 Sep 2011:up: It's great to get a capture like that fish. Great shot!
gdare
17 Sep 2011Jumping carp is excellent. You were on the right place at the right time :cheers:
Words
17 Sep 2011Andy, thanks!
Words
17 Sep 2011Erwin, thanks! I was pleased with the hobby. They are so elegant in flight.
Words
17 Sep 2011Darko, thanks. Sometimes you can get an idea of where they are in the water but mostly they only jump once so it's really hard. This one was very lively which helped a lot.
Words
17 Sep 2011Antonietta, thanks!
Words
17 Sep 2011Sami, thanks. I see them leap a lot, but getting the photo has a been a real struggle. Now to get a better one!
7Wellis
17 Sep 2011I love the pictures of the rats. :yes:
Words
19 Sep 20117Wellis, thanks! There are incredibly good subjects to photograph.
SittingFox
19 Sep 2011Wow, you had a good day! That carp is superb, and it's always nice to see the hobbies, but I think the rats win – the one with the flowers looks oddly picturesque! :right:
Words
20 Sep 2011Adele, I'm really pleased with all the rat shots I'm getting. Such fascinating creatures, but I'm sure most people down by the pond wouldn't agree. The carp was one of those challenge shots. You see it happen so often that you really do want to get a halfway decent photo. It's not 100% sharp though (ok for the web), so the challenge is still on.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Lovely Shots of the HOBBY :up: