I tried, I really tried but I'm afraid the cormorant was determined to force its way into this post. It helps that it understands the rules of the game (which is generally to be as silly as possible in front of the camera). This greylag obviously hasn't quite got the hang of how it works. The flight is good, the decision to turn in front of a backdrop of trees is excellent, but the timing is all wrong as the sun had yet to emerge above the Downs leaving me struggling with the gloom. A nice try though, but it probably scores no more than 4 out of 10.
Much the same for this mallard. Lovely flight, low over the water. A beautiful pose with its head peeking out from behind the forward-thrown wing; but again too early. Where it beats the greylag is that by coming in low against a dark background it caused the camera shutter to slow dramatically and delivered some really nice motion blur. A really good effort Mr Duck, and worthy of a 7 out of 10.
The cormorant is an old pro and, knowing full well that I'm trying hard not to take photos of it, pulled out all the stops. Indeed you might say that it leaned over backwards to impress. Another 7 out of 10.
And to gild the lily, it even started pulling faces for the camera! This one gains an eight out of ten (a great idea, but points deducted for not facing the camera head on).
Now for the promised video. taking a hint from Sami I've re-positioned the camera to avoid having half the frame filled with sky.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. Video from the Bushnell Trophy Cam HD
serola
11 Jan 2013Now the trail cam video image looks much better. Great to have a short clip taken also in daylight :happy:
gdare
12 Jan 2013Go to Rottingdean, there will be more gulls and fulmars than cormorants 😀
SittingFox
12 Jan 2013Interesting to see the fox rolling on its back. And yes, the cormorant is acting like it wants to take over your blog as well as the world!
Words
13 Jan 2013Sami, I'm trying various angles. It's just a matter of learning its idiosyncrasies.
Words
13 Jan 2013Darko, there are plenty of cormorants at Rottingdean as well. Actually not at Rottingdean, but either side: at the Marina and at Saltdean.
Words
13 Jan 2013Adele, I'm getting some nice clips at the moment. I think there are four foxes in the group, plus no doubt some others nearby. The cormorants seem to fly in to the pond at around dawn. It would be interesting to know where they spend the rest of their time.