Rufford Park

[Tormentil]

A big thankyou to Graham (glsammy) and his wife for an excellent day out at Rufford Park, Sherwwod Forest and a Lay By. We got everything Graham had gauranteed, plus a bonus of some Siskins. And I would not have believed the tameness of that Robin, if I had n't seen it myself!!

Also great to meet another WABer, Matt (matt_xyz). I think we're gonna re-write our letters to Santa, after seeing his flash setup. We were quite impressed. No, not "quite", very. I'm gonna be extra good to HiD for a while, I think.

And a big thanks to Roger (Ollie), my chauffeur for the day.

All in all, a great day out, the rain disappeared and we got some sunshine, but the wind !! Brrrrrrrrrrrr. Amply compensated for, by good company.

Thanks All.
Ben

[glsammy]

I'd also like to add a thank you to you Ben, Roger and Matt. Excellent company, making it a far better day than the weather promised.
Your right re Matts flash set up, I can't wait to see some of the results, my Siskins were all pretty dire! I noticed my Mrs. didn't argue at all when I mentioned getting one..I take that as definite approval!
I don't think Matts shots can match this beauty though:



Now that rates as one of my best ever!

[matt_xyz]

thanks all for a very nice day, especially to Graham and his wife for showing us around.

Here's a few of my images. I'll start with a few of the siskins. They're not brilliant, but were significantly helped by the flash;







and here's what these looked like without flash (and this was with +1 exposure compensation)



I'm still going through my other images, but I think this one has to be my favourite so far;



so thanks to all for the excellent company, and thanks to Graham for bringing his pet birds with him

Matt

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

thanks all for a very nice day, especially to Graham and his wife for showing us around.

Here's a few of my images. I'll start with a few of the siskins. They're not brilliant, but were significantly helped by the flash;



so thanks to all for the excellent company, and thanks to Graham for bringing his pet birds with him

Matt

Well Matt, that's confirmed it. Yours are MILES better than anything I managed to get. I had to use +2 compensation to show any detail, the problem then was the background objects were completely washed out, and still the bird was nothing much more than a muddy mess!
That flash works like a charm.

This is just about my favourite, of the ones I took anyway!

[Tormentil]

This the best I managed with the Siskins, using "onboard" flash.




Must admit, I think your mate was the bees knees, Graham.


Matt & Graham. And the flash set up that made us a bit green with envy.



Graham, how many of those Marsh Tits were Willow Tits? And which ones are which ?

I've wittled 'em down to 30 odd shots and I'm more confused than I was earlier.

[matt_xyz]

nice shots Ben (apart from the last one, although I'm now wondering what Graham was keeping under his hat - it wasn't that tame robin was it? )

Sorry if you're now all putting flashguns on your Christmas pressie list - looks like it might have been an expensive day out

Matt

[glsammy]

Your Siskin is better than anything I managed to get Ben.

I'm please you liked our pal. We're very fond of him. I'm disgusted with his no show mates though..I'll have a stern word with them next time I'm there. Good job the Siskins came as a decent replacement gang!

Crikey, in that shot I almost look like I know what I'm doing..

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

nice shots Ben (apart from the last one, although I'm now wondering what Graham was keeping under his hat - it wasn't that tame robin was it? )

Sorry if you're now all putting flashguns on your Christmas pressie list - looks like it might have been an expensive day out

Matt

It was for poor Roger, fancy not going for a swim to recover that pipe..

[Ollie]

Have to agree a great day out in great company. Many thanks to Graham and Linda for escorting us around. I managed to gt good photos of all you promised Graham. Those Siskin images are great Matt. Didn't get one keeper of them myself. That flash set up is going to pay dividends.

Here's my version of the Nuthatch frozen still on the post.



Roger

[glsammy]

Excellent Roger! Considering you wanted a good shot of a Nuthatch, I don't think you could have asked for a more obliging bird!

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by glsammy

It was for poor Roger, fancy not going for a swim to recover that pipe..

Gave the wife a good laugh when I got home Graham. The spare is out and going well. Might have to ask for a new one for Christmas instead of a flash unit.
Roger

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

This the best I managed with the Siskins, using "onboard" flash.

Graham, how many of those Marsh Tits were Willow Tits? And which ones are which ?

I've wittled 'em down to 30 odd shots and I'm more confused than I was earlier.

Have a look at Rogers uploads. You can clearly see the difference. The Marsh tit is the one with the paler flanks, that's just about the best id comparison point for the shots we took. The Willow looks altogether a darker, chubbier bird, with more orangey buff flanks.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Here's my version of the Nuthatch frozen still on the post.



Roger

I missed out on that angle. The "paparazzi" had the best positions.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

I missed out on that angle. The "paparazzi" had the best positions.

Consolation prize Ben for the loss of my treasured pipe in the lake. Apart from my wife that pipe was the best friend I had. Good job I had a couple of spares at home, going to order a new model off the net tomorrow.

Like your Siskin shot Ben, better than any of mine
Roger

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Consolation prize Ben for the loss of my treasured pipe in the lake. Apart from my wife that pipe was the best friend I had. Good job I had a couple of spares at home, going to order a new model off the net tomorrow.

Wife or pipe, mate ??

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Wife or pipe, mate ??

Now that's a thought Ben. Think I will stick with the one I have, cheaper running costs than a new model (wife that is)
Roger

[Blackbrook Eye]

I'm impressed with the rakish, devil may care angle of Matts tripod, does it work better like that or were you about to go head over heels.

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

I'm impressed with the rakish, devil may care angle of Matts tripod, does it work better like that or were you about to go head over heels.

ah, no wonder my shots were all out of focus...

I'm not quite sure what my tripod was doing there. I think I was actually in the process of moving it and just resting it on the front 2 feet. Maybe

Matt

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Have a look at Rogers uploads. You can clearly see the difference. The Marsh tit is the one with the paler flanks, that's just about the best id comparison point for the shots we took. The Willow looks altogether a darker, chubbier bird, with more orangey buff flanks.

I'm sorry for belabouring the point Graham, but I'm still unsure which is which. Not sure if its my colour blindness or that I'm just stupid. I suspect the latter.

Have I got these right ??


Marsh Tit ?



Willow Tit ?




If I'm right, you get a big kiss fer Christmas.

If I'm wrong, its a quick trip to the Humber Bridge to practice bungy jumping, sans bungy.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

I'm sorry for belabouring the point Graham, but I'm still unsure which is which. Not sure if its my colour blindness or that I'm just stupid. I suspect the latter.

Have I got these right ??


Marsh Tit ?



Willow Tit ?




If I'm right, you get a big kiss fer Christmas.

If I'm wrong, its a quick trip to the Humber Bridge to practice bungy jumping, sans bungy.

Now hang on a minute, do I want to get this right..

I'd say you were spot on Ben.

[Tormentil]

Thanks ever so, Graham.

You've made an old man happy.