Donna Nook meet?

Ukwildlifeo · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 12:18 PM

With the New forest meet possibly happening in October, I was considering a trip up to Donna Nook in November. Would anyone else be interested?

WhiskyBottle · #2 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:12 PM

Could be. Gonna book some sunshine too?

Richard G. · #3 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:18 PM

Aye, I've vague plans for a visit or two this winter, probably be a weekend for me though...

pressld2 · #4 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:30 PM

I could be tempted back. I had a great visit last year with plenty of sun so I wouldn't mind some rain - it would make the photos a bit different!

Dave P.

Ollie · #5 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 05:29 PM

Yep I would be interested if it's on one of my days off as I'm only 40 minutes from Donna Nook

Tormentil · #6 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 07:09 PM

Me too. But would prefer it to be a week day; weekends can get very crowded.

Ollie · #7 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Me too. But would prefer it to be a week day; weekends can get very crowded.

They sure can, it can be quite difficult getting unhindered views of the seals at weekends as there are so many bodies about. Car parking becomes a problem at weekends also unless you get there at the crack of dawn

Ukwildlifeo · #8 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

They sure can, it can be quite difficult getting unhindered views of the seals at weekends as there are so many bodies about. Car parking becomes a problem at weekends also unless you get there at the crack of dawn

Perhaps we could have a friday to sat meet? AANd maybe take in another site on Sunday?

WhiskyBottle · #9 (**permalink**) 16-09-2009, 09:54 AM

It's a long way for me, so I'd be stopping over. Need to be a weekend as I don't get holidays

hobo1 · #10 (**permalink**) 20-09-2009, 05:29 PM

Yes i would be interested , and as has been said week days are best ,(if possible ),

Ukwildlifeo · #11 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 08:25 AM

Are people still up for this meet?

Richard G. · #12 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 08:49 AM

I have a tentative plan for a visit this Sunday, if anyone's around?

Richard G. · #13 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 08:54 AM

By the way, if anyone wants to keep an eye on activity at Donna Nook, LWT have a nice page with regular seal pup updates.
Donna Nook Seal Pupping Updates.
Looks like there's already sufficient activity for a visit.

Ukwildlifeo · #14 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G.

By the way, if anyone wants to keep an eye on activity at Donna Nook, LWT have a nice page with regular seal pup updates.
Donna Nook Seal Pupping Updates.
Looks like there's already sufficient activity for a visit.

funnily enough that link is what made me post earlier

Probably should have posted the link myself really

pressld2 · #15 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G.

I have a tentative plan for a visit this Sunday, if anyone's around?

I'm off to Pullborough Brooks tomorrow.

I'd love to visit Donna Nook at a weekend but it's a 3-4 hour drive for me so from what I hear I'd have to leave ridiculously early to stand any chance of getting parked.

Dave P.

Richard G. · #16 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

I'd love to visit Donna Nook at a weekend but it's a 3-4 hour drive for me so from what I hear I'd have to leave ridiculously early to stand any chance of getting parked.

Know what you mean Dave, set off at 4.30am yesterday and pulled into the car park at 7am, already around 12-15 cars there. To be fair though, there are people coming and going all day, so parking can be had and there is an overflow car park set up by a local at £1, where there are many more spaces, so it really isn't as much of a problem as I'd expected.

Anyway, fantastic day, sunrise was a disappointment, some nice light later in the day though and it stayed fine with lighter than expected winds, all in all a fantastic day and 900 photos now to edit

Handful of early edits.

Was lucky enough to get a close visit from a Sanderling, whilst I was out by the sea too.

pressld2 · #17 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 12:58 PM

Great stuff Richard - looking forward to more when you've had a chance to edit them. You had a much better day than me. Pulborough brooks is a lovely reserve but nothing came close enough for the camera.

I might be tempted to give the weekend a go for Donna Nook and use the overflow car park. It won't be next weekend though as that's already booked up, but maybe the one after. I don't mind setting off at 06:30 but 04:30 is a bit too much for me!

Dave P.

Ollie · #18 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G.

Anyway, fantastic day, sunrise was a disappointment, some nice light later in the day though and it stayed fine with lighter than expected winds, all in all a fantastic day and 900 photos now to edit

Great shots Richard. Hoping to get there one week day next week.

Ukwildlifeo · #19 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 06:00 PM

Great photos Richard. I take it you on to the area closed on weekdays? What focal length(s) were you using?

Richard G. · #20 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 08:41 PM

Thanks all, still working my way through the edits

It's the first time I've been to Donna Nook and most other opportunities I've had to shoot seals have been from boats, in places like the Farnes, or in Scotland, where they quickly slip into the water if you approach too closely (or clumsily most likely

). So it's amazing to be able to get so close and have all the time in the world to watch and try to capture their behaviour, I've got so many shots of comical waves and flipper wafting

Anyway, shots by the fence were all taken with a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 + 1.4 TC. There weren't many times I needed more reach and I can comfortably crop a little using this superb lens. Out on the beach I was using the Sigma 150-500mm, mostly at 500mm and at a distance, so as not to upset the animals and ensure they look relaxed in the photo's. This lens doesn't take cropping so well either, IMHO, and my inclination towards handholding probably contributes to this.

I think the better opportunities are out on the beach. You are much closer by the fence, but it's a slightly elevated position, which makes it hard to get down to the seals eye level, or the fence gets in the way or casts it's lovely stripey shadow across the closest animals. It's a bit of a muddy trudge out to the beach and you probably need to get the tides right, but well worth it, if you're paying a visit and the red flags are not flying. If I go again this year, that's where I'll be heading for sure.

Some rough tide table guides for your info and enough rambling from me...

Fourwings · #21 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 07:30 PM

I'm giving next Monday some serious thought for a visit, as long as the weather is ok!!

Tormentil · #22 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G.

I think the better opportunities are out on the beach.

True, but it can be dangerous. The tide can easily come in behind you in places and very quickly too. It's easy to get cut off, so if you are thinking of going on the sandbanks, be very careful, even if you've checked the tide times.

The Lincs Trust (who manage the site) strongly advise not to go on the beach, so as not to disturb the seals. Their stance is "Legally we can't stop you, but we'd really rather you didn't".

Ollie · #23 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentil

True, but it can be dangerous. The tide can easily come in behind you in places and very quickly too. It's easy to get cut off, so if you are thinking of going on the sandbanks, be very careful, even if you've checked the tide times.

The Lincs Trust (who manage the site) strongly advise not to go on the beach, so as not to disturb the seals. Their stance is "Legally we can't stop you, but we'd really rather you didn't".

Very wise words Ben. There have been many instances of people getting cut off by the tide, not necessarily photographing the seals either.

This stretch of the east coast is a dangerous place as far as tides go and can catch out even experienced people who get complacent.

Is it worth risking yourself and the seals well being for a slightly better photograph!!

Richard G. · #24 (**permalink**) 19-11-2009, 08:09 AM

Aye, I can well imagine that people get caught out there. And the mud flats are not easy to cross quickly, unless you want to end up on your backside.

There is a sign up asking people to consider if they really need to go onto the beach. Many, many people were still doing so last Sunday though, I'd guess in the hundreds, though quite a few seemed to give up, once they realised it's not just a simple walk along the beach.

Everyone was behaving well though, especially the togs, keeping a respectful distance (never seen so many expensive long lenses in one place

) and the animals seemed quite used to the presence of people. There were a couple of people went tearing across the beach on motorbikes, which seemed an odd thing to do, but 'tis a free world I s'pose

pressld2 · #25 (**permalink**) 22-11-2009, 11:18 PM

I got my dates mixed up and was okay for this weekend so Neil and I went up there today. We didn't go out on the beach in the end - didn't need to to be honest. The vast majority of the seals were close in to the fence and one very kindly gave birth to her pup six feet in front of about a hundred admiring spectators, us included. I've posted a seperate thread for that at Grey Seal Birth. Unfortunately my camera had developed a fault with the shutter so I was limited to the bottom three fifths of my sensor and the photos are all panoramic!

Here's a few that I got before the camera troubles started...

I shall post a few more panoramic shots tomorrow.

By the way, Ben was right - weekends get very busy...

Dave P.