my birthday meet

[eeyore]

next saturday (6th Jan) is my birthday and to celebrate a group of us are going to summerleys nature reserve in northants (near wellingborough off the road between great doddington and wollaston). This reserve has a number of hides for seeing /photographing water birds plus an excellent hide for photographing little birds at the feeding stations (often featuring peckers , nuthatch, and brambling in addition to the more common tits and finches)

there is also a strong possibility that we will retire to the local hostelry for a late lunch

meeting in the site carpark off the great doddington road at roughly 9.30-10am

the posse so far is boddie , possibly fourwings , and myself but anyone else who would like to come would be most welcome.

the link below gives more info on the site and better directions
ENGLISH NATURE - Special Sites

[Fourwings]

All sorted Pete, I will definately be there mate, looking forward to it.
I've always fancied visiting Summer leys, it's supposed to be great for Odonata in the Summer months so now I can get a sneak preview before the season starts.

[Fourwings]

Pete - how close can you get to the birds there? just wondering if its worth taking the 20D & Siggy 150.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Pete - how close can you get to the birds there? just wondering if its worth taking the 20D & Siggy 150.

probably not that close - but i can bring a 300mm lense for you to play with if you want

[mrcheeky]

Originally Posted by eeyore

probably not that close - but i can bring a 300mm lense for you to play with if you want

Happy birthday Pete.

Have a great time I may come down depending on the weather conditions snow etc etc.

Also I am thinking of purchasing a 400D................. with 100 - 400 lenses........ and another lense can you advise one?

Have a great borthday.

Peter

[Beryl]

Hope the weather is good for you and have a nice birthday.
Beryl

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by eeyore

probably not that close - but i can bring a 300mm lense for you to play with if you want

Thanks Pete, I'll take you up on that offer.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Thanks Pete, I'll take you up on that offer.

coolski - its a canon EF 90-300mm usm btw

[aeshna5]

Eeyore have a great birthday on Sat. I'll be taking a group to Minsmere that day, so let's hope sun shines for us all!

[Boddie]

Hows the weather looking for Saturday over that way?

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Hows the weather looking for Saturday over that way?

Doesn't look too bad at this stage, not ideal, but what can you expect at this time of year. I just hope the light is a bit better than it was last Saturday.

[Boddie]

Yep. If not we really should consider a different discipline

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Yep. If not we really should consider a different discipline

i've had pretty nice pics from the little birds hide regardless of weather - you are in a scrubby area anyway - rather like the one at carsington - so light is never all that

still if it goes belly up there is irchester countrypark just up the road , and if all else fails there are some nice pubs

[eeyore]

Well the weather was absolutely shocking - or possibly not quite that good, but it takes more than a little rain to keep hardy wabbites indoors and we marked my 34th year regardless.

The rain also provided an ideal excuse for an extended lunch in the local hostelry once we had braved the elements

Below are my best shots from the day - the weather made for low light and thus long shutter speeds but litte bigma still came through for me , even if i did had to set iso to 800.

Can any agricultural lads or lasses provide an id on the bottom pic ? - and yes i know its a cow - but they were very small and I would be interested in learning what breed they are.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Can any agricultural lads or lasses provide an id on the bottom pic ? - and yes i know its a cow - but they were very small and I would be interested in learning what breed they are.

Hi Pete,

The animal in question looks like a Charolais, a beef breed that originates in France. It looks like it is quite a youngster probably no more than 12 - 15 months old, that would account for the small size.

Steve.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Hi Pete,

The animal in question looks like a Charolais, a beef breed that originates in France. It looks like it is quite a youngster probably no more than 12 - 15 months old, that would account for the small size.

Steve.

cheers mate - for some reason I had in my head that they might be dexters - which I know are widely touted as a "mini cow" for conservation grazing - but I have never seen one...