Weekend pass, help me decide what to do...

[Richard G.]

Well, Mrs G. is working next weekend, so I have a pass . This usually means photography, since Mrs G. gets a bit bored with me sitting around for hours waiting for the light to change .

So, short list below in no particular order, if anyone would like to help me choose, or suggest better options, if you have them.

1. Snaizeholme, Yorkshire Dales – recent article in BBC Wildlife reminded me about the red squirrels up there. Downside, unless I can find somewhere nearer than Hawes to park it looks like an 8 mile round trip on foot with gear .

2. Mountain Hares – I’ve been meaning to go and stalk some hares whilst they have their winter jackets on. I know where to find them locally (crosses fingers), but again it’s an 8-10 mile round trip on foot with gear.

3. Gigrin Farm – Keep meaning to have a drive over to see the Red Kites. Long drive though and not sure what the weather is going to do for the rest of the week yet.

4. Garden Birds – I could just stay home and try and get some good garden bird shots, being something of a novice wildlife tog, I don’t have many at all. And there’s a good chance of shooting Redpoll, since a little flock of them have been laying siege to my niger feeder for the last 2-3 weeks. Also Mrs G. could have a nice dinner waiting for her on the 14th when she gets home from work.

5. Local landscape stuff - plenty of Peak District landscapes still on my project list, given the right weather, but isn’t really getting me exited .

Ummm decisions, decisions……

[ron1863]

Option 4 - Stay home and photograph the local birds then make Mrs G a nice dinner to ensure a future free pass in better weather.

[badgerwatcher]

Gigrin farm wins for me every time! I've even hitch hiked and camped in April in the frost to get there.

[JB9302]

Garden birds , set yourself a little task to see how many different species you can record , I"ve been watching them through some new bino"s I got the other week and its amazing how many visit .

[PMG]

The hares would attract me but I couldn't walk that distance with or without the gear .......... so that leaves Gigrin - and its a major draw for me - always has been since that very first time - but is a three and a half hour journey each way for us - prob the same for you - or maybe even more - and the weather is a problem too - there will be snow - kites look good in the snow tho.....

Pauline

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Option 4 - Stay home and photograph the local birds then make Mrs G a nice dinner to ensure a future free pass in better weather.

Exactly my thoughts Ron. Always pays to be on the right side of the wife.
Roger

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Exactly my thoughts Ron. Always pays to be on the right side of the wife.
Roger

You men are such creeps lol..As if we don't know what your up to..

[JeffH]

Hey Richard, how about going for some shots of Dippers in Lathkill Dale or Bradford Dale - in my experience the birds there are very accommodating.

Could also combine with some nice local landscape and white water river shots - should be plenty of water coming down the Dales at present

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[Richard G.]

Well I told Mrs G. about this thread and she's touched by all the concern shown

Anyway, the main reason option 4 was there was because of Rogers garden bird pictures the other day, a timely reminder that you don't need to go any further than the back garden to get great shots.

Lathkill Dale is a good shout too Jeff, but think I might wait for the Spring flowers too.

So, my task for Saturday is to get a serviceable shot of the Redpolls in my garden, before pampering Mrs G. Might just go after the hares on Sunday, if Saturday is successful though...

[Ed Tyler]

Sounds like a wise choice if you ask me.

I must admit I'm with the Option 4 club and looking to the future.

Hey you never know if Mrs G enjoys Sat night sooooooo much she may just venture out more often on a Sat looking forward to the evening, leaving you time to go out and pick up fish and chips on the way home

Or maybe not

Ed

[Jim Ford]

How about getting some beer and take away curry in, and a few mates round? Carefully dispose of the evidence before the wife gets home though!

Jim

[Richard G.]

ROFL Jim . Yeah and tell her that we can all watch the Wales v England match together in the evening

[Richard G.]

Well, it was very nearly option 6 today. Got a call yesterday evening from my folks over in Yorkshire to tell me they had a Harris Hawk in their back garden!

Turns out some yoofs had broken into the owners place, a few miles away, and let it out. They weren't sure how well it could fend for itself, so gave it a few bits of meat, which is gratefully accepted. Was kind of hoping it might still be there this morning and I would have driven over to try and get a few shots, but no sign of it today...

So I did end up in the garden after all. Light was rubbish, so hard work, but 300 or so shots to sift through. Here are a couple of half decent looking Lesser Redpoll shots.



And if I'm not mistaken this one is a Common Redpoll?



Couple of other things nipped into the frame now and again too.



Cold out there today though... brrrrrr!
Might do a bit more tomorrow, if the light perks up...

[ron1863]

Looks like you chose the right option Richard, cracking shots and a future free pass when the weather improves

[colincurry]

Great shots, Richard - never seen either redpoll.

If you could convince Mrs G that these birds came into the garden with their hearts on their heads just for her on Valentine's Day............

Colin

[Ollie]

Cracking shots Richard, that Long-tailed Tit is a stunner.

Know what you mean about the light, I did a few garden birds myself today and it wasn't the easiest of jobs to get them right.
Roger

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by colincurry

...If you could convince Mrs G that these birds came into the garden with their hearts on their heads just for her on Valentine's Day............Colin

You old smoothie Colin

and nice shots Richard

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)