Taken in frustration

I have at least five flocks of Brambling within a few miles of my home, three of which are well in excess of 100 birds. The weather for the past two weeks has been diabolical, with rain, poor light and even the wind prevents me from putting up my hide.

When I went to put more feed out this morning, I took this image out of the car window in frustration and even then I had to use 800iso and took a dozen shots to get a sharp one as the branch was blowing about so much. So not really for critique.

Canon 40D + 500 f5 @ 1/250 800iso with 'no' noise reduction.

Hi Dave,

Know what you mean with the wind, had the same problwm with my hide yesterday because I had to keep hanging on to it while inside to stop it blowing away.

Great image of as bird I'd very much like to photograph, also showing how useable iso800 is.

Regards Chris.

Hey, at least it keeps the trigger finger excerised. They really are beautiful birds.

Saturday is your best chance now...

T

Hi David,
I'm also finding this weather pretty frustrating. If it lasts much longer I'll need to dig out my camera's manual to remember how to use it.
I guess one advantage of the dull conditions is it makes the birds really stand out against the drab conditions, particularly with such an attractive species, as seen here.



Fingers crossed for a bit of Winter sunshine.

Dear me, what a bunch of soft southerners ... you want to try living further North - there's nothing exceptional about this wet, windy and grey winter so far . And anyway - at least you got some Bramblings to photograph!

Looks a nice enough shot David - though I'd probably have tried to exclude the sky.

Hi Nick

As said this was just a grab shot taken in frustration - if I ever get my hide up I will be able to start looking at the setting and BG. As you can see from this small section the whole area was carpeted with Brambling and I can't wait to have a proper go at them!

David

40D? Where is the MK3-Lack of noise is very impressive
Hate to say that the weather here is extremely sunny at the moment-God i miss the UK-NOT

Dave

Sharing the frustrations here David - had so much set up for this week and last that even a camera that can work with high ISO's alone simply haven't made possible.

Grrrr

Oh - nice Brambling pic by the way!!

Mark

Hi a nice image considering the circumstances, I have actually given up any hope of sunny weather so I went out and brought myself a new mountain bike disc brakes alloy frame front and rear suspension the full Monty, anyway riding through what I thought was a small long batch of water as I got towards the centre it got deeper and deeper and deeper untill it came up to my seat at this point I was thinking that it wasn't such a good idea to ride through this small stretch of water I can't tell you how cold the water was. And I still had 10k to go befor I got home.

Phillip.

Hi David,

Like both images , lovely birds Bramblings

Regards

Andy...

It's a shame about the bg as you suggest, but what a beautifully coloured bird. Still never seen one, but at least I know why now. You've got them all!
Eric

Hi Dave,

I'm sure you will get the shot you want.... this unsettled weather has to break soon (he says listening to 40mph gusts up my street...) Tomorrow looks good with a respite from the winds and reasonably bright light (could of cousre change overnight)...

All the best.

Phil

Cor, never seen that many Brambling before!
I reckon the second image could be used to illustrate wildlife-friendly farming? Reminds me from a scene from the RSPB's FDIII film.

I too symapthise - wish I could motivate myself to get out more...

Blimey, that's a flock alright!! I have been pleased with seeing one at my feeder. No images as experiencing the same as you weather wise David. They are cracking looking birds, and at least you have a shot which looks fine

Lovely shot under the circumstances and the flock, wow - wish I had that many locally. I can rarely ever get a hide up due to the high winds at any time during the year. At the moment its just rain, rain and more rain with a never ending breeze (gale force).