Posted by John Robinson on March 15, 2010 at 2:39 PM
Raven
What a day yesterday ! Two firsts- Ravens at bait and I got a Hare finally.
The mate I work with on photography has a hide on a sheep carcass. He had up to 15 birds there last week. I went in the hide at 10 am yesterday and came out at 4;30. Not exactly a roomy hide at 2ft square by 4 foot 6 high !
I bird came in at about mid day- sat on the shhep pulled a bit of wool off and cleared off. I was waiting for the bird to settle before taking a shot so got nothing. Nothing more happened until 2 oclock when another bird walked 4 feet to the right of the hide and went to the carcass, making the most weird sounds from a bird I have ever heard. I waited again and the same happened – the bird just flew off.
By 4 o clock I’d about had enough, when a raven walked through the fence behind the sheep out into the short grass and sat down sunbathing !! I got some shots as the bird kept getting up and turning around. It eventually went to the sheep and had a couple of pecks, then another bird came in from the right. I got a few shots of thatone and then they both flew off together. Worth the 70 year wait ! - especially as I got my first hare (albeit a distant one ) when I got back to the car.
I suffered later last night and to day though, after 6 and a half hours in that hide. Acheing all over and as stiff as a board.
One of those worthwhile days though.
To watch Ravens at 25 ft is something else !
D200 Sigma 50-500
500 ISO
200th @f8
Large blob of white raven poo cloned out off sheep wool
Cheers
JohnR
Posted by Paul Rosser on March 15, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Stunning Birds, lovely capture John. Patience pays off!!
Regards,
Paul.
First of all a big congrats. Raven are very very difficult.
But to be honest...this image looks like it's 70 years old. Well not 70 but it looks old. It's the green color cast which gives the idea of an old slide film.
But still a good shot. Never seen a raven on a sheep carcass.
John, I would have to echo Edwins comments, however, if I make it to my 70's I wish I could do all this too.
TFS
Steve
Posted by Karen Summers on March 15, 2010 at 3:00 PM
great image but I can see a green cast
Posted by eric weight on March 15, 2010 at 3:01 PM
What a bill that is. Great result John and well worth the wait. Gonna get smelly in your mates hide soon I'd guess. Nobody will want to know you then after your next 6 hr stint.
I think Edwins right about the cast though John, either that or your sheep had a blue rinse just before it went to meet its maker. eric
Posted by John Robinson on March 15, 2010 at 3:07 PM
Thanks all
Repost with green out (Old eyes you know ! )
Cheers
JR
Posted by jeff acreman on March 15, 2010 at 3:09 PM
hi john
congrats on your endurance test - well done you past and at 70 you seem to keep well, great shot of a very difficult bird to get near, let alone get a pic of, never seen one feeding on a carcass, nits covered but what the h....
jeff acreman
Posted by Mark Davies on March 15, 2010 at 3:18 PM
2nd one much better . Congrats on the image and the hare .What are you doing in a tea chest at your age ?LOL
Posted by Calum Dickson on March 15, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Beautiful creature John, congratulations for not giving up and bagging that pair. Repost is much better but still a little hint of a green cast.
The repost is better John, but agree, still looks a tad green.
BTW, you could have knitted a sweater with all that wool pulled out, whilst waiting.
Posted by Major Gilbert on March 15, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Obviously your mate needs sorting out John. Fancy providing you with a hide that size.
Anyway it paid off and I am sure you are all the more satisfied with the image having run the endurance test.
Well done.
Major.
Posted by John Robinson on March 15, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Thanks .
Must be the late afternoon sun reflecting off the grass !
JR
Posted by Andy Gregory on March 15, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Great shot, well worth the cramped hide!
Posted by Dave Bartlett on March 15, 2010 at 4:53 PM
If I got in a hide of those dimensions I would still be stuck in it. Great reward for the effort John
Discussion
21 repliesWhat a day yesterday ! Two firsts- Ravens at bait and I got a Hare finally.
The mate I work with on photography has a hide on a sheep carcass. He had up to 15 birds there last week. I went in the hide at 10 am yesterday and came out at 4;30. Not exactly a roomy hide at 2ft square by 4 foot 6 high !
I bird came in at about mid day- sat on the shhep pulled a bit of wool off and cleared off. I was waiting for the bird to settle before taking a shot so got nothing. Nothing more happened until 2 oclock when another bird walked 4 feet to the right of the hide and went to the carcass, making the most weird sounds from a bird I have ever heard. I waited again and the same happened – the bird just flew off.
By 4 o clock I’d about had enough, when a raven walked through the fence behind the sheep out into the short grass and sat down sunbathing !! I got some shots as the bird kept getting up and turning around. It eventually went to the sheep and had a couple of pecks, then another bird came in from the right. I got a few shots of thatone and then they both flew off together. Worth the 70 year wait ! - especially as I got my first hare (albeit a distant one ) when I got back to the car.
I suffered later last night and to day though, after 6 and a half hours in that hide. Acheing all over and as stiff as a board.
One of those worthwhile days though.
To watch Ravens at 25 ft is something else !
D200 Sigma 50-500
500 ISO
200th @f8
Large blob of white raven poo cloned out off sheep wool
Cheers
JohnR
Regards,
Paul.
First of all a big congrats. Raven are very very difficult.
But to be honest...this image looks like it's 70 years old. Well not 70
But still a good shot. Never seen a raven on a sheep carcass.
Well done.
Edwin Kats
TFS
Steve
I think Edwins right about the cast though John, either that or your sheep had a blue rinse just before it went to meet its maker.
Repost with green out (Old eyes you know !
Cheers
JR
congrats on your endurance test - well done you past and at 70 you seem to keep well, great shot of a very difficult bird to get near, let alone get a pic of, never seen one feeding on a carcass, nits covered but what the h....
jeff acreman
Calum
BTW, you could have knitted a sweater with all that wool pulled out, whilst waiting.
Anyway it paid off and I am sure you are all the more satisfied with the image having run the endurance test.
Well done.
Major.
Must be the late afternoon sun reflecting off the grass !
JR
David
the second shot looks a lot better
I reckon you nodded off in the comfort of that plush roomy hide and thats why you were there for 6 1/2 hours
Big congrats on the capture John, second image is a big improvement.
Andy...
Tim