Bank Voles

This is very similar to Neil's set up with these bank voles making the most of bits falling from a nut feeder. Taken a while back. The feeder is outside the room window and eventually I managed to get the window slightly open to get rid of the problems with the angle of view through glass. As Neil says the voles soon get quite tame. I used the Sigma 100-300mm on roughly the 150-200 range. The angle of view is quite steep but you wouldn’t think so looking at the shots. Had to use neat image as there was a fair bit of noise, especially in the dark areas at 800 ISO. This was the only one out of dozens with both in the shot. The DOE is a problem hence the back one not quite in focus.
I have spent a lot of time cloning out the small fragments of peanut !
I gave up in the end. The sad end to the story is that Rats have taken over and are using the enlarged vole holes. heavy trapping session now on going.
Sigma 100-300 Nikon D200
Neat image, Sharpen CZM Levels Paint Shop Pro 7
Crop for composition.
800ISO 125th sec @f11
Spot metering EV down 1 stop.
Cheers
JohnR
PS Not sure about the large Hypericum leaf on the left ?

As I found with the field voles f8-f10 is necessary to get any kind of DOF at 700mm from 4,5 M away! Maybe cover the left side leaves up with moss? Nice to see two close like this, without lots of stitching at least ;) Like the lighting too, I presume no flash?

Hi Neil
No flash , but the house wall is white which gives a bit of reflected light which is a help.
JR

I must admit I did not notice the Hypericum leaf until I read your comment, John. Instead of cloning you could crop a little off the left hand side to get rid of the one intrusive leaf. Just a suggestion.

David

The leaves don't really bother me John. I think that the two voles hold the attention too much! Great shot and out of a window too...amazing!

Nick.

Thanks for your support.

JR

you did well to get the rear one in focus - it looks sharp enough at this size. I really like this image.

Matt