Posted by John Robinson on March 10, 2012 at 7:49 AM
One of those days.
Went to a new hide set up on a farm where the owner is very helpful( as most of them are). It’s a good spot for finches and it make a pleasant change from the three pool hides. On the way down the track to the farm , I came across a dead woodpigeon.
I thought I might as well stick it out in front of the hide. I managed to find a stick with a short angled twig on it and with a bit of penknife work,made a sort of tent peg , and I used this to hold the pigeon down- bit messy but the bird didn’t feel much !!
I stuck some seed down arranged a few perches and settled down. I got some lovely stuff on Bullfinches, Reed Bunting, Jay, Pheasant, Greenfinch etc.
All of a sudden there was a commotion and everything took off. To my surprise two Buzzards had landed about 5 foot behind the pigeon. One took off and the other hopped (in the way that buzzies do ! ) towards the pigeon.
He tried to drag it off but the peg held. He ripped the head off and ate that, and spent the next half hour slowly demolishing what was left. The wind comingfrom the right was blowing feathers all over the place !Took no notice of the camera at all, and I ended up with about 250 shots- vertical, horizontal and even full frame
( Crikey Robbo !!! )
As Mark Knopfler said “ Sometime it all come together “
D7000
Sigma 100-300 mm
400 ISO
320th @f8
Slight crop on this one.
Levels Paint Shop Pro
White balance auto /warm.
Veryoof maggy in background taken out- looked like a feather !
Cheers
JR
Posted by Rene de Heer on March 10, 2012 at 8:07 AM
Very nice John and by no means buzzards are easy to photograph!
Rene de Heer
Posted by David Sewell on March 10, 2012 at 8:27 AM
I'm amazed they came this close, even at Gigrin I find them wary. Great shot, with hopefully more to come. I think the flying feathers help to make it.
David
Posted by John Robinson on March 10, 2012 at 8:56 AM
Thanks both.
Was in fact 26 feet from the hide !
Cheers
JR
Posted by Alan Bryant on March 10, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Great stuff john
And nice read
Posted by David Taylor on March 10, 2012 at 10:48 AM
A great story together with an excellent image. Top notch as usual,John.
Posted by Nick Mckeown on March 10, 2012 at 11:53 AM
With luck like that I hope you buy a lottery ticket!! Cracking image JR and the flying feathers in the wind really add some dynamics to the image. Look forward to more of the "Buzzie".
Nick.
Posted by Craig Jones on March 10, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Great story telling image lovely image of a shy bird by nature
Posted by Neil Burton on March 11, 2012 at 6:09 AM
Posted by Phil Ellard on March 11, 2012 at 6:55 PM
well done John, would haver prefered it at a pool, you should set one up
Posted by John Robinson on March 11, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Thanks all.
Some have asked to see more in this series. There will be one or two but most are head left, head right, head forward etc,etc.
Will put a couple on..
JR
Discussion
15 repliesWent to a new hide set up on a farm where the owner is very helpful( as most of them are). It’s a good spot for finches and it make a pleasant change from the three pool hides. On the way down the track to the farm , I came across a dead woodpigeon.
I thought I might as well stick it out in front of the hide. I managed to find a stick with a short angled twig on it and with a bit of penknife work,made a sort of tent peg , and I used this to hold the pigeon down- bit messy but the bird didn’t feel much !!
I stuck some seed down arranged a few perches and settled down. I got some lovely stuff on Bullfinches, Reed Bunting, Jay, Pheasant, Greenfinch etc.
All of a sudden there was a commotion and everything took off. To my surprise two Buzzards had landed about 5 foot behind the pigeon. One took off and the other hopped (in the way that buzzies do ! ) towards the pigeon.
He tried to drag it off but the peg held. He ripped the head off and ate that, and spent the next half hour slowly demolishing what was left. The wind comingfrom the right was blowing feathers all over the place !Took no notice of the camera at all, and I ended up with about 250 shots- vertical, horizontal and even full frame
( Crikey Robbo !!! )
As Mark Knopfler said “ Sometime it all come together “
D7000
Sigma 100-300 mm
400 ISO
320th @f8
Slight crop on this one.
Levels Paint Shop Pro
White balance auto /warm.
Veryoof maggy in background taken out- looked like a feather !
Cheers
JR
Rene de Heer
David
Was in fact 26 feet from the hide !
Cheers
JR
And nice read
Nick.
Would look even better in 3D
Some have asked to see more in this series. There will be one or two but most are head left, head right, head forward etc,etc.
Will put a couple on..
JR
Oscar