Brown Headed Barbet, New Delhi, India. 2009

Nectar feeding Barbet on tree blooms.

Canon 40D + 300 2.8 + 1.4 extender. 400ASA

During late February 2009, a blooming tree outside my Delhi veranda attracted a host of Squirrels, Mynahs, Parrakeets and Barbets to feed on its nectar.

This Brown Headed Barbet was initially obscured through the branches on the far side of the tree but a 20 minute wait brought it into range and clear view.

This ideal pose in even light was worth the wait.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Avocets Mating. April 2009. England.

Blacktoft Sands reserve, England. April 2009

Canon 50D + 300 2.8 + x2 extender. 400ASA

During April, Avocets become territorial and aggressive, constantly involved both in verbal exchanges and battles for possession of their precious metre of ground on the islets found in the freshwater lagoons.

Potential rivals in the main are other Avocets, Black Headed Gulls, Herons and Shelducks which also use the islets for nesting and resting.

When the gulls and Avocets both engage in "verbals", the overall noise level becomes nearly unbearable.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Avocets returning to nest site

Blacktoft Sands reserve, England, April 2009

Canon 50D+ 300 2.8. Hand held 400ASA.

During April, the Avocets at the Blacktoft reserve are engaged in securing a precious metre of ground on the islets prior to the mass egg laying.

Pairs come and go but if a raptor should come too close then the whole colony takes to the air creating a tremendous racket and a fine sight.

These birds are returning to their islet after a close shave with a Sparrowhawk.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Green Bee Eaters

Green Bee Eaters, Nainital District, N India

Canon 40D + 300 2.8 + x2 converter
400ASA. F9

To say I was lucky getting this pair is an understatement, as they came and perched upon the stone right outside my open car window.

I nearly fell out of the car trying to retrieve the camera from the back seat and bringing it SLOWLY to bear out of the window.

I feel sure that if practised habitually, being fast and slow at the same same is guarenteed to bring on an attack of something undesirable so I plan to avoid it in future.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Stone Curlew, NE India

Stone Curlew [Thicknee], Nainital District, N India.

Canon 40D + 300 2.8 + x2 converter
400ASA. F9

In the winter dry season of N India, many sandy and stone river beds are dry, perfect
environments for the Stone Curlew which loves arid places with good all round visibility.

Although active in th day, these birds love to feed in the twilight zones when the large
light gathering eyes come into their own.

Wary and easily put to flight, my approach to these birds across open ground was slow and indirect, being under observation at all times.

The clicking of the camera finally un-nerved them and they retired into thin cover adjacent the river bed.

I am well pleased with this converter and prime lens combination providing F9 or smaller is obtainable in the prevailing light conditions.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Dippers

I've been a couple of times to Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire, to photograph the White Throated Dipper, Cinclus cinclus. So called because of their habit of dipping under to catch bugs and other tasty morsels. It's a strenuous walk from the car park in Over Haddon to the river, all downhill, and then you have to find them.
Don't forget the return journey, that hill is pretty steep. I usually carry all my kit in a Lowe Pro backpack, complete with tripod. Be prepared.



They're a smallish bird and usually keep their distance, a longish lens is best, these were taken with a 500 mm + a 1.4 x extender. Their habitat is shallow fast flowing water in upland areas, often in woodland. Lathkill Dale is ideal. Because of the tree cover and low light levels a flashgun is a handy item to carry, I sometimes use mine with a fresnel flash extender, to throw the light that extra distance.



Note the white coloured eyelids






Taking a peep.

I would say that no later than the latter end of April is the best time to go, before the leaf cover on the trees blocks out all the available light.

Bitterns at Potteric Carr

I live only a few miles from Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, it's a place I've visited regularly in the past, mainly to photograph the Bitterns that stay over Winter there. As many as 6 have stayed for the Winter months, but eventually the birds move onto the continent to breed. It is hoped that in future the birds will stay on to breed.

I've spent many hours in the hides at the Carr, my favourite being the one at Piper Marsh, the birds are very secretive and difficult to spot and move like a cat, very slowly and with precision.

Some bird watchers have been going for years and have never seen one, fortunately for me nearly every time I went to the Carr, I saw one or even two. Bliss. Mind you, these photographs do represent hours and hours of sitting in a hide.