Common Whitethroat

This Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis was singing its heart out on the barbed wire perimeter fence at Finningley airport, (Doncaster Airport).







Canon 1D Mk2, 500 mm lens with 1.4 x extender.

Black Tailed Godwits

Black Tailed Godwits, Blacktoft Sands reserve, England.

Canon 40D + 300 2.8 + x2 extender

A group of Godwits circled the lagoons before finally choosing a landing place.

Often members of such a group are hatched in Iceland during the northern summer and migrate SE to the UK by the same autumn.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Barn Owl, England.

Barn Owl, Blacktoft Sands Reserve, England.

Canon 20D + 100-400 + 1.4 extender.

At the perimiter of the reserve, several owl nest boxes are taken each summer by breeding
Barn Owls.

6.15 pm in June, one of the adult birds hunts over the marsh.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Howden Dam, Peak District, England.

Howden Dam, Peak District, near Sheffield, England.

Tranquil now.

During the dark days of World War 2, Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron trained here nightly in secret in preparation for their famous Dambuster raid against the Nazi held dams on the Ruhr.

Canon 40D + 24-105 lens. Rainy day.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Gannets Fighting

Gannet rivalry, Bempton, England.

Canon 20D + 300 2.8 + x2 extender

The broad cliff ledges and stacks at Bempton coastal reserve, England, in the breeding Gannet world is real-estate worth fighting for.

Skirmishing, stealing nest materials and attacking incoming birds are all par for the course.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Riding the gale

Gannet riding the gale, Bempton, England.

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

From the clifftop footpath, these birds were marvellous to watch, mastering the strong cliff updraughts.

However, being reletively close, fast and very sun reflective, photography of them was a different matter.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

North Sea Gannet [Juveniles]

Gannet [juvs], Bempton, Yorkshire, England.

Canon 10D + 300 2.8 + x2 extender.

In summer, when it is quieter along the clifftop footpath, Gannets tend to land near the clifftop, allowing for easier photography.

While adults collect grasses for their nests, juveniles rest and observe the goings on.

These juveniles will be 5 years old before attaining the pure white of adulthood.

Copyright: Kevin Smith