Macro Studio

I have built a small studio in the spare room, this is going to be used mainly for moths. I only have 2 perches at the moment. You may recognise the one below. I'm always on the look out for new perches and ideas for them. My studio set up is My Canon 7D, 100mm IS USM Marcro, 2 Tripods, 1 580X II Speedlite with off camera chord and wireless shutter release. I use G-clamps, blu-tac and sellotape to keep the perches in place. Macro Photography is quickly becoming my favourite as Bird photography is very frustrating at times. Especially with the bad weather of late, so being able to stay at home and spend 2 hours on a few moth shots is much more practical and a lot less wet !

Buff Ermine

Not quite sure what this is only that it is a paracitic wasp type insect. This came out of what I thought was 5 Spot Burnett moth

I also found a Poplar Hawk Moth, Beautifull moth ! Can't wait to get my moth trap up and running.

These Next to images show how important reflectors are. The image below I didn't use a reflector but the one below that I did. My reflector is just cardboard wrapped in Foil.

The wasp came out of this

Poplar Hawk Moth

Photos form the last few weeks

Photography has been slow the last couple of weeks with weather being very unpredictable and havng to work alot. But thought I would share some recent images since my last post. 2 lifers since then in Marsh Warbler and Roller. Year list has also got up to 147 hopefully be at 150 for the end of the month.

Fox

Lesser Stag Beetle

Lesser Stag Beetle

Marsh Warbler

Juv Great Black-backed Gull

Gannet Pair

Gannet

Guillemot

Hare

Covenham Reservoir 28/05

1st Visit to my patch Covenham Reservoir for the first time in a while in hope of greenshank, little stint and sanderling. 2 year ticks and 2 covenham ticks. I ended up dipping on Little Stint and Sanderling. I managed Greenshank Cov and year tick. Also I found a Wood Sandpiper only my second ever 1st for Cov and year tick :) Not much else aroun really. the reservoir was still no wind at all it was freaky being there silent at times. Also on route I found a Dead female Sparrowhawk

Wood Sandpiper

Ugly Covenham Resevoir

Common Gull that sadly won't make it the night

Hard shooting against the sun still my best shots of Wood Sandpiper

Still Water

Yellow Wagtail

Dead female Sparrowhawk

Messingham Sand quarry

Did My first ever summer visit to Messingham Sand Quarry. And what a place it is hundreds of damselflies and even more wierd insect life. Lots of new ticks for me although I still don't know half the things I was looking at ! 3 Year ticks aswell, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler and Hobby. Taking me up to 139 for the year. I will be returning to Messingham it's an amazing place.

Couple of hours around Brigsley

Catching up on some recent outings around Brigsley over the last week. Finally managed some sunshine. My first Damselfly back in the village aswell as Whitethroat, House Martin and Reed Warbler. Also saw my first ever Muntjac whilst out and about.

Cleethorpes to Fitties 04/05/12

A spare afternoon gave me chance to head down to Cleethopres in search of Grasshopper warblers, I did manage to get one another year tick takes me 136 :) The weather was very hit and miss but managed some alright shots. I was messing around with wide angle shots of Swans at the boating lake which I must try again at some point ! 41 Mute swans and 1 Black swan throughout the day including 16 on the boating lake is the highest count I have had. Nothing else apart from 3 Wheater at Fitties and 2 Oystercatcher.

1 of 16 Mute swan at the Boating Lake Cleethorpes

Coot

Northern Wheater

Possible Greenland race of wheater