Rutland Birdfair 19th - 21st August

It's that time of year again when birders from Northants and beyond make the annual migration to Leicestershire for the Rutland Birdfair.

If you're looking for new optics, ideas for a birding holiday or just browsing the incredible artwork on display this is the place to be. If you've never been before you're in for a treat.

If you visit on the first day you could join in the debate as Mark Avery asks "Is there a future for grouse shooting" in the events marquee at 4.45pm

http://www.birdfair.org.uk/events/mark-avery-debates-driven-grouse-shooting-banned/

Or on Sunday at 3.30pm

http://www.birdfair.org.uk/events/inglorious-why-its-time-to-say-bye-bye-to-grouse-shooting-mark-avery/

I'll be volunteering at the event so if you're in marquee 7 or 8 on Saturday afternoon tap me on the shoulder and say hello, I won't say no to an ice-cream!

See you there.

http://www.birdfair.org.uk

African blues

Its been a little while now since the Northants Bird Club came back from South Africa.
David Arden has sent a few of his images from the trip, so I thought it would be nice to
share them with you and remind ourselves of a Great trip supported by Diverse Africa.

So in no particular order

Doesn't it take you back, Thank you David, for reminding us, with your lovely images.

N B C BBQ.

Last Wednesday evening offered a great opportunity for bird club members to catch up with
old and new friends alike. Relaxed discussions whilst enjoying burgers, sausages etc
cooked by Bob Gills own fair hand seemed to be the order of the day.

This is Bobs 2nd year of cooking the BBQ by himself and as yet no fatalities,  so not a bad  record then, so far. To be honest Bob spent most of the evening cooking, cleaning,
washing and ironing  not having enough time to enjoy a burger himself (never mind!).

Members enjoyed a stroll around the reservoir with highlights of Buzzards and Red Kite sightings.

Later on it seemed like everyone made for the indoors all vying to take photographs of a range of
insects that were on the loose, not only was it good fun to watch but good to know the varied interests of our members.
John Showers had also set up his microscope, coupled to a computer screen  and everyone took a good look at mini-beasts in great detail.

A big Thank-you to Sarah, John, Bob and all those that helped to  make the meeting a  success, I'm
sure everyone had a thoroughly good time.

A great venue with good nosh and a wonderfully friendly atmosphere, what more could you ask for.

Another one next year? we'll see what we can do.


On another note I was rather saddened to hear that our friend Frank Smith is not too well at this moment.

Green Sandpiper Pitsford

We all send our best wishes, get well soon Frank.

CLONING CLARITY

Jeff Blincow, hosted our Saturday morning Photographic meeting this last weekend .

This meeting was intended to show the different aspects and methods of making not
only good foto's into very good foto's but to retrieve desperate images into a state
you would be pleased to keep and not automatically put into the trashcan.

Jeff showed us a few tricks of the trade in not only cloning from one image, but also
how to amalgamate the best parts of two images into making one superb image.

Coupled with a good back grounding of editing processes Jeff also showed us how an
old and free editing program (paint shop pro) could hold its own with more up to date packages.

All in, we had a very informative and very interesting meeting that as far as I was
concerned could have gone on much longer.

I'm sure that all who attended went home with a few more skills and very much
appreciated all Jeff's efforts.

I  would just like to  Clarify one point however, that is these processes cannot be used in the
NBC photographic competition, but are are really useful for personnel and show images.

Many Thanks Jeff.

On another  note, an effort will be made for the Wednesday NBC meeting for a selection of
insects to be available to photograph, so please bring your cameras along.

Keep Clickin'..............Robin.

Photographic Meeting, Saturday 2nd July

Hi All,

A reminder of the meeting tomorrow at Anglian Water Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir, Holcot where Jeff Blincow will be giving us a talk on cloning. 

Here are before and after shots of an Indian Roller, see if you can spot the difference, 7 in all. If you'd like to see how it's done come along tomorrow for 10.15am to learn more.

We hope to see you there.