Sunday 30 October 2016

Changes to photographic competition rules

The photographic competition for 2016's photos will take place on 1st February 2017. The rules are broadly the same as last year as nobody has posted any comments on the proposed changes. However there are some changes which have been made necessary because we are having an external judge and his availability and mine is limited over late December and January. Please note the following:

1 Only photos submitted on CD/DVD or memory stick (the medium) will be accepted. (No emails will be accepted).

2 The closing date is the Bird Club Social on 13th December 2016.

3. All photos must be put into separate folders for each subject category and a clear list of subject and location supplied with the medium. This list can be a Word file on the medium or a legibly written list on a sheet of paper with the medium.

4. Up to three photos can be entered into the caption section (formerly it was only 1).

These rules will not be waived for anyone.

Saturday 29 October 2016

Indoor meeting 2nd Nov

Hello

Our next indoor meeting will be on Wednesday 2nd November 2016 when our guest speaker will be Tim Mackrill of the Rutland Water Osprey project. Tim will again provide a presentation on the project to introduce the unique Osprey to the skies of the Midlands, providing some additional information and an update from his previous talk to the club.

As usual our venue is the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir (NN6 9SJ) and we start promptly at 7.30pm with a few notices and then on to the guest presentation. Free hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening. We invite and look forward to meeting both members and non-members alike.

Regards

Neil McMahon



Osprey

Monday 24 October 2016

NBC Monthly Birding Trip

Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk,  was the meeting place for this months venue. On arrival all the
off road parking spaces were already taken, so we opted to park further up the lane. This was not
as easy as you might expect, the lane wasn't that wide and the verges quite narrow.

Eventually parked, we ambled down the long track toward the dunes. Mark had made us aware of two rare wheatears that might be available so hopes were high.

Good job we had a bit of nosh or "nosebag" as Dave Young would


 call it, before we left as it was a fare trek.The weather was very kind, bright and sunny with a slight breeze. But as a budding photographer a bit contrasty (one excuse).

Isabelline Wheatear




The first rare Wheatear we came across was a Isabelline. A rare eastern vagrant, a second for
me within a week as I had seen the Spurn bird earlier. Shortish tail accentuated by long legs
upright stance with a prominent dark alula , possibly the best features to look for.
Most people with a telescope had good views but it was flighty (excuse two). We only managed
distant shots.

The Stonechats would have looked like this, but with no leg iron


Two or three nice Stonechats performed but as I didn't want to incur the wrath of others they
remained distant.


Desert Wheatear



Desert Wheatear


Moving on the mobile Desert Wheatear was more obliging giving nice views, a more confiding
bird altogether but it nearly caused altercations amongst a couple of photographic plonkers.

Satisfied with the rather cute Desert Wheatear we wandered back toward the Isabelline.
However the small crowd we joined were waiting for a Pallas's Warbler. As ever Mark was quick
off the mark pun intended in locating this little gem. A gorgeous little thing preening in the
bushes. How these tiny mites ever arrive here is just amazing!

John and Wendy







Reaching the Isabelline again but it was still remaining distant. Slowly but surely we made our way
back when ever observant Mark noticed a couple of Grey Partridge slowly wander across the adjacent
field, this number magically rose to 5 or 6.
Now this bird has been in decline in recent years so I was quite excited to get some images even
though they were not that close and in high contrast light.

Last of the summer wine


Wandering up the narrow lane towards Bob's transport I could not believe the parking of vehicles after we had arrived. Virtually in the middle of the road with wing mirrors still stuck out, no way would a tractor have been able to get by.


WHHOOSH


A group of Waxwings  had been seen at Burnham Norton so that seemed a good place to go. Just behind a picturesque windmill a small  flock were perched in bushes.
Within a couple minutes a sparrow hawk appeared, whoosh the lot took flight.


Oops gotta go


Moving to Hunstanton cliffs where a short period  of sea-watching was performed then off home
to watch the recorded F1 qualifying.

Many Thanks to Bob Gill as always and for Trish and John for their pleasant company.

Friday 14 October 2016

NBC Photographic meeting

Hi Folks,

Our next photographic meeting "TALK" about MACRO will be on Saturday 22nd October,
at the usual venue the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford, kick off 10.15am.

We'll discuss the aspects of taking macro photography  of wild mini beasts and all that might
entail, including lenses, settings, etc.

It will be an informal meeting so please join in with questions, points  of view, ideas, etc.

Hopefully we will have a good chat and come away a little bit wiser, at least thats the idea.

Look forward to seeing you there, Coffee, T and bikkies will be available.

Cheerz for now Robin.



Wednesday 12 October 2016

This weeks competition

The first person to give the correct number of Knot in the photo will win this weeks prize.

A stunning pair of used wonky reading glasses

All entries in braille  to my e-mail  address please.


Saturday 1 October 2016

Indoor Meeting 5th October

Hello

The next indoor meeting of the club will be on Wednesday 5th October 2016, the venue again being the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir. Our speaker will be the Midlands RSPB Reserves Officer Mike Pollard who will illustrate a personal and corporate view of the work of the RSPB in the Midlands and provide an update on some of the flagship reserves such as Otmoor and Middleton Lakes.

The meeting will commence at 7.30pm with our Chairman Bob Gill presiding and members and non-members are invited to attend. Free hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening.

Please make every effort to attend!

Regards

Neil McMahon



Bittern and Turtle Dove.
Both these rare species
breed on RSPB Midlands
reserves...