Early last Sunday morning....

[squidfish]

Hi

I was out first light on Sunday morning to see if I could find a Purple Sandpiper, although have never actually found one before. At the first location none were to be found but plenty of redshank and dunlin coming in to roost over the high tide. A dunlin in the cold early morning light just before sun up.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/dunl10.jpg


Then the sun rose and the odd beam started to hit the top of the rocks. Any bird the light hit shone like a beacon. In this case a redshank.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/spotlightshank.jpg


The birds had not fully settled and a large group of dunlin took off and almost looked like a swarm of giant bees in the first light...not that I really did them justice with this shot.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/dunfl.jpg

Before settling back down again..


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/landing-2.jpg

Decided to head back home for some breakfast. The Purple sandpiper would have to wait until another day. Couldn't resist a quick stop-off at the Curlews waking-up on the way home.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/culcal.jpg

For some reason I decided to check one more place on the way home. Looked over the seawall to the rocks below and there wasn't one of the scarce purple sandpiper but six!!!! Bit like public transport ..you wait for ages then several arrive at once. However, the light was not good due to shelter of the seawall so I had some time to kill before the sun moved round. A large group of sanderling were moving in perfect unison until scattered by a dog walker.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/sands.jpg



Then the sun finally hit the top of the rocks and fortunately on of the sandpipers decided to wake up and have a bit of a wander. Up until this point they had all been asleep with their heads tucked across their backs.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/purp6.jpg


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/purp1.jpg

Cheers

Rich

[Andreas Werth]

Wow Rich,
i think you are getting serious about that bird thing ;-)

[squidfish]

LOL...I must be Andreas, to be getting up early on a Sunday morning :)

Cheers

Rich

[phishphorphun]

All good hunters are in their "stand" before daybreak. Rich, you are no exception.:lol:

I was in North Carolina last week for national sales meetings and shared a room with a pro photograher. He insists that the only time to shoot outside is a half hour to an hour AFTER sunrise and BEFORE sunset:exclaim:

He, similar to Rich, travels to predetrmined locations around the country and overseas to be at the right place when the sun is perfect. His last two locations were the New Mexico deserts and across the pond to Scotland.

I really like the sunlight and exposure on the second shot. The redshank looks like it has a spotlight from a stage floor shining on it.B-)

[dnrdarryl]

VERY nice lighting. I didn't think the sun shined in UK this time of year.

[squidfish]

Bobby the good thing about the winter is your don't have to be up early for first light :), problem is the afterwork sessions are lost as its dark before I have left the office :(

Greg, looks like they might be right about global warming :), but you still have to try and catch the sunny moments between the rain clouds.

Cheers

Rich

[JerseyJay]

Excellent series !

My mind is playing tricks on me again. After last year's 400mm f/2.8 dream (*being THIS close to pushing BUY button) I am once again finding myself itching for a long lens. I guess I'm waiting for 500mm VR ;)

[Travis Bickle]

Bobby the good thing about the winter is your don't have to be up early for first light :), problem is the afterwork sessions are lost as its dark before I have left the office :(
Wow, much like us. I enjoy the early part also. Dark at 5pm is not much fun though... It's the only thing I dislike about where I live.

The light in 2,3 & 4 is really nice. The sand pipers are quite cute. I have never seen flocks of them before around here, I don't think.