Another early start

15th July 2012

Mrs Duffish, possibly envious of my exploits the other morning, woke me at 4:20 saying "Did you want to photograph another sunrise?"

We set off to a clear sky and a crescent moon...

Not enough time for a run to anywhere with water or a sea view so a quick run up amongst the pigeons and rabbits along Warter Road to find a view spot.

The clouds came almost at once...

But the sun was putting up a good fight with the gathering clouds...

The sun was picking out highlight in the clouds...

In fact, as long as the sunrise was obscured the clouds became the focus of attention...

They started to look almost threatening...

And then the sun started to show...

The tripod and plate had been remembered this time, so these pictures were taken at anything from 1/6th second to one second exposure...

It was turning into the opposite of Friday when a bright start disappeared before breakfast.  Despite the red sky the sun burnt off the cloud for a good finish...

As the clouds were clearing we returned for a hasty breakfast and then off to Tophill Low reserve.  One of the benefits of membership is access out of hours and we arrived about 6am.

The reserve was a riot of flowers, especially orchids...

The Observer has noted that the wet summer has been good for orchids.

Can you tell what it is yet?

How about now?

We were being carefully watched by a roe deer.

As the sun became stronger and the water became blue, a rare seaside moment...

There were very few birds of interest, but an enjoyable walk nonetheless.

A Moorhen posed briefly...

And a rather scruffy-looking Lapwing...

And a first for the blog, an invisible Reed Warbler...

Will the flowers be as good as last year?

Saturday 14 July 2012

A walk along the top of Great Dug Dale, which had impressed last year with a profusion of flowers, planted as a shelter break for the pheasants and partridges.  Only a short walk (the knees are improving though) but it seemed that there were other plans for this year, not many flowers in sight...

A pleasant walk on a bright day, and given an inch of rain on top of "The wettest June since..."  firm underfoot.  But a bit short, however, of the banks of flowers we had hoped for.

Quite unlike last year, when I took the following photos between the 30th June and  5th July...

Hundreds of Marbled Whites...

Meadow Brown...

Small Tortoiseshell, which are said to be in decline this year.  Given this summer I am not surprised.  Next year, given a fair chance from the summer, the farmers and the gamekeepers, I am sure they can make a comeback.  (I say the gamekeepers not because they go out and stalk and shoot butterflies (an interesting thought, though) but because of the cover crops for game birds that support so much wildlife.

Red-legged Partridge (aka French Partridge in these parts) watching on like a grumpy old man (leave that to me - ed)

I assume this is a day-flying moth, but no idea as to the identification...

Ditto...

More of the Marbled Whites...

The wheat was a bit further on, and attracting admirers..

But back to this year, there were still a few creatures of note which were worth recording...

Hover flies

A well fed bumble

It was lovely listening to the birds, even if none of them were obliging to this bad bird photographer.  Skylarks were an almost constant with chaffinch, goldfinch, yellowhammer and whitethroat all flitting and singing just out of sight and range.  A very pleasant walk.

Sunrise

Friday the 13th!  Actually this is the third Friday 13th so far this year.

Woke up at stupid o'clock and realised that I wasn't going back to sleep easily.  Looked out and saw the moon in the lightening sky, and thought "Sunrise must be soon".  Other birds were joining in with the Song Thrush.

Flask of coffee, tripod and camera bag and off to find a location.  Not enough time to to get to the coast so thought to try the North Dalton to Warter road.  Took the first picture at about 4:20am...

The sky had yellows, blues but mostly red.  "Red sky in the morning...."

Realised that I didn't have the mounting plate for the tripod (it was back at home on the telescope),  so all the photos are hand held and I apologise if the quality is a bit iffy.  I am afraid that the mantras of "tack sharp focus" and " hyperfocal distance"  got a bit forgotten in fumbling in the near dark for a vantage point.

Hedges and wires were getting in the way so drove towards the sun and a bit of elevation at Tibthorpe.  The roads were empty of traffic but full of wildlife.  Mostly Wood Pigeons of which there were thousands but everything seemed to want to sit on the roads for a kip.  A  few dozen family groups of hares, and the odd deer, but quick to move out of the way.  There is a new wind turbine but I couldn't seem to find an angle with the rising sun.

 So just took what I could...

On to Sir Tatton Sykes monument to get a bit more elevation...

The monument looking quite splendid in the morning light.

By about 5:10 the cloud that the the red sky had threatened was starting...

By 6:00 the sky was a flat grey/white.  If I had slept till a sensible time I would have missed the whole thing. 

(A note about times.  When I looked at the time codes on the photos I couldn't understand the times they were saying.  When I checked the clock on the camera it was 40 minutes slow (or, given that I set it when I bought the camera in January 2011 and never thought to look at it again, 20 minutes fast).  I will go back and where necessary apply corrections indicated by saying "about".  Suitably chastened I promise to check it more often).