It’s been a while, but I was inspired to update this blog after some record temperatures, including thunderstorms, here in Dorset. Last Wednesday and Thursday were the hottest days since records began. The bird bath and nearby pond were full from overnight rain and attracted a great deal of interest from the local garden birds, all keen to drink and rehydrate. Five species caught my eye, so I grabbed my trusted and ageing Nikon D750 with a Tamron 100-400mm lens.
I use the Aperture priority setting on the camera. I fix the aperture at F8, the ISO at between 800 and 1600 and the shutter speed varies depending on the brightness of the image. I also set the White Balance to Shaded to suit the postioning of the bird bath next to bushes and a tall fence.
The five species were: Bullfinch ( a rare visit from this spectacularly colourful bird), Great Tit, Blue Tit (juvenile), Long Tailed Tit (both individually and in groups) and Goldfinch (another colourful bird). I was particularly pleased to see the Bullfinch. We rarely see one in the garden, and when we do it is normally hidden from view as it sits hidden by branches and leaves.
I was amazed at just how popular the bird bath proved to be on this occasion. Normally the bird bath just sits there and may get one or two visitors per day. But on this afternoon there was constant traffic. It was delightful just to sit on the nearby porch and capture photos of the birds and their interactions.
Stephen's Wildlife 