~2B2H

It's the way nature gets to you. You deal with all the stresses of everyday life then something happens that just like some magic elixir, vanquishes all your problems. Not that I have too many atm as I feel well and good (though a little broader around the middle!) Anyway, I digress. I have for some time wanted to photograph Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. I saw them in the woods where I normally frequent last year but I have not been able to revisit this year through one reason or another. Anyhow (and this may be a lesson for us all) through placing regular feeders out, I was delighted to see a couple of new visitors the other day. Luckily I had already set my hide up nearby (and as I watched them from the house) they often landed on top of it

I set to work and having found an old fence post, I chopped it to a manageable size (so the top would be approx level with the camera) and placed it into the Christmas tree stand. This saves digging unecessary holes in the garden and also gives me the flexibility to place it wherever I want. I attached a wire feeder (for peanuts) at the rear of the post near to the top. In addition I drilled several holes into the post and inserted peanuts. I then set up the camera and waited. Several times the pair, an adult and juvenile, would appear. Rather than spook them I waited for the adult to settle and start on the peanuts. Then it came. That humbling moment. As the youngster sat on top of the post the adult moved up the post and fed it. It was wonderful to be sat less than 10 feet away and witness something like this. being a city 'lad' these were the first I had been able to truly watch and it was wonderful. I could have quite happily just sat and watched them but as I had the camera handy I managed to take some pics, 4 of which I have just uploaded from the sequence.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I have taking them

My wife and I decided to pay a visit to a local pub for a quiet drink. The one we chose is on the banks of the River Exe at Bickleigh in Devon. We sat outside chatting whilst my beady eyes kept an eye open. This is what I saw.

1. Herring Gull x 2
2. Cormorant
3. Grey Heron - downstream and stalking
4. Mallard x 2
5. Crows
6. a bat

The last was a complete surprise (not that I expected 2 or 3 ). The creature was so small i first thought is was a large moth but it hung around (!) long enough for me to see it wasn't. Kept flying in the same area above our heads presumably after the gnats that were everywhere. You could quite clearly see the distinctive wing pattern. very possibly a Pipistrelle due to the size but that is a guess and the fact it is the most common here in the UK.

I also got my Nikon AF-s VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED macro today. Couldn't resist giving it a tryout However the 'real' fun will have to wait as I'm tiling the bathroom atm and have been doing other stuff (hence the lack of postings recently). I've booked some time off from 18th April so I'm really looking forward to getting back out again with my new toys.

and graphics......
















...until I get something I like and I can understand what's happening with the code. So expect plenty of changes then






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Journal Graphics © :Carl Skepper:

Member of:
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Journal Graphics © :Carl Skepper:

Well I have decided to make a committment to my art and invested in some new tools. Firstly a new camera - the Nikon D200. I will still use the lenses from my D50 (although a replacement for the basic 70-300 zoom will be on the cards as soon as I can afford it) and I have the Nikon macro on order which should be with me in a few weeks. The camera is a 10 mega pixel beast which will assist with improved quality of any prints that need to be done. I have also purchased Photoshop CS2 and even though I only received it yesterday I love it! It will take some time to become accustomed to the new kit but no doubt I can rely on you good people to keep the great critique incoming with the submissions I make

In addition I have also upgraded my OS to Vista (from Windows 2K). My advice to anyone considering this - buy the clean install version and NOT the upgrade. Why? Well if you need to reinstall Vista you will first have to *install* the old OS before you can use the Vista disk - a REAL PITA!!

With this influx I also intend to update my website and spruce up my journal too

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