Great Black-backed gull. First winter plumage. These gulls are the largest gull we get in the UK and Ireland. At a height of 64-78 cm and a wingspan of 150 – 165 cm. These gulls are as large has most geese.
This shot was taken on the shore of Strangford lough, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Has with last weeks photo this weeks follows a similar train of thought. With little detail and blur in the image. A couple of years back I read a book that looked at how a photograph does not always have to be in focus. While unpacking some boxes from storage I came across this book and decided to explore this idea. While not being an award winning image, it is fun to step outside the box or should that be my box.
The Magpie.
Thank you for visiting.
George.
This weeks shot come from my Sunday walk around Hillsborough Forest Park, County Down, Northern Ireland.
The Mute Swan.
This was edited in Lightroom then finished in Silver Efex Pro 2 which is a B&W editor.
Thank you for viewing and feel free to comment.
George.
On my way back home from picking up some decorating supplies I stopped of at Hillsborough forest park. Well I needed to get some air and a break from working. With the fine weather the park was busy and a parking spot was hard to find. I was in the park around 2.30 pm. This time of year the sun starts to set around 3.30 / 4 pm. So time to find a few shots on my walk around the lake. The low winter sun was throwing a warm light onto the lake and trees and I wasn’t the only photographer out and about.
Right lets get started.
Holly and cobwebs, the low sun back lighting and adding a rim light to the leaves and stems.
Blue skies and reflections.
The light breaking through the trees spot lighted these young ferns.
Sycamore leaf in its winter wardrobe.
I don’t know the name off this fungus , but if you were ever a Star Trex fan it might be call the Enterprise. Google it if you never saw it.
Mute swan Cygnet
Mute Swan.
A Cormorant taking off, it uses it feet to help it get airborne by pushing them against the water surface.
A more peaceful image of a duck silhouetted against the brightly light water.
Thank you for joining me,
George.
So I’ve been a little quiet on the blog, I’ve been busy moving to my new place to live. So for the first in a month I had a few hours to spare and it being a beautiful autumn day here I took a drive to the County Down coast. A few gentle walks and just parking up in other spots, it was an easy day. Chatted to a couple of other photographers and those just out for a stroll. So a few photos from today, Think the title might give a clue…
Grey Heron ( Ardea cinerea )
A Curlew ( Scolopacidae ) I spooked from its resting place.
Black headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in winter plumage.
In full song a Robin ( Erithacus rubecula )
A couple of Cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae )
Not a 100 percent but I think this is called a Skiff. So if any person knows what they are could you let me know. Check this link
The Grey Seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) and they are not all grey in colour.
Heading back towards Strangford.
Next a few shots of the Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta )
these birds flying in the photo’s are Lapwings ( Vanellinae )
Peace at last..
Unless he know’s different..
Don’t like the look of him..
So like my flying friend it’s time to go, hope you enjoyed the day out and you will join me another time. Thank you and take care.
George.
This week its a B&W butterfly the Pieris rapae, small white or Small Cabbage White.
This was shot using a Nikon D7200 and Sigma 105 macro lens. Converted to B&W in Lightroom.
Thank you for visiting and please feel free to comment, like or dislike.
Have a great day,
George
It’s been a while since I last posted, I had planned to stop this blog due to a number of things. Number one on the list was no motivation, so now having rested and with the support from friends plus followers from the blog, let’s continue. Thank you all.
Bee’s and Butterflies.
We have had a hot summer here in Ireland, not much rain. Hosepipe ban’s and a lot of native people with a tan. Both rare in Ireland. With all this sunshine the butterflies are around in large numbers. The other thing I have been photographing is bee’s. Not to hard a subject has they flirt with the Blackberry flowers in the hedgerows.
I liked the fly which was captured in this shot.
This is a Ringlet which is getting a little worn looking.
So I decided bee’s flying would be a good subject to try, have you ever tried to photograph them in flight. It great fun and the hours disappear. So armed with a Nikon D7200 and a Sigma 105mm Macro lens fitted, a nice sunny day to keep shutter speeds up into battle I went.
Why do bee’s always take off facing the wrong way, this kind of shot was the flavor off the first hour or so. I don’t give in easy. A coffee break and it was back to the front line. I started to notice bee’s lift the rear end up slightly before take off. Which didn’t help when they are going the wrong direction. So in between the bee’s I got some other close up’s ( these a chopped in post).
Hover fly.
Clover flower caught in a light breeze. Yes it’s the effect of the slight movement that I like in this shot.
Not a hundred percent on this plant but I think it’s English Plantain. These plant shots were taken by lying on the ground with the camera. Focusing in live view, use the self timer and press the shutter release. Right back to the bee’s.
After about two hours my success rate way getting better. I enjoyed this little challenge and will give it another try. Might try flash the next time. Now on to some butterflies. The next shots are Large Cabbage whites.
The large cabbage white from different angles. Was going to try shooting these in flight but did not get one sharp shot. Bee’s are easy compared to butterflies.
For the final photo I’ll leave you with my favourite, a close up of one feeding.
Thank you for joining me in the garden, please feel free to comment. I would love to hear your thoughts or tips on shooting these subjects.
George.
Had the pleasure one evening watching a Ring necked Pheasant as it and a couple of hen Pheasants fed while crossing some scrub ground. While the hens kept under cover in the longer grasses the cock remained in the open, like me was keeping watch.
Here he stands in the warm evening sun light showing off his well tailored suit and face markings.
They make a range of sounds has they communicate with each other, from crowing to beating there wings. Sometimes both at the same time.
The above sequence of shots show the wing beating without the crowing. Below a couple of photographs from him crowing Pheasant calling
These Photographs where taken over a half hour period where I used a fence post has a make shift tripod. Shot with a Nikon D7200 and a Sigma 150 – 600 mm Telephoto lens. Processed and cropped in Lightroom. My last shot of the evening was where I caught him crossing a break in the ground cover and the warm light on his back.
I put the camera down and spent the last ten minutes just enjoying the scene.
Hope you have enjoyed seeing this beautiful bird with me and thank you for visiting.
George.
Was sitting in the garden at my mum’s house I spotted this Blue tit flying to the back of an old shed. I took the camera and set myself on a low dry stone wall and watched. It was supplying food for it’s family nesting under the roof.
For those interested in more information on the Blue Tit: Here
Thank you for visiting.
George.
News:
In July this blog and The Eye of Seoirse will be stopping when payment for the domain name is due, I won’t be renewing. I now feel it is not worth the work and effort in relation to the views or feed back they now receive.
I would like to thank all that have followed and commented over the years. To the small group that have supported me, you know who you are. A big thank you from the bottom of my heart goes out to you.
There will be other posts up until July. My Photography can still be seen on Instagram, user name below.
@ vision_of_seoirse
Flicker link: George McNeill Photography
Say hello georgemcneill58 at g mail dot com.
Portmore lough is in County Antrim here in the north of Ireland. It is one of the RSPB nature reserve’s I like to visit Portmore a few times a year. Spring time brings in the Common Tern to the nesting rafts on the lough and so on a hot sunny spring day ( note these are not words we use a lot in Ireland ) I arrive at the reserve. With only a few cars parked up it meant the hide by the lough would be quiet. The walk to the hide showed butterflies and damselflies were out, but a breeze blowing made closeups difficult.
Blue Damselfly. Getting a shot of this was hard work, even this one could have been sharper.
Yep it’s a red Damselfly. These seemed to land on the ground which helped with the wind, but hard on the knees.
Black-veined white butterfly. This one is a little battered, it was the only shot I got plus a workout. Then it was into the bird hide or bird blind depending when you are from. Two women were there and after a short update on what was seen I set up the camera. There are three nesting rafts and has well as Common Tern’s there was Blacked Gulls nesting.
A Common Tern bring in lunch. I sat and watched the coming and goings around the rafts for an hour. I find by spending time studying these birds, patterns arise. This helps to get photographs, so lets meet the Common Tern and Black Headed gull.
This photograph shows the Common Tern ( left) and the Black Headed Gull.
This gull is a young immature Black headed gull. On the way back to the car park I stopped close to the feeders and shot this Sparrow.
I believe this is a House sparrow. So it was back to the car and pack my gear away and the 40 minute drive home.
Thank you for visiting.
George.
George McNeill Photography 
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