convinced myself not to get one but bought a Canon R6 to see if the much hypoed AF abilities worked in challenging situations - the jury is still out after a few days of bright overhead sun and less than co-operative subjects - it seems to work well on Ashy Mining Bees! BUT harriers against a cluttered backdrop - camera says no - its a steep learning curve but these are a few early results
Still a few Common Crossbills in the forest and possibly breeding - this Kestrel was catching what I assumed to be Common Lizards but the only time it came up with prey it was totally hidden in the bunch of molinia that it took with it
better light today but the birds were more jumpy and tending to perch behind twigs and when you have November sun you have shadows
spent a long time waiting for these crossbills to come a bit lower down out of the big pines but when they did it was truly dull, 2000 ISO and only getting about 800th sec but the colours actually don't seem too bad and maybe better than full sun; make the best of what's on offer - considerable variation in bill size and dimensions between different birds - one male with a bit of a pale gc bar -- feeding mainly in Scots Pines but occasionally on spruce buds
its been one of those autumns where everything I seem to see is fleeting or elusive or both - haven't taken a decent image for weeks - on paper days like yesterday look OK; Olive-backed Pipit seen well by two of the crew but for me just a calling fly over, Pallas's warbler seen for less than minute at dusk, Dusky Warbler one calling and a couple of days previous calling and brief flight view, Yellow-browed Warbler just a few seconds view, Firecrest looking up into the canopy, Siberian Chiffchaff wrong side of the river, but the Redstart, tired Redwing and 5 Crossbills showed well and a Woodcock landed briefly in an awkward pose on the track -- luck must change soon and still finding nothing - that Bluetail must be just around the corner! also a juvenile Peregrine from earlier in the week
