New Camera, 30.1.2019.

Well, since thinking about it since before Christmas finally took the plunge and bought the next one up from my other camera, the Nikon P900, 83x zoom

The new camera is the Nikon P1000 which is a massive 125 times zoom!, quite a bit heavier than my P900 but still not as heavy as a SLR with big zoom lens.

Was looking forward to the Blood Wolf moon and had my camera and tripod ready but it turned out too cloudy in the end, a shame but that's nature isn't it.

So it was down to Reddish Vale Country Park to try out the big camera, a lot bigger than the other one so had to buy a bigger bag of course, and a filter lens as well.

Once again I was thwarted with the weather, wet and very windy, the sun broke though the clouds at times but the strong wind wouldn't let me focus at times with the tree branches playing havoc with the focusing, still here are a few of the pictures taken over the past few days.

Anyone home?.

  

Sun coming out

 

Not sure the new camera is better than my other one

Still the weather isn't helping in the decision.

One of my favourite birds.

Plenty of them around.

Seems a bit early to be nest building, perhaps just showing a female his prowess in collecting.

This goose doing his Long John Silver impression, Ah Jim Lad!!.

Wind blowing his tuft about.

Don't know if this is the young Great Crested Grebe from last years brood, could be returning to his home area?.

So a couple of days down the Vale and still no wiser if I've wasted my money as I've taken the same pictures in the past with my smaller camera, though to be fair will have to wait for better weather and try again.

Didn't even venture out today with heavy fall of snow but at least its melted away this evening, will have to see what tomorrow brings!.

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Christmas festivities over. 2018.

Well that's another Christmas and new year over and the shops and Garden centres busy putting all the Christmas stuff away until next year!.

The early hours of Christams Eve morning I became a Great granddad, with grandson's wife producing an 11lb 6oz boy.

Here he is only a few days old and already looking 3mths old!

We has a good Christmas with Dinner with the Family and before I knew it, another birthday had come around for me

So on the big day, it was the  Dog Walkers we hang out with celebrating my birthday with a party at the Windmill Pub at the dinner time and then a visit to Frankie & Benny's at teatime with some of the family, understandably the new parents couldn't make it.

I'm put on a bit of weight, but there again I've have a lot on my plate lately!.

The next day it was a nice dinner at friends Bob & Joyce's house, they had wanted us to go on the day but we had made arrangements weeks earlier, it was still a nice day out and made my day again, Pepe enjoyed a sausage too!.

Been to Reddish Vale during and after the holidays and got a few more pictures of the parakeets which I think are very cute.

Got a first for me this week with this beautiful male Pochard all on his own, perhaps just passing though looking for a mate, most of the Reddish Vale website members managed to get his picture but by the time the workers arrived at the weekend he was gone!.

Looking at the British Birds App on my phone the females look a bit like female Mallards so one might have been there but I missed it, though no one else saw one either so I don't feel like I've let myself down.

The female look like they have black eyes instead of that lovely red 

Hansome fellow isn't he. 

Have to keep my eyes open at the present as there are usually quite a few birds passing though and stopping for a rest and a snack from the visitors with their packets of seeds.

Been a bit wet lately but this picture taken on a good day, spot the heron on the bottom right.

Zoom in!.

Then here it is on full zoom.

The Bug house next to the toilets has been given a name.

That's a full size container behind it so gives you an idea on the size, A bug skyscraper!.

Can you name these others?, if not get down to the Vale for a walk and chat in the Info Centre where you always get a friendly welcome.

Others views of the park from the Brinnington side of the arches.

Well that's all for today, now the festivities are over perhaps get back to normal and post a bit more regular again.

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