A few days ago I had two days off work so having not been to my favourite UK reserve; Bempton Cliffs RSPB in East Yorkshire, this year, I decided to follow the annual pilgrimage to this fantastic seabird spectacle. The day produced a number of different images of the seabirds that grace the sea cliffs and reserve environs, and there will be a number of future posts to cover all the images take on the day. There are a few historic posts on this website about the location and its star bird is the Gannet (Morus bassanus). A beautiful species with a six foot wingspan; the adults are black and white with a diffuse yellow colour on the head, a menacing ivory coloured bill and a bright blue eyering. You can often get very close views of these majestic birds at this site but it depends on their nesting locations, which can vary from year to year (they have a lot of available cliff space!) and also the weather. I will start the Bempton exhibition with the images below captured during a very close encounter with an adult Gannet.
These three images show a standard close up portrait aimed at showing the detail of the head plumage, a preening individual and a slightly different crop showing an inquisitive expression. Click on the images to see the large versions.
1/1600s, f5.6, ISO 200 @ 300mm, -1.0 exposure bias
1/2000s, f5.6, ISO 200 @ 300mm, -1.0 exposure bias
1/1000s, f5.6, ISO 200 @ 300mm, -0.66 exposure bias
Stunning shots Matt. They are special birds don't you think? I really enjoy looking at their colouring.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Matt. How do you get so close with a 300mm? And, as I said, you are the best. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWow I'm terribly jealous. It is very hard to get that close to them over here as the main colony is an Island, only the one in the North is acessbile but Iðve then to drive for 7 hours ;-)
ReplyDeleteThese shots are fantastic Matt and the details very nice and crisp!
Many thanks all. These are special birds.
ReplyDeleteBob - thank you! I got close to this individual with a lot of luck and patience.
Thanks Chris - sounds like you need to hire a boat or visit the UK!
Awesome stuff
ReplyDeleteI my goodness Matt, these images are absolutely brilliant, the clarity, the expressions, just priceless stuff~
ReplyDeleteMatt. Stunning images as always...looking forward to the rest of the " Bempton Exhibition " .. I am hoping to follow in your footsteps this week with a visit to Bempton..just hope the weather behaves itself !!
ReplyDeleteOh my good...vilka bilder du levererar!!!
ReplyDeleteFantastiskt!
Fin skärpa, fin bakgrund, bra komposition och en underbar teckning i "pälsen"...grattis till fina bilder!!
Steffe from Sweden! :-)
Incredible photographs.......I've only seen Gannets flying offshore barely visible in the binocs! What an experience...
ReplyDelete