daz vernon

I had a rare opportunity to actually get out on my own with the camera the other day.  So after dropping my son off at work at the local stables I headed for Blidworth Woods.  I’d had several aborted attempts at taking some pictures there but my plans had always been thwarted by the weather.  Dryest spring for 100 years?  My arse!  Anyway on this particular day my luck was in: dry, warm and sunny.

So I arrived at the car park, got my kit ready and set off.

About an hour and a half later (after having not taken a single picture and walking God knows how many miles) I realised I was completely lost!  Note to self: next time take a map!  I eventually managed to find my way to a car park at the complete opposite end of the wood and with the help of the ‘You Are Here’ tourist map was able to get myself back on the right track towards my car.  Another long and fruitless trudge followed.

One hundred yards away from my car and still without a shot being fired I became aware of a cuckoo which was perched high in the trees directly above me.  I don’t think that I’ve ever been this close to one.  Usually I’ve only ever heard their calls from far away, but to have one directly above me was something else.  Having fitted my 50mm f1.8 to my camera at the start of my walk, I thought I’d take the chance and swap over to my 70-300mm to see whether or not I might be lucky enough to actually photograph the bird.  I knealt on the ground, fitted the lens and as I got back to my feet was just in time to see the cuckoo fly off into the wood.  Bugger!

Oh well.  Maybe next time.

I was joined fleetingly by a spotted woodpecker but it was too quick for me.  I missed that too.

I ended up having to console myself with photographing a very obliging dragonfly.  The next time I’ll make sure that I select a more suitable lens from the offset and I certainly won’t bother venturing too far into the woods – all the action seems to be much closer to home!

Enjoy the pics.