Pot-shots

Wednesday, 31st March 2004
Wild West Yorkshire nature diary

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Pot-shot: A shot aimed, esp. unexpectedly or without giving any chance for self-defence, at a person or animal within easy reach; a random shot.

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

Testing out our new Canon PowerShot G5 digital camera I'm impressed by how spectacular our regular pheasant looks through the viewfinder as I photograph him through the patio window. I like those ear-tufts.

My friend Jeanne in Minnesotta has asked if I can get some shots of birds coming to the recycled bottle feeders she sent me (see 14th March). As soon as I poke my camera out of the back bedroom window the lone house sparrow that is feeding flies away and sits frustratingly nearby in the hedge with the rest of the chirupping flock.

I have better luck downstairs - there really is a sparrow there . . .

. . . as you can see in this detail. Not a very impressive first attempt at bird feeder photography but I can see the possibilities. I took these during our afternoon tea-break but I can imagine the results I might get if I took the subject more seriously; if I used the garden shed as a bird hide for instance.

Out-takes

One of the great things about digital photography is that you can delete the out-takes and it's cost you nothing. Before I delete them I thought you might like to see some of the-ones-that-got-away:


Down amongst the daffodils.	The pheasant becomes a blur as I try to pan with him across the patio.	He puffs himself up and gives a 'grockling' call but by the time I press the button he's looking distinctly deflated.

Richard Bell, richard@willowisland.co.uk

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