Canon EOS 7D MkII at Wilstone

The forecast was for a dusting of snow at around eight and it was likely not to settle for long and simply become dull, but I awoke to no more than a light suggestion on the roofs of cars. Then a while later the sun appeared to break through weakly, but it lasted barely an hour before a couple more fitful falls of snow returned; it looked as if any chance of using my newly acquired EOS 7D MkII  this day had diminished to zero, so I busied myself cleaning and tidying for the next few couples viewing the house, and just hoping I might get half a chance to go out and not be around for when they came. I took the opportunity to put some washing into the machine and paid the gas bill and posted it off and ran through the rigmarole of paying the Vodafone bill via a semi-automated numbers game and transferred cash to cover the camera body to avoid going overdrawn, and as I left the house to post the gas cheque, I found the sun was out and the sky had cleared!

I hastily gathered up the 7D MkII and the Tamron 150-600mm lens and headed for Wilstone Reservoir for a change, parking alongside the cemetery. The walk was slippery in parts, but I managed to keep my balance, and told myself to take extra care, as to damage the kit on its first outing didn’t bear contemplating. Arriving at the lake, I saw very little avian activity, even fewer humans walking dogs or children; I did see a few coots, but they hold no attraction. I walked towards the centre of that side, and caught sight of a wagtail, but before I could even get close or a clear view, it took off and away towards the fields rather than along the shore line, passing the little promontory with a bench I did then catch sight of some grebe and pochard ducks, but at first they were against the sun and rather too distant, but as I turned the corner at the end of that side, I saw others much closer to the shore.

I was in luck after all. There were more pairs of grebe, and some youngsters more coots and more pochard; at last I got to take pictures and the lens and the new body performed beautifully, exceeding expectations, and the shutter was both fast and quiet. For quite a time I forgot the biting wind, cheerily greeted those that past and got into conversation with some the others who had braved the conditions to be out in the sunshine, the longest conversation being with a man called Dave who was a gaffer in the movie business, and he seemed to be known to several passers-by as we chatted and I occasionally grabbed a few likely shots. After he departed I stayed probably another hour and more before finally succumbing to the bitter cold as the sun became weaker and was swallowed by the clouds; I took a very brisk pace as I strode back to the car as my body needed to generate some heat.

Amongst the chats I learned that red crested pochard were now on the Tringford lake which was news, so I can see I will be down at the Tring reservoirs when next the sun shines, as they are truly beautiful birds.

Tring Reservoir Trip

After Several Days of Rain, the morning was true to the forecast – frosty and bright, and this corresponded to my waking after four hours of sleep and finding that try as I might I was unable to get back and sleep a further few hours, so I was obviously destined for this trip to the reservoirs.

I did not leave particularly early, but after gathering my gear, I was out, by half past seven, but there was still the frost to clear from the car windows, so it was mint chocolate square before I arrived and parked the car close by Tringford, and took the path between Marsworth and Startops reservoirs. After passing through the gateI spotted a pair of robins flitting from bush to bush and singing brightly, so turned around and gathered a jar of seeds I had in the car, and this time started laying a few on each fence post that was either in the sun, or about to be. This turned out to be fruitless, so I got shots of one of them in the high branches trilling melodiously instead.

I had hoped that the swans might be as restless as on my last visit, but the only pair in flight took off from Startops and flew diagonally beyond the trees, till the corner before landing once more on Marsworth, all too far away even for 400mm! I never saw them in flight again this time.

I chose to walk along the path towards Bulbourne in the vain hope of catching sight of kingfishers, but that was not to be either, despite patiently waiting some two hours. However whilst there I was visited by a very friendly, though somewhat nervous young Robin who did finally take some seeds from my hand, but he was always far too close for me to get any shots, so it was that as I traced my steps, I was greeted by yet another cheerful robin, this time in the branches at an acceptable distance.

I returned to where the car was parked and crossed the main road to walk along the far side of Tringford, but although there was a young family of cygnets with their parents, there was nothing beyond coots and Canada geese. So I returned to the car and journeyed to Wilstone where the only slightly less common Pochard were, and after a couple of dives they paddled away from the shore, beyond my reach and also into the sun!

It was not the most productive of visits, but it had become warmer, so a welcome change from grey skies and near constant rain.

Testing the new 'Boomerang' Plate

Back at the Focus on Imaging Show earlier this year, I tried to find a manufacturer interested in the production of a camera plate that would add functionality to the ease of use a gimbal head when using lenses of around 300mm. My issue was that with very long and heavy lenses these proved really efficient, but the lesser mass of say a 300mm f/4 did not work as well. I reckoned that there was not sufficient leverage from gripping the camera body because of its proximity to the axis of the rotating arm and the centre of gravity of the lens.

Panning was fine using the bulky upright of the gimbal head, it was the vertical movement which was less efficient, to test out my theory I angled a straight bar forward from the camera baseplate and added a pistol grip that was now in line with the centre of gravity of the lens/camera body, and with the added leverage of the pistol grip the balance of effort in both panning and raising or lowering of the lens was more equal resulting in far smoother use of the gimbal head with such a lens.

This morning Calumet came up trumps with a prototype of what I envisaged, and I set out out to test whether it worked by taking my Canon 7D, 300mm f/4 and gimbal head and the newly christened 'Boomerang' plate to the Grand Union Canal near Wilstone, and the gallery of images here is the result.

Obviously I have no idea whether Calumet will produce the plate, but for those photographers who would like to have smooth and controlled movement from the less weighty and shorter focal length telephotos, this plate opens up the world of gimbal heads, and I think it's the way forward – it is far more controlled than a ball head.

I only used the 300mm lens here and was only disappointed that the two kingfishers I spotted that sped like Exocet missiles along the reeds did not return later, which would have been the real test! But I did spot a Muntjack and a mobbing of a mating pair of damselflies by a mating pair of water boatmen!

Tringford Pumping Station Equipment

Arriving at Tringford Pumping Station in dismal drizzle is far from disappointing for two reasons; that I shall be working inside being one, but for a few of the shots, I do not have to fight with the sun’s high contrast to get some of the shots.

I met up with Ricky Tyler, the engineer responsible for controlling the routing of the water to and from the reservoirs under his control. I was amazed at just how complex the decisions he has to make were, when faced with the various needs of different parts of the canal. In summer these needs are driven by the popularity for one portion of the canal over another and how many times the lock gates are used. In winter, it might be which gates required maintenance, or which reservoirs needed more or less water, yet keep disruption to a minimum. This pumping station is the link to the four Tring Reservoirs: Wilstone, Tringford, Startopsend, and Marsworth (Click 'Tring Reservoirs' in the line above, for zoomable Map). None of these provide drinking water, they are devoted entirely to support the preservation of water supply to the summit of the Grand Union Canal.

The machinery is not in its first flush of youth, so needs constantly watching and given attention. The financial situation for British Waterways brings added pressure, putting financial constraints on what can be repaired or replaced as well as increasing the overall workload on the diminishing workforce. I found it sad to see the overall dilapidation of the premises which is both a grade listed building and a vital workhorse in the maintenance of the Grand Union Canal.

I wanted very much to see these pumps and learn something of their roles, and record as much in the short time available. What is very obvious is just how much change has been wrought to the building during its lifetime. At one time it had a full extra storey; this was in the time of the steam-driven beam-engine. That was replaced by diesel-power, prior to the current electric pumps. An electrician visiting today would have to be coming towards retirement to recognise the power supply controls!

I hope that the photographs I have taken give some idea of what lies beyond the closed doors of this fascinating building, but more than that I hope it can see a new lease of life – it needs a heart transplant to maintain circulation in the canals it supplies.

Later the Same Day…

Satisfied with my forensic diagnostics around dawn, I then made my way south from mid-Bedfordshire down towards the reservoirs at Tringford, Startops End, Marsworth and Wilstone to see what I could find. I believe the bird whose picture is the first in the gallery to be a partridge, this was taken near Beckerings Farm, Steppingley.

I spotted that on two reservoirs the Grebes were fishing successfully and then taxiing along in a great flap before swallowing their breakfast fish. I also spotted a seagull which had been equally successful, but it was far more laid-back over the event. The cormorants were out about in the air singly and in pairs, and the greylag geese were in abundance both in the air and in the water. Other birds spotted were a lone pied wagtail I think and possibly a chat in the trees, and I just caught a mass taxiing of coots making an amazing racket. Lastly I was barked at vehemently by a black dog called ‘Banjo’ who I think took exception to my long lens but later wanted to lick me to death! His owners were charming and we chatted for some time before rain stopped play.

Sunday Spring Colour

Spring finally arrives in central England, so Sunday brought more people out into the country. I took the opportunity to visit Wilstone Reservoir for a change, parking close to Wilstone Cemetery, but the wildlife had been up early and avoided human contact!

I then went to Grantchester and Linton to enjoy some quiet time with my elder daughter at Linton C of E Primary school where she teaches, to help her tidy the classroom for the onslaught when the children return after the Easter break. Here is a small gallery of the colour I found that day.