The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

[PeterD]

Another site I took Peter (Artframes) to. This quarry has long been disused and is surrounded by a SSSI site which runs along Portsdown Hill.



At the foot of the chalk cliffs is a shallow pool which was full of Smooth Newts.





The males are courting the females and soon the pool will be full of spawn.
The newts will then return to dry land and can be found amongst the chalk rubble.

To the east of the site, high up the cliff face, a pair of Peregrine Falcon have nested for the last 4 years. They have been very successful and that is why they keep returning. There is an issue at the moment but I hope to have it resolved soon.

These images were taken on Tuesday. Sorry Peter, I had hoped you would have this chance but, due to the disturbance at the site all we saw was the Peregrine flying off. Next time.




The male at the nest site perch.


The male on the pylon overlooking the nest.

Hope you enjoy viewing these.

[Danny]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Lovely set, the newst are great photos - but as you can imagine, the raptor takes it for me

[PeterD]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Lovely set, the newst are great photos - but as you can imagine, the raptor takes it for me

Thank you Danny

[art frames]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Peter

The newts show me what the E5 can achieve and my E3 struggles with. I shan't post mine as they don't compare at all well! Clearly the extra clarity works through water too! It is a shame you can't show the huge numbers that were there.

The peregrine is majestic. Gladdens the heart. I am glad they have returned and that the working party has not driven them off. I shan't post my blurred in flight picture - it is a memento only.

I am attaching my versions of the egret, godwits and curlew. I have so many to trawl through it is taking some time to chose and develop them. I am sure you have similar (but don't think you have posted them yet!). So I see a small window...







Hopefully next time I'll see more of the peregrines...

best wishes

Peter

[Ray Shotter]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Peter (Art Frames),

Lovely shot of the Egret - especially the captured water drops as he/she (don't know which gender) searches for food.

Ray.

[Danny]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

The curlew is fantastic, excellent work!

[art frames]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Ray, Danny

You are both very kind.

I'm still expecting Peter to post his versions which I confidently think will be far better. He does know his stuff.

I used to post here regularly but fell out of the habit. It was Peter who suggested I post again.

thanks both.

Peter

[PeterD]

Re: The Oysterbeds, North Hayling

I am getting close to catching up with the backlog. Here are more of the images I took whilst with Peter.

Black-tailed Godwit in the bay between the Hayling road bridge and the remains of the railway bridge.





Starlings in the marsh area



Oystercatcher at the edge of the lagoon.



Little Egret feeding in one of the old oysterbeds.



Redshank feeding in the mud in an old oysterbed,



Curlew feeding in the mud in an old oysterbed.

[PeterBirder]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

All very nice shots from both Peters. Godwits are one of my favourite birds and it allways intrigues me that when you see a flock standing they nearly all face in exactly the same direction with their beaks at exactly the same angle.

Thanks for sharing.

[art frames]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Peter

Nice set.

I have had a look at your website on extra large and that shows the detail and resolution that you are getting (the bigma E5 combo is good).

Definitely recommend a look here Godwit fans http://www.imageinuk.com/Birds/Wader...19520316_xQnW4 Use the slideshow button.

Also (to me) the colour is nicer on your site. Which feels wrong but seems true to my eye. What do you think?

On my own pics I did fiddle with the colours to improve their warmth. But I always do. Yours are more natural.


I'll be back down soon.

Cheers Peter

[PeterD]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

All very nice shots from both Peters. Godwits are one of my favourite birds and it allways intrigues me that when you see a flock standing they nearly all face in exactly the same direction with their beaks at exactly the same angle.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for your comments Peter. At least, unlike roosting Dunlin, they do face towards you

[PeterD]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Peter

Nice set.

I have had a look at your website on extra large and that shows the detail and resolution that you are getting (the bigma E5 combo is good).

Definitely recommend a look here Godwit fans http://www.imageinuk.com/Birds/Wader...19520316_xQnW4 Use the slideshow button.

Also (to me) the colour is nicer on your site. Which feels wrong but seems true to my eye. What do you think?

On my own pics I did fiddle with the colours to improve their warmth. But I always do. Yours are more natural.


I'll be back down soon.

Cheers Peter

Thanks Peter
I think the difference in site presentation has a lot to do with the page background colour and the fact that a narrow frame is applied on my website.

As a rule, I leave the colours alone. I have tried to slightly adjust them in the past but I quickly lose my way and end up resetting to the as-shot colours. I use 'natural' as my camera setting.

[Zuiko]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Two for the price of one! What a great thread from both Peters! Excellent narrative, too.

[Falk]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

I want to say Thank you Peter's! for showing all these nice photos. I especially like the first peregrine shot. You are so lucky to have them readily available like the proverbial 'sitting duck' - I am jealous!

The Newts
Well, I just released a full dozend of Triturus vulgaris into my neighbours pond. When you live at a place where Newts (or Toats etc.) are present, make sure you search all the man made 'traps' for several times in late winter, early spring and fall respectively.
Going to and fro hibernation there are always some who will blunge into my cellar and need to be collected and set free again. I also get small numbers of Triturus alpestris - males in mating colors are almost unreal beauties.

[jdal]

Re: The Old Chalk Quarry - Portsdown Hill

Great thread Peters. The standout shots for me are the very last of the Godwit shots and the Newts.