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Young baby coots in all their strange colours. Only a very few days old.
E-3, Sigma 135-400, ec1.4, master, gimp
Nick
E-3, Sigma 135-400, ec1.4, master, gimp
Nick
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
Lovely shots! Is this where the ewpression 'bald as a coot' comes from. I've always wondered!
Andrew -
Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
Originally posted by Andrew Riddell View Post
Thank you Andrew.
Don't know - the phrase is usually sourced thus
Coots are water birds whose heads have the appearance of baldness. This doesn't refer to the lack of feathers on the bird's head, but to their white markings. Bald has several meanings, one of which is 'streaked or marked with white'. That's the meaning here, as in pie-bald.
The phrase is very old and is referred to in John Lydgate's Chronicle of Troy, 1430:
"And yet he was as balde as is a coote." (phrases.org.uk)
But you are right - the infant coot head looks remarkedly like that of a bald man (albeit one made up for an episode of Dr Who), particularly with the impression of dark bushy brows.
NickComment
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
I'm so envious. Great shots - number two says it all - love in the mother's eyes. You seem to have a great rural setting near you.
Regards. Barr1eJust like that - gone in a flash!
Now in use.Comment
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
Thank you Barr1e.Originally posted by Barr1e View Post
"Rural Setting" - not really, it is a length of the abandoned Wilts and Berks Canal, about half a mile long. With posh housing on one side and a more mundane development below it (the canal is on a hillside, skirting the hill which was the original settlement of Swindon). There is a semi constant procession of cyclists, dog walkers, kids and young mums.
But I think the less than totally idealic (though it is very pleasant) environment makes it for photography. The birds etc are habituated to people so are not too skittish, the canal gives them safety. And the area is safe from the depradations of agriculture. I am more convinced that 'nature' nowadays is far more abundant in the margins/recovered areas of towns than it is in large areas of the open country side.
Also I tend to stand and watch - even if nothing apparently is happening - it is surprising what one suddenly see's as a result.
Glad you, and I hope others, enjoy my little nature shots. I have great pleasure in taking them, though some of them show that I still find this type of photography technically challengeing.
NickComment
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
NickOriginally posted by Nick Temple-Fry View Post
I do enjoy your 'real nature' shots. I also like the reality that you bring to the fact that nature will win out in the most unlikely of settings.
These are lovely pictures and make me want to go and see some baby coots. I have only ever seen the parents. I think it is a wonderful name (parents coo'ing at their babies) and thank you for sharing these.
PeterComment
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
Great pictures, Nick.
Steve
My Flickr: https://flic.kr/ps/HRVVS
"If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something" - Steven WrightComment
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
Hey Nick
You betcha I enjoy your nature shots, the more the merrier I say! I am very much into nature at the moment, and am looking forward to trying out the new soon-to-be-delivered Bigma!!
Keep 'em coming Nick, they are great.John
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Re: Even Coot'er, mother says
Thank you John.Originally posted by theMusicMan View Post
At the moment I don't really want more reach (which you will have with the bigma), but more speed. I'm really getting to understand the 'silly' prices people pay for big fat fast lenses. But I'm going to have to rely on the self discipline of poverty to make me concentrate on improving my techniques instead.
Look forward to seeing your results with the Bigma.
NickComment
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