Mobile hide

[DaveMcBride]

I thought as it was so cold today that I would turn the Calibra into a mobile hide. It seemed to work OK as you can see from my post today about Kites and Buzzards. Sets up in minutes and fairly comfortable! Only drawback is the few morons who stop and ask what I am doing, just so they can check that I am not a Police speed check camera! I mean, when do the Police go out in a bright yellow 1993 Vauxhall Calibra with a camo tent on the back :lol:

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DaveMcBride/Odds%20and%20Sods/DSCN0412.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DaveMcBride/Odds%20and%20Sods/DSCN0413.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DaveMcBride/Odds%20and%20Sods/DSCN0414.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x26/DaveMcBride/Odds%20and%20Sods/DSCN0415.jpg

[canonloader]

Wow, that would work well. Is this what you shot those Kites from?

[DaveMcBride]

Yep, you can see the chicken AND the Robin on the ground there in the first one. I am going to park up and concentrate on the hedgerow tomorrow and see if I can't get a decent shot of the Firecrest.

[jgrussell]

What a great idea!

[aligater]

Love it, great idea Dave.

[DaveMcBride]

Thanks guys, I think I might start a thread on home made photography accessories.

[spitfirejd]

Do you actually put the "Do not disturb" signs on your plates or did you do that in PP?

[DaveMcBride]

Hi JD, that was done afterwards in Photoshop......but I will be hanging a sign to that effect on the back and front next time out just to keep people away. It is difficult finding somewhere private in the UK, unless you have a field of your very own..... is it as bad in the USA, I mean the landowners. It's very much 'Oi' get orf moi laand!' round these parts as they are all very protective of their property.

[Oteck]

I can see the police dropping by to check out your howitzer

[DaveMcBride]

:lol:

[WingsofFury]

Nicely done.

With that said, have you ever considered just purchasing some camo clothing and waiting beside your car? Allows for a greater shooting field I think.

[DaveMcBride]

I have a full wardrobe, but if you are stood by a car it doesn't really matter what you wear, they won't come near. Kites are too wary, for example, on Sunday I went across to the pond a mile away, where I know a few Kites hang out. I put down some chicken in the middle of a field of short grass. I wore my best camo outfit. Immediately I had 5 Kites circle above me watching what I was doing. I then walked away across the field, nearly half a mile away and went into the woods and hid. What did the Kites do? They flew to the other side of the field and sat in the trees watching for me to come out and would not approach the food till they knew I had gone. Sometimes I have even had one follow me home just to make sure I was gone! After 3 hours I had to give up and go home. If they catch even a glimpse of you they will just sit somewhere and watch, and they will normally sit you out!

[canonloader]

and they will normally sit you out
Birds are better at that than humans. :)

[DaveMcBride]

True Mitch, I thought I had patience!

[AlexMN]

Nice idea on the hide. I love the camo with the bright yellow car! My parents live in Oxfordshire and I am often out there, so will keep an eye out for your car when I am driving about looking for birds myself, I want to get a pic of you for the photographers thread! :lol:

[DaveMcBride]

You'll never find me Alex, I am going to cover the car in camo netting next time!

[BradM]

Birds are better at that than humans. :)

But birds aren't better at counting than we are.... if you could take another person into the woods with you and then had the 2nd leave the scene in view of the birds most times they will come back into the area.

Reminds me of an old joke: Why do geese when flying in a "vee" often have unequal numbers in the legs of the vee?

The problem with raptors though isn't their math skills but the incredible eyesight they possess. The University of Washington performed a study sometime back where they had a Red Tail Hawk over 800 meters away alert on a gray/brown mouse in a grass field, and double that distance on a white mouse. Explains why white mice are rather rare in the wild doesn't it. :rolleyes:

But if you aren't completely shielded from the birds using another person as a decoy may end up being no more successful as doing it on your own. So before the other person leaves be setup in your shoting position.

And on the goose question, it has nothing to do with aerodynamics, or energy conservation in flight...it is because geese can't count. ;)

[canonloader]

it is because geese can't count.
All birds can count. See what happens when one chick out of 12 goes missing. ;)

[Lester Wareham]

Looks effective.

I am curious, have you ever tried working from a car seat through the open window, perhaps using some scrimshaw netting to hide behind and either a window mount or beanbag for support? Advantages/disadvantages?

[canonloader]

Lester, I have done a lot of shooting out the window, using a folded towel over the glass that I can adjust for height. I thought this was working very well, cause there is no doubt, the car makes an excellent 'hide'. Doesn't matter if they can see you or not, your human outline is gone, so they don't have the fear of you.

However, I was beginning to notice a decided difference between those shots and ones taken from my tripod. The tripod shots were much sharper. The ones over the window are sharper than handheld, but not as good as from the tripod, and it is noticeable. And yes, the engine is always turned off. :)

[Lester Wareham]

Lester, I have done a lot of shooting out the window, using a folded towel over the glass that I can adjust for height. I thought this was working very well, cause there is no doubt, the car makes an excellent 'hide'. Doesn't matter if they can see you or not, your human outline is gone, so they don't have the fear of you.

However, I was beginning to notice a decided difference between those shots and ones taken from my tripod. The tripod shots were much sharper. The ones over the window are sharper than handheld, but not as good as from the tripod, and it is noticeable. And yes, the engine is always turned off. :)

What do you think of window mounts like the Kirk one Mitch?

Could they give similar performance to a tripod, or is the fact that the car can move the issue?

[canonloader]

I have never tried a window mount, although I have a friend that uses one with a ballhead, that I don't know the model or make of, but it looks very well made and heavy duty. He shoots Nikon with a 500mm older non-af lens and get's some very nice shots. I don't think the car moving is my problem. I have a fairly heavy van and wind is not generally a problem. I think it's just me or the way I am holding the camera. I know for a fact though that any movement can transmit to the camera through a tripod, window mount or even your hearbeat through your hands on the body. I have seen it, especially with longer lenses and teleconverters. So far, the tripod has done the best for me. :)

[DaveMcBride]

Good advice Brad, I can never get anyone to walk that far just to turn round and go back home again though.....no amount of chocolate or perfume seems to work.


Lester I can never get the camera and flash through the window of a Calibra, but I use the old foam pipe lagging, the grey stuff with a slit along its length so it can easily be popped over a water pipe, and the edge of car window glass as a cheap cushion. I have never had any success from the side window and always find I am too high up anyway. The 'open tailgate hide' gives me a lot more freedom of movement, and I can see above me easily where most Kites, Buzzards, Kestrel tend to hide out of sight from a side window view.

[canonloader]

Wow, I have been fighting with that damned towel for three years now and you come along with the split foam pipe cover idea. I just so happen to have several yards of that stuff on my porch. Thanks for the idea, duhhhh.... ;)

[BradM]

I have used the pipe insulation over the window edge for shooting from the car for a number of years.

I will slip an appropriate length over the window (I like about 8-10") and then trim a slight scallop out of it, this gives a flatter area for the lens to rest on it and more support and dampening than the round original shape. Don't cut too deep or you will remove to much material and will lose much of it's effectiveness.

Because of the slant each vehicles windows makes as it rises to the top you will need a piece trimmed to each side of the vehicle for the best support. I find this easier to work with than a sandbag or any of the window type mounts which can limit range of movement or actually be less stable because they are supported by a thin pane of glass that has built in lateral motion between weather stripping. I have used this with the 100-400mm and the 500mm f/4 with great results IMO.

Another thing this pipe insulation can be used for that can be effective on several birds or animals, is that if the window is slightly damp, softly pulling an edge of this stuff along the wet glass will result in a high pitched squeak. I have used this to bring coyotes and raptors closer. One or two squeaks is all it takes, doing several times or to consistently and you will lose the animal attention.

[canonloader]

It's so obvious, I'm surprised I never thought of it myself. And I have a bunch of this stuff on the porch, just going to waste. :)

I'll have to try the squeak thing. I know there is a Sharp Shinned Hawk where I go almost daily. :)

[andrewhuxman]

Very innovative and looks very productive. What we humans will do to attempt to get the good bird shots. ;)

[DaveMcBride]

No problem Mitch, glad to be of service ;)
Brad thanks for the tip, I shall be squeaking at the weekend and see if I can't get that damned Kestrel to come closer.