Went shopping yesterday (Saturday) and bought a 100-400 L, a monopod and a ball head... then it snowed all afternoon (2" here in the Midlands, causing travel chaos). So this morning (Sunday), dressed up warm, got in the 4x4 and headed to the local wildlife reserve.
A one hour walk around "Swan Pool" would see me get to grips with the new combination, and although it had stopped snowing overnight, the light was poor due to fog (I'm practicing my excuses already 
)
Anyway, the lake was frozen and appeared barren of any birdlife. There were large bird footprints in the snow, but no birds. I unpack the 550d with the 17-70 and snap of a few snowy scene pictures - it really is grey and overcast.
After no more than 10 minutes, I spot my prey - a grey heron - resting at the edge of the island. I back step a few paces and behind the cover of a tree, assemble the new lens on the monopod:
I fired off a number of shots but just could not get the right combination to mimic what I was seeing (through my misted up spectacles) - I could only hope to recover the image in PP at home.
I move foreward and he flys off - I'm just thankfull I manage a reasonable shot... I continue on round the edge of the lake and fire off a few shots of the gulls, coots, morehens, canada geese, swans, a comrant and a golden eye, but they're too distant for any clarity in this light.
I check my map and decide to walk to another nearby lake. As I retrace my steps, I disturb the heron (made me jump). I brought the camera up quick, zoomed out and almost composed a few shots - but I was not quick enough. But as I now knew where he was, I was able to stalk him.
OK, so they are not brilliant photos, but I got some good experience in handling a big heavy lens on a monopod. I only hope the sunshine returns for next weekend's walk.
Lawrence
