Hampshire (UK) Hogs group & groupies ensemble

Looks like the weather is going to be reasonable as well, I might make a trip to Finchedean betweeen Petersfield and Havant.

Damn - working (and very busy too!) so no chance of any train spotting / photography much at the mo'.
Hope you managed to get some shots today / this evening Ken.

I'm hoping a new location will pan out. I found a likely spot west of Wilton a while ago and tomorrow looks like my first opportunity to test it out. The line runs Northwestish through open fields and I hope I can get slightly above the line.

Personal reminder: Remember to use AI Servo idiot!

Well the sun flitted in and out but was sort of hazy when Bittern arrived a few minutes late. She was running two tenders presumably to help with watering difficulties.

Cracking shots Ken.

Great shots Ken.

Heres one of mine. Shot from right next to a Sewage works on the Wilton to Great Wishford road.

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Looks like you were using a seriously long lens with that shot Richard!

Great captures both of you - that is one beast of a loco.

Great shots both. I'd have taken time out of work to catch her if I wasn't in the States (just got back this morning).

Ken,

I was using my 100-400. I started out at 400 and pulled back rapidly as she approached. This one was 300mm according to the data.

I've been told about another location which is ideal for the Bristol return run. Close to Langford Lakes nature reserve between Wilton and Warminster, it needs to be earlier in the year and the image is less full-on "train", more "train in landscape". While I was checking it out, another 'tog was shooting the scene.

My wifes birthday today and we spent it pottering about Mudeford, where we learnt all our dinghy racing skills back in the mid 70's. Got some interesting shots of Kite surfing.

Like to see them, I shot some Kite surfers a couple of years back.

Took the afternoon off & thought I'd take a look at the egrets that are venturing close to the shore at North Hayling, by the Hotel. Took several but whites were blown out so they've gone straight in "room 101" (Note to self to go back to last years shots to check what settings I used).

Looking across to Langstone mill pond, I could see probably 20 or 30 roosting in the trees - they looked like they were closer to the mill itself rather than the other side of the pond (If I get time tomorrow - weather depending - I'll pop down & take a look to see if it's worth taking the camera along if they really are that close to the pathway.)
From that distance it looked like a magnolia tree in full bloom!!

Anyway, I got distracted and just caught this going away - some hundred yards away or so & no idea what it was, but definately a harrier of some kind - I was thinking Marsh harrier, but not an osprey for sure.

Anyone that can ID it from this duff shot??

Sorry can't help on the ID, but would size give you a clue as I think Ospreys are a fair bit bigger. I went for a walk round Fareham creek yesterday, first time since the new path for the disabled has been finished, the problem is it is now gravel so walking quitely is impossible! I seemed to have aggravated my knee though as it is now swollen and it's painful walking.

These are a couple of my egret shots, some blown highlights, but virtually impossible to avoid in bright sunlight.

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one here, it's been so quiet, I wonder if Mark has got over his jetlag

Well I have been a bit tired, but I relaxed at the weekend doing more extreme macro in the garden. I still haven't sorted through sufficiently to post any up yet, but I'll get them done, probably tomorrow.

Sorry to hear about yer knees Ken - I think putting gravel down for Disabled access is the council doing the job on the cheap to adhere to DDA regs.
I can't begin to imagine how tiring that would be to try and propel a wheelchair along, yet alone with some other walking aid.
I didn't get the chance to pop in to the Old mill on the way home as I am just so busy at work still & just wanted to get home for a siesta.

Mark - we look forward to your "crawling around on all 4's" pics.

Currently watching the live coverage of the chilean miners rescue - Fantastic act of humanity & a huge engineering feat I think.