How time flies. It is seven years since I purchased a Canon 1200D which had been modified for full spectrum photography. That means the IR cut filter which is normally installed on the sensor was removed and replace with clear optical glass. The camera now responds to light from near UV through the rainbow colours and into some of the IR spectrum. Previously I had used the camera as supplied, without any added filters. For IR photography it helps a great deal to add an IR pass filter to the lens. To that end I now have a R72 filter which passes light from about 720nm. The results? Great for producing B/W (grey scale) photos.
The photos are taken in RAW format and processed using Affinity Photo. First a photo which has had the colour saturation upped to maximum and clarity boosted:
The rest have had the colour saturation reduced to -100 and clarity boosted:
All taken along my lane today. Lots of Sunshine (needed with an R72 filter) and some decent cloud formations. The main problem when trying to frame the photos is the R72 doesn't let light through that the viewfinder can see so I cannot use the camera viewfinder. More a point and hope exercise. Once taken the photo can be seen on the LCD screen so a quick check can be made on the final result.
It has taken nine days but the flower on the Pitcher plant has gone from this
to this
Three of the petals fell off to expose the inside of the flower and its bright yellow pollen. What was fascinating to me was the part which looks like an upside down umbrella. The petals which fell off appear to have been 'guarding' the gap until it was fully ripe.
From the angle of the second new photo you can see this 'umbrella' is growing from the centre of the flower. I guess it leaves a gap just large enough for whatever insect pollinates it in the wild.
No - my spelling hasn't gone haywire. A pleasant surprise this morning when I was about to water my Pitcher plants.
I almost missed it as it was facing away from me ...
... a large red flower. I don't think it is fully open as yet but I just had to photograph it. In fact there are two flowers, the other hasn't started opening yet.
It is all much of a muchness hereabouts at the moment but one new flower is catching my eye. One of my small orchid plants is showing flowers, on last years growth! The plant is a Dendrobium hybrid - Pocket Love:
It is also forming lots of flower buds on the new growth which should give a lovely display in a month or so.
The weekend was a bit over hectic for my liking. Teatime Saturday I discovered my hot water cylinder had sprung a leak. Fortunately a call to my local plumber was responded to very promptly and the water soon drained off and things made safe. Ben, from ADrip Plumbing, managed to persuade a contact of his to open their shop and supply a new cylinder which Ben spent Sunday morning fitting for me. We are fortunate to have such a friendly and efficient business based in the village. All I have to do now is wait for the bill to arrive!
At least a new arrival at the bird feeders cheered me up. It is a few years since I last saw a Blackcap visit the bird feeders. Here are a couple of video clips I managed to take:
Blackcaps are medium sized warblers usually seen in wooded areas but they will visit gardens, especially when their usual food supply is in short supply. So far this male Blackcap has visited for two days running. The male has the distinctive black cap but the female has a brown top.
All the regulars continue to visit - Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds, Robin, Starlings and Collared Doves, with occasional visits by the Pied Wagtail. Hedgie is still visiting every night for his / her free meal and seems to be getting used to eating the soft food alongside its usual dried mealworms and 'Hedgehog Feast' dried food.
As well as leaving a bowl of water next to the Hedgehog House these are the items I use to feed any visiting hedgehogs:
Some dried food:
Some dried mealworms:
and new this year ...
Description from the CJ Wildlife website:
Supplementary food can be a great benefit when natural food sources are scarce and hedgehogs are preparing to hibernate (from October - December), or when they are emerging from hibernation (February - April).
Paté for hedgehogs is a moisture-rich food containing organic meat. This easily digestible food is akin to their natural meaty diet so our prickly friends are sure to enjoy this tasty feast. Simply remove the foil lid and serve! Composition: Meat and animal derivatives from organic chicken and turkey, Minerals and derivatives of vegetable origin.
It is taking a while for Hedgie to get used to the new food. The first night a small amount was eaten and last night half was gone by this morning.
Well, it's been nearly a month since I had anything new to report on the garden wildlife front. The Bluetits have been visiting the camera nestbox several times every day. Always the same routine. One enters and waits. The second one arrives and the first immediately leaves.
During the spell of milder weather there were no visits by the Pied Wagtail but it has returned now the frosts have returned.
The hedgehog I mentioned some time ago has been visiting the garden every night. Yesterday I got round to fixing up the camera in the Hedgehog House.
It seems to be thriving well and appears non the worse for being out of hibernation so early.
