Well it’s a new year though to be honest nothing much has changed….yet. However Lisa on her blog has set a new list of challenges so I can forget about being miserable and search my files for appropriate images. This week https://oureyesopen.blog/2021/01/01/bird-weekly-photo-challenge-birds-with-long-wingspans/
The Red Kite is a large bird of prey. It has a wingspan of up to 6 feet (195cm). Not much of a hunter it prefers scavenging. Once driven to the point of extinction in the UK a successful re-introduction scheme has seen numbers soar (pun intended).
The UK’s heaviest flying bird at up to 22lbs (10+kg) needs big wings to get airborne (and a long run up). The Swan’s wings stretch out to around 7.5 feet (238cm).
To finish another bird of prey and a favourite shot some may remember. Like the Kite the Marsh Harrier was another bird in danger of extinction in Britain in the 60’s. It’s numbers increased naturally as habitats were improved. One of it’s favoured areas being the Norfolk Broads. The Harrier’s wingspan, just over 4ft (130cm).
Hope these images are crisp. I have been noticing a lot of compression recently on my wp uploads especially landscapes. Sadly due to the theme and plan I’m on I cannot decrease this compression which wp put on to make loading images quicker. Seems a shame that one of the reasons for doing this blog was to show my photos to their best but I’m unable to unless I spend mega bucks on a new plan 😖
Oh these are very wonderful, Brian. That marsh harrier and jet is a stunner.
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Thanks Tish, yes I love that shot just had to give it another airing.
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Definitely deserves repeat airing.
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We always used to see Red Kites on the way between York and Leeds Bradford airport (i.e. from the A659 between Harewood and Pool-in-Wharfdale). You could almost guarantee seeing one or two. I’ve never noticed a problem with uploading images to WP, but then I shrink mine to 250kb or thereabouts as I put so many into the gallery. (This means of course the, e.g. butterfly, photos on my posts don’t look quite as brilliant as the super duper originals! 😉) Yours look OK on my screen, though I cannot tell what size they are or what the original quality might be like. Can you could do a test post with different sizes?
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Kites are becoming more widespread Mike, not so common in Norfolk yet.
I upload all my images in the biggest format I can for maximum clarity. The landscape images end up about 7mb after converting to jpeg so they can be put on this media. It’s a problem I’ve had in the past with this compression wp do, I have contacted them but there’s nowt can be done unless I upgrade to a business plan at huge cost. Strangely my macro shots are usually ok hopefully that will continue or I will not be a happy bunny!
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Beautiful photos and birds! The Swans look like a big jet airliner. WP is great for being greedy these days. I had to buy the stupid Business plan to get the storage space. Ridiculous!
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Thanks John. At the moment I have enough storage capacity but it annoys me that my shots are compressed to 82% which, to my eyes, makes them less sharp. Seems stupid to have a plan designed for photography that doesn’t allow you to upload your shots as they should be. Guess I’ll have to live with it for now.
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That’s WP! The same thing happens on Instagram. My photops are often much less clear there, it sucks but what can the users do…
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I haven’t seen any of these! They’re all wonderful images and sightings.
Are you using PS CC? I’ve noticed some pixelating when reviewing my images since the last update. I turned off my graphics card and I think that helped a bit.
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Hi Deborah. I do all my editing in Nikon Capture NX-D. The problem is wordpress compress images to 82% and just recently I’ve been noticing it badly. Contacted them in the past regarding this and the only way round it is to upgrade to a business plan and install plug-ins. Well the cost is stupid for someone who just wants to write blogs. Apparently this compression was brought in so people can upload quicker on small devices, thanks wp it helps me no end, not!
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Love your photos this week, Brian! These would all be life birds for me. Mute Swans are in the US but I have yet to see one. Interesting that your Marsh Harrier got photobombed by an airplane. LOL! FANTASTIC! 🙂
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Many thanks Lisa. That shot was so lucky, I could see the plane approaching and they passed each other just right.
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Perfectly time! And perfect for our challenge this week. 🙂
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All three are beautiful shots, Brian. I love the Red Kite’s color pattern, very pretty! We have four kites, but not the “Red”. I tried to get photos of our Swallow-tailed Kite this morning, but I missed. 😏
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Looking forward to seeing your Kites Donna, they wont evade your lens for long!
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Seems we are all hostage to the internet companies and their restrictions. Remember the 35mm days? Then we were limited also by our pocketbooks without knowing what those prized canisters held until we developed. Ahhhh… I guess we pay one way or the other for the hobbies we love. Your photos are always stunning from where I sit.😊
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The days of film, expensive and often disappointing, no way of knowing what you captured. Digital, shoot, check, delete, repeat (sometimes).
Glad you like my photos CJ it’s just that I see what they are like before uploading here so get frustrated when the quality drops.
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Wow!
Large birds!
So beautiful!
Happy new year!
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And very graceful despite their size! Have a good (better) new year also Nuno.
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Stunning captures, Brian!
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Thank you my friend, stay safe.
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Nice shots Brian – My favourite is the Harrier with the airplane – great shot!
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Thanks Michael, agree I really like that image too.
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Fantastic photographs, Brian!
The Harrier is an obvious favorite. It evokes humans watching birds soar and coming up with the idea of the airplane.
I empathize with your WP compression issues. Have begun to cast about for blogging options.
Happy New Year!
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Thanks Wally. Further to the compression issue my ‘Happiness Engineer’ has confirmed there is nothing I can do so it’s a case of having to live with it or pay big bucks to upgrade to a business plan. Not sure other blog sites are any better but I like this layout and am loathe to change.
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Finally found some time to get back online. We are exploring and hit or miss on the ability to reach the internet. Hoping to start hitting those challenges when we return – do not have access to my queue at the moment and not enough time to process the new tins yet so limited in what I could use. Quite the composition on the last shot – without those living wings to push mankind to reach for the skies, there would be no flying metal tubes.
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Nice to hear from you B. Have a great trip and be safe!
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Fabulous photos
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THanks!
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