Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve

[Rose]

Thanks Mike

[toms]

Hi Rose,

Thank you for volunteering to arrange this outing and yes I'm very interested in coming. Any of the dates you currently suggest are fine with me. Now all I need is to buy a longer lens. Needed a good reason

Tom

[Rose]

Thanks Tom

You could always hire one for the day first

[GrahamL]

Most interested, many thanks for organising this. For me either the 11th or the 12th April is best.

Graham Land

[Rose]

Thanks Graham

We have quite a few interested in this trip now so it definitely looks like a runner. I'll go through the dates, post here and we can put it in the diary.
Quite pertinent that it's our annual nature comp this week so we could mention it on Wed. Practice for next year's comp !

[davidb]

I already have my entries for the 2016 Nature Competition!!

Nothing is yet set in concrete so it's possible to swap an image or two.

[Rose]

OK folks, the best day is looking to be Sunday 12 April

I suggest a 10am start. Turn off the road into the lane and follow it left, past the stables and down into the reserve. After you've parked up, we will meet at the refreshment area. Arrive anytime after 9:30, grab yourself a coffee or tea while we wait for everyone and we will will set off promptly at 10am. I suggest we start with the hide immediately next door to the hut, so that any latecomers have a chance of finding us. It's on the smaller lake and not the busiest for activity, but it has the advantage of some bird feeders hanging right outside the hide from where you can get some really close shots of blue tits etc. So close you don't even need a long lens in fact.

After a couple of hours or more at Sevenoaks, depending on how people feel, and weather, light conditions, etc, we will retire to a pub for some lunch. And for anyone who wants to, we can continue on to Bough Beech Reservoir in the afternoon.

If you don't have a long zoom lens you might consider hiring - or clubbing together with another member to hire one to share on the day ? Or you could hire an extender to get more reach on a shorter zoom such as a 70-200. (make sure the extender is compatible with both your lens and your camera's AF system though). Even without a long lens you will be able to take landscape shots and there are often birds and nesting areas right on the lakeside. You can take sneaky shots of club members too of course ! LOL You could also bring binoculars or a telescope.

There will be some walking between hides so although the hides themselves will be dry the paths can get very wet and muddy so come prepared with good footwear.

[Mike Farley]

Hi Rose

It's in the diary. Thanks for organising.

[GrahamL]

Hi Rose,

The date is in the diary.

Cheers,

Graham

[GrahamL]

Dear All,

In case of interest, or like me have limited knowledge in this area, here's a recent Canon video blog on bird photography; http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/birds_as_art_morris.shtml. Suspect the Sevenoaks reserve is a little different to his New Mexico location mind...

Cheers,

Graham