Most peoples favourite auk is the puffin, but mine is the Black guillemot. The red legs and gap contrasting with the smart black plumage makes them look stunning.
These were taken on Copinsay Island, Orkney and it is the best place I have been to for photographing this species. They are numerous and the setting very attractive. We only had 2 hours there, but longer visits are possible.
A second before this picture was taken there was a male Sparrowhawk sitting on this branch with the prey item. This female has just landed pushing the male off and grabbing the food. She then returns to the nest and the male goes off hunting again. Unfortunately they did not have a low, regular perch for this exchange. The male would land and call the female to him from a variety of perches, all high up in the trees. So despite many days waiting in a hide, this was the only occasion I got pictures.
This is the male in the same tree resting after passing over the food.
Both pictures taken with a Canon EOS 1dx. 800mm F5.6 lens. The male 1600 iso, female 3200 iso.
The benefits of getting down low for wildlife photography are well known and many of us spend too much time lying on our bellies in the sand or mud. Keeping the camera supported and clean is usually an issue. Sometimes I use a tripod at a low level, other times a bean bag and I even have a TV turntable in one low hide. That is very effective if you are not moving, but static in a hide on the floor.
Now I have had an alloy dish spun especially for the job, with a raised platform in the middle and a 3/8th stud. I can push the dish around and it balances my 800mm lens perfectly. So far I have only used it with a Gimbal tripod head, but suspect I will try a lower one soon.
I am calling them Lowpods and they are for sale at http://www.wildlifephotographyshop.com/index.aspx?pageid=2203716&clear=1&preview=1
