5th May 2012

Its Saturday and today we are having a visit from our friends Kate and Tony, Kate being Sally's Maid of Honour, and Tony being the photographer at our wedding. So we were realy looking forward to seeing them again, the sun was out first thing and we were hopeing for nice weather.
At about 10 minutes to twelve we started our treck up to the Chequered Skipper pub in Ashton where we had arranged to meet, and by now the sky had clouded over again, so it was rain coats just in case. On the way up the hill we got a text letting us know that they had arrived and had claimed a table. So now it was time for a meal and a good catch up on all the news (I must say they do a good meal at the pub), poor OLD Tony wasnt feeling his best but we had a good laugh together.
After the meal we piled into the car and drove back down to find a good parking spot and then waked back to the boat. It was wet and muddy under foot, but shod in wellies we crossed the field and bridge onto the lane to the island and onto the boat.

It was now time for tea and coffee as we settled down to chat, however Tony and I spent hours discussing cameras and lenses and how to adjust them to get the best from my camera. Tony brought his and also a 50 to 500 telephoto lens for me to try as we have a pair of Red Kites nesting in a tree on the island. I have to say it was a very heavy lens, but awsome in what it can produce as far as images are concerned. We played around with it and took some photos of the nest and here is just one of the pictures we got, but as they say practice makes perfect.

The hen is sitting close to her eggs and the cock had returned to bring her some food, its all very exciting. In the morning I contacted the Red Kite society to inform them of the nest, and they seemed very pleased with the news asking me to keep a record of what I saw and wanted to know the location. This was for them to record the nest and hopefully get down to ring the chicks (conservationalist now).

At around six thirty it was time for our guests to leave and make their way back to Spaulding and Tony (a massive thank you) suggested I borrow the lens until we next meet up, in order to get some images of the birds others over the next week. Of course by now we were having showers again, so walked back in the drizzle, but it didnt last long and got back to his car without getting too wet.

I am sure Sally looks like a stormtrooper in her rain coat.

For us it was back to the boat with the good news that the water level seems to be dropping at last, and with a good day promised for tomorrow, we could be on our way again soon. A snacky tea, a bit of television and it was time for bed.

Hey magic mushrooms.