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Sunday 21 December 2014

That was 2014.....

Another year draws to a close, but this one has been a real special one for a few reasons.
This was the year that I took the financial plunge and stepped into the Prime lens league, a new Nikon 500mm F4 and 300mm F4, a new D800 body to join the D3, and boy have I been pleased with them.
There have been lots of highlights, many you will see on the Slideshow that I have put together.
2014 Review

But the two that really stand out are the Aviemore Ospreys and the White Tailed Eagles of Mull.

Ospreys are without doubt my favorite bird, everything about them just fascinates me, after a long fight for survival in the UK they are now starting to gain a real foothold again. Every year they make the long migration from their winter home in western Africa to come and breed in the UK, mostly meeting up with their mates whom they won't have seen since they left at the end of the last breeding season.
Amazing beautiful birds that I had the good fortune to watch them down on the Dyfi estuary in West Wales, and up in Scotland at Loch Insh, and also at Rothiemurchas near Aviemore, where I waited 4 hours for this one single chance to get my long waited image of an Osprey fishing. I was blown away by the whole experience, chufted to bits that I got the shot, but more than anything I can't wait until these stunning birds return next Spring.

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In late summer we traveled up to the Isle of Mull, with the hope of photographing White Tailed Eagles and Otters. Despite lots of searching we never saw Otters but the White Tailed Eagles were just amazing. We watched from distance a pair high in the conifers next to Loch Na Kiel, spending many hours watching them up in the trees and hunting down on the water line. But the real jaw dropping experience was when we took the Mull Charters boat, and what a morning it was. Both Male and female came down to feed, the female especially circling the boat time and time again, it got to the point were I just put the camera down and watched these stunning birds, and yes they do match their nickname...flying barn doors. Again already excited about getting back up there next year.

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26 comments:

  1. well worth splashing out the cash for those lenses Gary, you've got some images there to be proud of, memories for a lifetime :-)

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  2. Wonderful images, wonderful memories Gary.Your certainly haven`t wasted much time learning the skills for you new equipment. A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

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    1. Thanks Martin, likewise best wishes to you and yours

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  3. Gary. You have certainly put the new equipment to great use this year.Wonderful action shots of the osprey and the " flying barn door" The osprey is very much on my list of birds to photograph.They are getting closer to Lancs !! Finally I hope you and Sharon have a wonderful Christmas together. All the very best for 2015 and we may have a day somewhere sometime .Take care.

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    1. Thanks Brian, and yes we WILL have a day out soon.... Happy Christmas

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  4. You've taken some stunning images this year Gary! Thanks for sharing them. You've tempted me into getting the D800!

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  5. Truly amazing photos - thanks for sharing!

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  6. Greetings from Dubai!!WOW!! I loved each and every shot of them in flight. Have a Blessed Christmas!!

    Shantana

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  7. You've captured some cracking images Gary, you have every reason to be chuffed to bits with these, money well spent I'd say.
    My best wishes to you and Sharon for a very happy Christmas and here's to a wonderful New Year...[;o)

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  8. Thanks Trevor, best wishes to you also

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Thanks for dropping by, any comments you may have are greatly appreciated.
Gary