Digiscoping - Digiscope pictures, images, techniques, advice, equipment

25.11.07 \| Winters morning at Westport Lake In the heart of the city of Stoke on Trent, Westport Lake, surrounded by houses and the busy A500, is a haven for wildlife. I've never visited Westport Lake before, I had always dismissed it as been a suitable habitat for digiscoping due to its urban location. I decided to give it a go after hearing more than one account of it been a great spot for wildfowl and Gulls. I had a really good morning, although the weather was very cold with dull conditions, I got some worthwhile pictures. Sightings included *Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe* and Great Black-Backed Gull. Only a 10 minute drive from home, Westport is going to be a great local place to visit.	Click thumbnail for larger picture Tufted Duck Click thumbnail for larger picture Pochard

24.11.07 \| Cop Mere I visited Graham and Sheila today over in Eccleshall, so whilst in the area stopped off at Cop Mere. Cop Mere is a beautiful lake surrounded by thick vegetation and reeds. The weather was cold but still and there was lots of birds to see on the water. Most birds where a little too far away for any worthwhile pictures but I did get some good sightings of *Goosander* and *Wigeon* out on the water. *Cormorant* flew over head and lots of *Canada Geese* flew in whilst I was there. As the time approached noon, the weather deteriorated and the rain came in, so I left for the comfort of Coffee and Cake with Graham and Sheila.	Click thumbnail for larger picture Cop Mere Click thumbnail for larger picture Canada Geese on Cop Mere

03.11.07 \| Dawn light over Trentham Lake I was up at the crack of dawn this morning with my friend Anthony to see if we could get some shots of the Fallow Deer at Trentham Gardens. The morning started really promising, just after sunrise at 7.00am the light was good, and hopes were high after spotting a few deer near to the edge of the lake at Trentham Gardens. Unfortunately the weather deteriorated and conditions were not good for telephoto photography. Shutter speeds were no where near fast enough to get sharp shots. We still had a cracking morning though, Trentham Lake was as still as a mill pond, we had sightings of at least ten Fallow Deer, and even a Barbary Macaques Monkey as we walked along the perimeter fence of Monkey Forest! Anthony and I are determined to get some shots of the rutting deer in action and are planning a trip to Cannock Chase next weekend. Click thumbnail for larger picture Trentham Lake	Click thumbnail for larger picture Promising light over Trentham Click thumbnail for larger picture Mallard