Dale's Garden Hide. (been a busy boy)

gramps said:
You need some foxes around! ;)
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Lol, yeah, although the fox trail has gone very quiet, not seen one for months, Our original boy stopped visiting early last year. The youngsters from last year haven't been here for a while now either.

I did hear a vixen calling a couple of weeks ago.


Gav. said:
My locals seem to like engine oil, I had two bottles on the top shelf in the shed, mice chewed both bottles in the bottom corner, lets just say, nothing will rust in there now :LOL:

Put your cat in there for a while ;)
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That sounds messy Gav. :runaway:
 
They're safe out there (all things considered), they're not doing any harm, nothing that a quick sweep in the mornings won't fix. :LOL: It's a good 25 metres from the house too.(y)
 
At a loose end today, which actually made a nice change.

So what to do?

The hide beckoned, it looked very active. I topped the feeders up, grabbed the R7, a drink and my phone to keep an eye on the time. I'm also leaving the grass to grow this year where I use it for a background. I feel it has become too clinical and needs some texture at least.

I didn't have to wait long, the usual influx of male and female Chaffinches, tons of Goldfinches, even a solitary Siskin. I was happy to see the odd Greenfinch too, quite rare sight anywhere these days but I have had a few around the hide since last summer. I watched them on the feeders, willing them onto one of the 2 perches. They wouldn't oblige.

I was suprised and very happy though when, over the course of a couple of hours, 3 Greenfinches became 4, then 5 and so on until I managed to count 10 at one time, all on the feeders and stand.

10, wow!

I'm hoping these make it to Spring, when they'll breed and there will be more. They've been here since early last summer, so somehow, are managing to dodge tricho.

One or 2 did find their way to my perches, just for a split second at a time. I got a couple of images, nothing award winning, the light was dull and my framing was off but anyway, here's a very good condition male.

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Good shot Dale.

Can I ask what settings you tend to use on the R7 and what post editing as I am still getting used to mine. Noise is my main issue. I’m tempted to gent a R6 as it handles noise better but obviously does not have the reach of a APSC sensor.
 
Brentor said:
Good shot Dale.

Can I ask what settings you tend to use on the R7 and what post editing as I am still getting used to mine. Noise is my main issue. I’m tempted to gent a R6 as it handles noise better but obviously does not have the reach of a APSC sensor.
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Thank you.

Settings wise, I go with whatever I can get away with. 95% of the time, I'm in manual mode. The perches I use are about 10-12 feet from the end of my lens and I try my best to keep the whole bird sharp (of this kind of size) so I'm usually at f8, which seems to work pretty well. I have the histogram visible in the VF and I try to expose as far to the right as I can, without clipping a load of whites. You'll get away with a little more here than you might expect if the histogram is just touching the right hand side but I experiment with it on the day, as different light can blow (or not) the highlights.

I work with f8 as my base aperture (in the hide), for DOF reasons. The rest of my settings depend on that, mainly trying to keep shutter speed above 1/400 sec and I will tweak the ISO to control that. I'm quite happy to go to ISO 3200 (even 6400 at times) on my R7. The files can be a little grainy in low light but ETTR does help. There comes a point though, especially towards the end of the day, when I will have to open up the aperture to whatever to avoid too high an ISO and keep a decent shutter speed. I have photographed (static) birds as low as 1/50 sec but you have to pick your moment carefully.

I'm usually using Servo AF, Single Point AF and animal eye detect, for birds. I move the single af point to suit, in the frame.

I don't bother with any of the fancy settings, (highlight priority etc) and I don't use any of the picture styles, I'm always in 'Standard' as I shoot in RAW and I'm a firm believer that apart from the basics, (shutter, aperture, ISO) , any tweaks should be done in post when dealing with RAW files. That said, there should be very little to do in post if you nail the file, save for cropping, maybe levels, maybe some masks for sharpness or local exposure, etc. I do use LR's noise reduction if a file is particularly grainy, it's very good if you're careful with the sliders.

I try not to get too involved with settings, to my mind, shutter speed, ISO and aperture are the most important ones, with a few other settings to help handling.

I am trialling Auto ISO though, today at f8 and a shutter speed of 1/400 sec for this image. I'm not sure if I like it and old habits die hard, I think I'll be sticking to being in full control of the basics myself.

There's probably a bit more to this, situation dependent on the day.
 
Dale. said:
Thank you.

Settings wise, I go with whatever I can get away with. 95% of the time, I'm in manual mode. The perches I use are about 10-12 feet from the end of my lens and I try my best to keep the whole bird sharp (of this kind of size) so I'm usually at f8, which seems to work pretty well. I have the histogram visible in the VF and I try to expose as far to the right as I can, without clipping a load of whites. You'll get away with a little more here than you might expect if the histogram is just touching the right hand side but I experiment with it on the day, as different light can blow (or not) the highlights.

I work with f8 as my base aperture (in the hide), for DOF reasons. The rest of my settings depend on that, mainly trying to keep shutter speed above 1/400 sec and I will tweak the ISO to control that. I'm quite happy to go to ISO 3200 (even 6400 at times) on my R7. The files can be a little grainy in low light but ETTR does help. There comes a point though, especially towards the end of the day, when I will have to open up the aperture to whatever to avoid too high an ISO and keep a decent shutter speed. I have photographed (static) birds as low as 1/50 sec but you have to pick your moment carefully.

I'm usually using Servo AF, Single Point AF and animal eye detect, for birds. I move the single af point to suit, in the frame.

I don't bother with any of the fancy settings, (highlight priority etc) and I don't use any of the picture styles, I'm always in 'Standard' as I shoot in RAW and I'm a firm believer that apart from the basics, (shutter, aperture, ISO) , any tweaks should be done in post when dealing with RAW files. That said, there should be very little to do in post if you nail the file, save for cropping, maybe levels, maybe some masks for sharpness or local exposure, etc. I do use LR's noise reduction if a file is particularly grainy, it's very good if you're careful with the sliders.

I try not to get too involved with settings, to my mind, shutter speed, ISO and aperture are the most important ones, with a few other settings to help handling.

I am trialling Auto ISO though, today at f8 and a shutter speed of 1/400 sec for this image. I'm not sure if I like it and old habits die hard, I think I'll be sticking to being in full control of the basics myself.

There's probably a bit more to this, situation dependent on the day.
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Many thanks. My settings are similar although I do use auto ISO, with a max of 6400 which I recently reduced to 3200. I will try ETTR and perhaps reduce my shutter speed a bit. Hopefully the light will start to improve as we approach Spring.

Do you use a tripod?
 
Brentor said:
Many thanks. My settings are similar although I do use auto ISO, with a max of 6400 which I recently reduced to 3200. I will try ETTR and perhaps reduce my shutter speed a bit. Hopefully the light will start to improve as we approach Spring.

Do you use a tripod?
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Always a tripod in hide situations, which is probably 95% of the time,. If I’m walk about, IS in body and on the lens.
 
Well, they're still around, or at least one of them is. I only see one at a time now so maybe one of them has had a mishap? .................... probably Sparrowhawk or Owl related.

Messy blighters but I don't mind, nothing a quick sweep in the mornings doesn't fix.

View: https://youtu.be/hm0Pf7OgejA
 
Well, they are messy blighters but I'm ok with that, it can be cleaned up. I do though see a possible photography opportunity now they're coming out in daylight hours. Pretty sure there's still 2, as I got multiple visits last night and they show different behaviours, they're just not coming out together now.

Now to find a boot, with the toe area chewed out. ;)


View: https://youtu.be/6HLDUo5cih4
 
Been a while since I've been in the hide but I had an hour there earlier today. Not much happening though, the main targets are away in the woods just now, raising young. It was still nice to be out there though, the rain falling on the roof made for some chill out time.

A male Siskin came along though and despite being on the feeders for 10 minutes, he did hop onto my perch briefly.

Nice to have them back.

tp.jpg
 
The mystery (for some here) of the recently, newly slabbed area is now solved.

Meet the new hide, which will also double as what we are calling the shedmmerhouse. It's a bespoke, custom build, to my own design.

There are 2 windows on each gable end, I will be working hide wise from the right hand side as viewed, which faces onto the garden like my old hide did but also, looks over the pond.

It's as mentioned, also going to give us some enclosed space outdoors, for eating, relaxing etc. It's 10x8 and a bit of a Tardis inside.

It will be carpeted and there will be a folding table, a sofa bed and chairs, as well as my tripod and a stool. I am planning on getting a portable, solar powerstation for it rather than hardwire this one. My workshop is hardwired but that is closer to the house. Both windows now have roller blinds that I fitted on the weekend, which will give me cover when I am photographing birds. Both windows open. I'm also planning some heaters, the tube type, which hopefully will gave enough heat, more research to be done on that though as that brings in some headaches, we'll see.

I am hoping to get the guttering today and fit that by the weekend.

The Goldfinches and Chaffies are already using the relocated feeders. It will take a bit of tweaking and fettling but it's up and runnng now.

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10x8? That's space for 3 or 4 bikes!!! ;)

Enjoy the shedummerhidouse!
 
Over the last few months, I've spent quite a bit of time in the 'new hide'. Bird species have been Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, LTT, GSW, Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Starling, to name some. It's very active and diverse. It does seem more active than my old hide was and I think that's because of its proximity to the hedge and pond. The pond has regular Hedgehog, Fox, bathing birds and a well established insect population, including butterflies of various species. I have let the pond run wild and also, an area just behind it, which also serves as a great background for bird photos. The background is more textured now than it was at the old hide.

I spend quite a lot of time in the hide now but not always for bird photography, it's great for relaxing.

WhatsApp Image 2025-04-29 at 17.07.12_e19f51a6 tp.jpg


Ever Reliable. by Dale, on Flickr

Male Greenfinch. by Dale, on Flickr


Blue Tit. by Dale, on Flickr
 
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Lovely set Dale, I have always loved your garden hide, even the original but that new one looks the business !
 
Getting a bit 'Southern Softee" by the look of that hide now Dale! :LOL:
 
@Dale. and what with IIRC @JohnC6 and his large garden pond.......I and kind of jealous and a tad green ;)
 
Looks lovely , Would be asleep on the sofa most of the time. :)
 
davholla said:
I am very envious
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Box Brownie said:
@Dale. and what with IIRC @JohnC6 and his large garden pond.......I and kind of jealous and a tad green ;)
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jdburkedjburke said:
Dale lovely set.

Enjoy!!
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F1.2 said:
Looks lovely , Would be asleep on the sofa most of the time. :)
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Thank you all for the comments, there will be more coming soon.

With the hide now positioned in the wild part of the garden, I think it will be easier to get the feel of the seasons as the year progresses.
 
We have a major problem with Jackdaws - I've tried everthing, including surrounding the feeders with fine wire but they just "dive bomb" everything and empty seed etc., on the ground or hang onto the wire and pull everything down
 
BillN_33 said:
We have a major problem with Jackdaws - I've tried everthing, including surrounding the feeders with fine wire but they just "dive bomb" everything and empty seed etc., on the ground or hang onto the wire and pull everything down
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Something like THIS?
 
@Dale.

Seeing your update and the interior pictures.....got me thinking about power!

Why, well when we went to Elmley Marsh we saw two of their accommodations had solar power for lighting and I had wondered about it since.

A search reveals that you can get 20W system for around the £100 mark. But would that be enough so to power a bird box camera system and other such wildlife watching usages???

Obviously a more powerful system e.g. 100W would be better and I think (need to look again) that was around the £250 to £300 mark ?
 
gramps said:
Something like THIS?
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Thanks Roger - I tried one of those and in fact covered it in thin wire but the Jackdoors soon figured it out and would land on it and rock it until the seeds fell to the ground
 
BillN_33 said:
Thanks Roger - I tried one of those and in fact covered it in thin wire but the Jackdoors soon figured it out and would land on it and rock it until the seeds fell to the ground
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Maybe a shotgun! :LOL:
 
BillN_33 said:
We have a major problem with Jackdaws - I've tried everthing, including surrounding the feeders with fine wire but they just "dive bomb" everything and empty seed etc., on the ground or hang onto the wire and pull everything down
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View: https://youtu.be/4mTjASX3pE0






Box Brownie said:
@Dale.

Seeing your update and the interior pictures.....got me thinking about power!

Why, well when we went to Elmley Marsh we saw two of their accommodations had solar power for lighting and I had wondered about it since.

A search reveals that you can get 20W system for around the £100 mark. But would that be enough so to power a bird box camera system and other such wildlife watching usages???

Obviously a more powerful system e.g. 100W would be better and I think (need to look again) that was around the £250 to £300 mark ?
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I have a workshop too, a bigger version of the hide and that is close to the house, so hardwiring that to a mains supply was easy, although I got it done professionally. My hide however is further from the house and whilst doable, it would take a much longer armoured cable run. I wanted power in the hide but decided to get 'portable' power rather than fixed.

I got this..............

Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station 768Wh | 1200W - Anker SOLIX UK

although I paid £499 for ours (Currys), not £599. The hide is dual purpose, it's also used as a kind of summerhouse, garden retreat type thing as well as 'glamping', so power is handy. There are cheaper powerstations out there but I liked the features of the one I got, particulalrly the seperate lights. We often get power cuts here, so it will be handy for that too. I've run my PC off it, experimeted running a hoover too and it didn't break sweat.






BillN_33 said:
apparently it is illegal to shoot Jackdaws .... I've checked
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That law must've changed in some way, it was legal to shoot corvids (back in the day), as long as you had the landowner's permission to do so, you were properly licenced to own guns, (or under a licence holder's supervision), and considered all relevant safety concerns, like backstops etc etc.


It's been a while since I owned guns, held my licences or did any shooting and I am not up to speed on the laws and regulations now. I do know that a general licence, issued by Defra is needed nowadays for situations where corvids (and other pest species) can be shot, although I doubt protecting bird feeders would be good enough reason. The law can also vary countrywide (Scotland, Wales, England).

It's been a while for me though regarding what the laws and regulations are now. (y)
 
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Took the R5ii to the hide today, more to familiarise myself with the camera, although it's not a million miles from the R7 handling and button wise.

I had quite a diverse range of species, even had a Wren on the perch itself but I wasn't quick enough.

Anyway, there are still good numbers of these at the hide, they've been around now for well over a year. I have seen 1 or 2 with fat finch disease in that time but the vast majority, seem to be doing fine, maybe they have built up some resistance to it.

I counted 7 today, all looking great, except for one adult male, which was probably in moult, it didn't look at all like FFD.

I can't make my mind up on this one, it's either a first year bird or a female.

IMG_0186 LRC PS JP tp.jpg
 
Dale. said:
Took the R5ii to the hide today, more to familiarise myself with the camera, although it's not a million miles from the R7 handling and button wise.

I had quite a diverse range of species, even had a Wren on the perch itself but I wasn't quick enough.

Anyway, there are still good numbers of these at the hide, they've been around now for well over a year. I have seen 1 or 2 with fat finch disease in that time but the vast majority, seem to be doing fine, maybe they have built up some resistance to it.

I counted 7 today, all looking great, except for one adult male, which was probably in moult, it didn't look at all like FFD.

I can't make my mind up on this one, it's either a first year bird or a female.

View attachment 465299
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Nice capture of the Greenfinch. May I ask how you are finding the R5ii in comparison to the R7 for wildlife photography
 
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