Gigrin farm - what lens?

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I am off to Gigrin farm at the weekend to photograph the Red Kites. I have booked the main field for one day and public hide 1 for the other. I cannot book the specialist photographic hide as I will have my dog with me. I will be using a Canon R5, what length lens is recommended? I have an EF 100 - 400, 400DO and 1 and 2x converters. I do not want to take excess kit but also would hate to be without the correct lens. I have never been there before so do not know how close you are to the birds. I am also taking my Sony RX10 mk IV to see how that copes as eventually I would like to lighten the kit I carry.

I am also going to Bwich Nant yr Arian on Monday and Tuesday as I believe they feed Red Kites also.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
As much as you can handle........Give them a few minutes to settle down, as when they first arrive, it is easy to get carried away! - They hang around for a long time, so try to concentrate on one bird at a time.

I came home with over a thousand shots on my last visit!
 
400 DO with the 1.4x for Gigrin will be a killer setup.

Hang around after the feeding when everyone has gone as you often get some latecomers flying in at a slower pace to the initial mayhem. I've had some of my best shots at that time.

At Nant you have 2 options, shooting over the lake where you have a variety of shots available if you like to add some background interest, or go into the hide to get close to them, where the 100-400 will be needed and the action will be quick

Mike
 
I've used a 300 at gigrin. If you use the photo hides (more expensive) the kites will more than fill the frame as they get so close, at gigrin I found it best to wait until the feeding frenzy is over and fewer kites in the air before taking photos.
Bwich Nant yr Arian there are two viewing areas. One from a hide which is very close to the action and one across the lake from the hide which I found to be the better option. Some times the staff will through the food out on to the water and the Kites will take it from there which could make an interesting shot. This kite feeding site is free bar the parking.
 
pooley said:
Hang around after the feeding when everyone has gone as you often get some latecomers flying in at a slower pace to the initial mayhem. I've had some of my best shots at that time.
Click to expand...
Pecking order I am told.
 
Of the two sites I much prefer nant y Arian ,it’s more natural . The lakeside spit sticks out a good way into the lake , at either site the 100-400 plus t.c will cover all eventualities .you do not want to be faffing about with lens changes once the action starts as it’s fast and furious ,make sure you have a high shutter speed set ,you will need around 1/1600th minimum ,sort out any noise in pp
 
Thanks for all your responses. I didn't make it to nant y Arian this time but had two sessions at Gigrin. The first was in the public field using the 400 DO II plus X2 converter. The second day was in no1 public hide using the 400 DO ii and 100 - 400. On day one I was over cautious with the shutter speed and had very high ISO as a result however the R5 copes pretty well with noise.
RedKite by Gordon Ford, on Flickr
red kite by Gordon Ford, on Flickr
red kite by Gordon Ford, on Flickr
Red Kite by Gordon Ford, on Flickr
Red Kite by Gordon Ford, on Flickr
 
Stunning- I am in awe of those, the third one nails it for me it appears to be asking " can I eat that "
 
Gordon, Which of the two sites that you took photographs from gave you best results? I ask because I am thinking of going there early next week - making a detour on the way to a National Trust cottage which we are staying in for a few nights - about an hour away from Gigrin by car and we can't get in until 4pm.

Any advice gratefully received - weather forecast is good at the moment but if its raining, booking a standard hide might be more comfortable that sitting outside in the field. (Three of us going and only me with a camera so not going for a "specialist" hide). If we book a hide, are any of the public hides to be preferred over another or are they all pretty much the same?
 
That's a difficult one to answer. I enjoyed and got decent shots at each of them. I used a longer lens at the country park (400 DO + x2 converter) and there is no shelter there. At Gigrin you can get away with a 400mm (with some cropping) from No 1 public hide which is the only hide I used. On the first day I was in the public field which is a little further away but still got decent shots. Don't rush away after the first squabble dies down because on all days at both sites there was a second, less frenzied visit from the kites. I think you should have a good experience at either site, both are well worth a visit.
 
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