Birds in Pictures, 13 December 2006

CHRIS BRADING

The December talk was given by Ray Wilson a retired research scientist who has used computers routinely in support of his work since the late 1950s and who is also interested in birds and digital photography.  He began his talk by showing an historic picture of one of the first mainframe computers used in this country, the Ferranti Pegasus, which had some 3000 thermionic valves and was housed in a disused Methodist chapel.  This brought back memories as I too had used a similar machine in the early 1960s.  By contrast the laptop computer he was using to project his pictures was infinitely more powerful and versatile.  Ray described his camera equipment and two of his most useful hides, the garden shed and his campervan.  He always shoots in 'raw' mode, which allows him the opportunity to correct exposure and several other parameters before using Photoshop to maximise the quality of the final pictures.

The first set of pictures was taken in his garden, which backs onto a mature lake.  The clarity of the pictures was outstanding and to add to the interest Ray had dubbed most of them with the bird's song.  One picture, of a great-spotted woodpecker feeding a fully-grown chick, was particularly memorable.  He then showed two short video presentations, which included background music and commentary, on the Bass Rock gannets and the many sea-birds on the Farne Islands.  This was followed by a presentation of photos of birds in the Hebrides and particularly the Uists.  I have been to the Farne Islands and the Uists and Ray's pictures brought back happy memories and a small amount of jealousy.  On North Uist there is an RSPB reserve at Balranald where Kath and I had stood for a long time at the same spot as Ray had been to, listening to the male corncrakes calling and hoping for even a fleeting glimpse of these elusive birds.  We were out of luck but Ray not only saw them but also recorded some really good pictures.  It was not luck but dedication.  Ray then showed some pictures of Norfolk and finally one of my digital pictures of a nightingale.  The original was taken at Pulborough Brooks with a compact digital camera through a telescope.  The bird was in full view on a blackberry bush but a bramble, partly obscuring the bird's beak and head, had spoilt it.  However, I noted that there was absolutely no evidence of the offending bramble in the picture we were shown by Ray - he had skilfully removed it.

We had a very good turn-out including several guests, one of whom was Derek Belsey, a distinguished bird photographer and lecturer.  Thank you Ray for a memorable evening.