Photographing Snow bunting on the Malvern Hills. I also show my replacement Buteo hide on a marsh

[@amandagribbin2638]

what a beauty that snow bunting is

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

yes.

[@rogerhance5883]

Excellent video Mike. The fact that people, some who you do not even know, were willing to help you out, shows just how high a regard people have for you.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

The police now have my Miller tripod and I am struggling to get it back. Think they may have lost it! Good ending to my YT film on the theft.

[@rogerhance5883]

@@MikeLaneFRPS How the hell could they loose it ? Thats amazing !

[@robertlawrence7958]

Glad to hear that you are recovering from your car theft. Your videos always contain little nuggets of wisdom.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@louisswaim7024]

Saturday mornings I always look forward to your videos.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@MAKE_PHOTOGRAPHS_ANYWHERE]

Mike always good to see you ... Keep healthy my man !

[@pgordijn4561]

What a fantastic footage of the Skylark and in stunning light. Stunning bird.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@notharry]

As usual, beautiful quality media that was a joy to watch on my 50 inch TV. That bird is in itself stunning. I respectfully disagree with you, as someone who is a bird watcher first and photographer second, on what makes a good bird photo. For me, seeing natural behaviour makes a photo and seeing habitat and the bird in it is ideal. But I get where you are coming from. I bought a Buteo hide on your recommendation and now I have worked out how to put it away, not so easy initially (!), I love it. What I did not pick up from your 'old' video on the process was the first part, folding the four sides into two. If you don't do properly what is, I have to accept pretty obvious when you know how, all the rest gets very frustrating! Thanks again for some bird watching delight!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you like the hide.

[@aeroptical]

I got my buteo hide because of watching your videos Mike; it's good to see them giving back to you.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

yes very good of them.

[@Santamike212]

thank you, Mike

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@davidosborn3356]

As always a very pleasant and enjoyable breakfast watch.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jeanlouis83]

a good video Mike, sorry for the loss of your material

[@cryptographerchris4856]

Great video & shots. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for watching!

[@andymok7945]

Very nice lighting. I have only seen a Snow Bunting twice. So sad that your car was stolen, but nice that people are helping you out. Around here, dogs are off-leash95+% of the time. The owners just don't care.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Cats are a bigger issue.

[@bellasvistas3463]

Great video. I had 2 in my feed to watch I picked this one first. Hot disappointed thanks. Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@brianlemke6017]

You’re fortunate. Here in Alberta we get drifts of dozens to hundreds of buntings in the winter months. But they’re extremely skittish, I’ve only got one or two images of them. Very quick to scatter. Beautiful little birds. Sorry to hear about your car and equipment. Bastards.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@simoneardley]

Nice one Mike, bet you were glad of the OM-1 when you were yomping up that hill!! Great perseverance and good luck with the Jack Snipe. ATB, Si

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Not the main reason I bought the Om system, but it is an advantage.

[@JanicevD]

I don't think we have snow buntings here (pacific northwest usa) at least I've never seen them. What beautiful subtle colors!

[@fannycarion2519]

Thank you for your videos. I learn a lot from them and enjoy them.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you like them!

[@byMikes]

Love that Skylark footage. Beautiful bird. I see many of them in Scotland and I admittedly take them for granted. Hope all is well, Mike. Great video as always.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Getting scarce in the Midlands.

[@johnpark8297]

Excellent video Mike, thank you for posting 👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Very welcome

[@MartinJSmithPhotographyUK]

Had a snow bunting in Tring resolver some years back and the Jack snipe last year on a private bird reserve in Rickmansworth. Lovely video Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

thanks.

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

hi mike It's nice that so many people helped you get your photo equipment complete again. I hope this has taught you something to never, ever leave things unattended in your car. If that happens to you in the Netherlands, you will not receive anything from the insurance company. thanks for sharing your video and photos.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Impossible. I went into a shop to buy milk for 2 minutes. You can't take everything with you. That would take three journeys into the shop. 50 years of car ownership and the first one stolen. If I can go another 50 that will see me out. Only the car was insured. I have a tracker in the new one and next month will have a dead mans switch fitted (A hidden switch or two that will stop the car being started.)

[@stevevickers2844]

Super video Mike. It’s funny you know but I really like the shots of the bird in the grass bank to me it just looks natural. Each to his own as they say.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I associate the bird with rocky outcrops. and cold weather.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

Snow buntings don't come a far south as where I live. Last year a friend who lives about 150 miles farther north reported a few at his feeder. I would love to photograph one of these beautiful birds.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Look at their best in the snow.

[@micktoulmin4616]

Great video again Mike such a beautiful bird well worth the climb 📷👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@unaitxo]

Just as the snow bunting, I don't like dogs either when I'm out looking for birds.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Cats too.

[@TheJacksnipe]

These hides are very nice, but you can't get on eye level.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

They sell a lie down hide which is just as quick to put up, but the single person hide in the film has a low aperture and turn the hide around and you can shoot out of the door at ground level.

[@TheJacksnipe]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Okay, that sounds nice. Thanks!

[@neilyeomans9805]

No sound on your clips on the top of the hill ? but great video as always

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks Neil. Can't find the problem though.

[@przybylskipawel]

Footage of the bunting in the grass looked very attractive. I guess video actually benefited from a bit busier but more interestin background. It is a pity that Panasonic cameras doesn't sync IS with Olympus Pro lenses. In my opinion Panasonic G9II would be so much better companion for that lens than OM-1 is. Sadly 4K60p in OM-1 is a bit soft and it is no match in terms of details and cropability to 5.8K60p in Lumix cameras.

[@stevemurnan1702]

Entertaining and informative Mike. Have you updated your 150-400TC firmware to 1.1 yet? I've just done mine and feel I can see an improvement in accuracy and speed of focus.....or is it wishful thinking on my part.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I have not done it and am very sceptical about firmware tweeks. If it has improved it, it is very difficult to test and prove. Any change will likely be subtle. Maybe I should get on and do it in the hope I am wrong and it is noticable.

[@TheJacksnipe]

Nice video one more time, but when and where did they steal your car?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Outside my local newsagents on the 2nd October.

[@TheJacksnipe]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Oh god! I can't even imagine that. Hope you'll get it back ...

[@YBFotografia]

Mike, I am a professional photographer as well and recently my Sony RX10 is not focusing on my subject for example when im shooting birds. Do you know what I have to do to fix this because I’ve been quite upset with my final results of my photos

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Very difficult to answer. I would need the camera in my hand to see what is happening. I would start off by testing it for a fault, focusing on static targets rather than birds.

[@przybylskipawel]

What is the exact model of this buteo hide? I would like to buy one but I find their assortment available in polish representation very limited as compared to UK on NL.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

www.buteophotogear.com/a-70014644/medium-photo-hides/photo-hide-buteo-mark-ii-green/#description

[@przybylskipawel]

@@MikeLaneFRPS OK. It is sold out. That is why I couldn't find it.

[@przybylskipawel]

@@MikeLaneFRPS I found what I need and I am very satisfied! I took winter one with green cover. It is a pity that those covers have lens opening only on one side, but still very nice product.