Bird / Image of 2015

Here are a few favourite pictures of mine (in no particular order) taken during 2015.  A bit of a mixture - favourite birds and images. For various reasons, its been my quietest year for such a long time!
You will find an voting box to the right, to keep things simple, check the FIVE pictures you like most! (click thumbs to open a larger image) FIVE votes maximum only please- any more wont be counted!  (Only one voter is possible per PC!)

I will let this poll run until December 31st and then YOUR No 1 Picture of the Year will be declared the following day....

Have a fantastic Christmas everyone and here's wishing everyone great birding in 2016! With batteries recharged I shall be out and about in the field a lot more!! Not yearlisting tho :-) 

Picture 1 - Hen Harrier - Venus Pool Shropshire (February)

Picture 2 - Red-throated Pipit - Ludworth Moor (May)

Picture 3 - White-tailed Eagle - Mull (May)

Picture 4 - Corncrake - Iona (May)

Picture 5 - Red Grouse - Lochindorb (May)

Picture 6 - King Eider - Ythan estuary (May)

Picture 7 - Cretzschmars Bunting - Bardsey Island  (June)

Picture 8 - Melodious Warbler - Hampton in Arden (June)

Picture 9 - Puffin - Farne Islands (July)

Picture 10 - Arctic Terns - Farne Islands (July)

Picture 11 - Red-footed Falcon - Chatterley Whitfield (July)

Picture 12 - Great Skua - Isles of Scilly (August)

Picture 13 - European Storm Petrel - Isles of Scilly (August)

Picture 14 - Fea's Petrel - Isles of Scilly (August)

Picture 15 - Great Shearwater - Isles of Scilly (August)

Picture 16 - Pectoral Sandpiper - St Marys (October)

Picture 17 - Red-flanked Bluetail - St Agnes (October)

Picture 18 - Hudsonian Whimbrel - Tresco (October)

Picture 19 - Northern Wheatear - St Marys (October)

Picture 20 - Rose-coloured Starling- Lands End (October)

Picture 21 -  Kingfisher - Venus Pool (November)

Picture 22 -  Brambling - Venus Pool (December)

Picture 23 - Egyptian Goose - Venus Pool (December)

Venus Pool - Egyptian Goose

Not a lot happening at Venus Pool with the higher water levels attracting a good number of duck and as usual, even more geese! A surprise was in store however when a lone Egyptian Goose sneaked in, landing on the middle island. It snoozed for about 40 minutes, had a quick preen before emerging from the vegetation....

Wandered down to the waters edge....

Before heading downwind......

Something rather surly about these characters!

So everything else kept their heads down!

I could see what was going to happen, so got ready to catch the flight shot out (having missed the flight shot in!)

Here we go.....

Skipping the water.....

Settling into level flight in front of me!

Before climbing high and heading south east, I don't think a return is on the cards!

Bramblings part 2

The dark head and brighter plumage of a male Brambling takes some beating and a couple of sequences here to demonstrate their beauty :-)

The head will eventually turn completely black in summer plumage, pale fringes to the feathers creeate the spotty appearance.

Another individual with paler tip to the bill...

Again, stunning seen in close up!

It's not just about the rares! Might just spend a few more hours patch birding?

Bramblings part 1

There seems to be plenty of Bramblings about at the moment and they always seem to stand out from the winter bird crowd! Males are always to preferred quarry but a female within range will do nicely! They brighten up any day.....

Rummaging through the litter....

Add a bit of sunshine?

Lovely birds seen close up :-)

Now where's a nice male......

Kingfisher

I've never known such a busy November - talks, meetings, projects the list goes on! And I've now got an eye problem which means less time spent in front of a montitor :-( Been fitting in local birding sessions when I can - nothing 'special' but some obliging common birds.....

Like this Kingfisher!

And a windswept attempt at landing with a fish!

Which ended in.... whoooops!

I meant to that?

A quick hover and then gone!

Chesterfield - Crag Martin

Twitching the Chesterfield Crag Martin the previous day had not been an option as I was down in a Swansea cinema when news broke..... Once news broke on Monday morning, it was a refreshing change to be setting the satnav for a lifer bird?

The local council have got in on the act too - hastily adding new signage for this new 'atttraction'!

A closer view.....

Despite the pouring rain, hundreds of penniless birders were lining the streets, hoping the Martin would be on show ...

I  ticked from the randomly parked car on arrival just after 11.00 but then it promptly did the customary disappearing act! Only to reappear 30 minutes later when it  showed rather well albeit in a gale and horizontal rain - please don't expect much from the images!!!!

Photographing from an alley with tall buildings all around is not easy, add a fast moving bird in driving rain it's nigh on impossible!

But we try :-)

At least a vague view of the tail windows are apparent here in this final dodgy offering.....

Question is, do I return on a better day? If I get the opportunity.....