Dropping in....
The one and only fish I saw it catch!
Monday, 31 May 2010
Venus Pool - Little Egret drops in
An early arrival? Little Egrets are normally 'regulars' at VP as the Summer progresses. This bird was present but quite elusive for most of the day (I started and finished the day briefly there)..
Dropping in....
The one and only fish I saw it catch!
Dropping in....
The one and only fish I saw it catch!
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Shropshire - Peregrine
I've been very busy lately and somewhat preoccupied with a Peregrine project. Nevertheless, the excitement of recent twitches was on a par with a chance encounter with this female Peregrine....
Watching and waiting....
Into a practice stoop (I missed the next bit!)....
Watching and waiting....
Into a practice stoop (I missed the next bit!)....
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Venus Pool - My haven't you grown.....
Lapwing chicks have had a hard time of late and all bar one have perished due to the local corvid population. A close encounter gave the opportunity for a 'cute' assortment?
Coming closer....
Head on.....
Fingers crossed for survival.....
Coming closer....
Head on.....
Fingers crossed for survival.....
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Seaforth - White-tailed Plover!!!
A MEGA and bogey bird for me, having dipped the 2007 bird at both Caerlaverock and Leighton Moss! Opportunity has a habit of knocking on the door again however and it was 'third time lucky' for Jim at Seaforth in 2010!!
Setting the scene, by astonishing coincidence, I had a business meeting at work with fellow local birder RV. By the time we'd wrapped up everything, any other business became decision time - "do you want a lift to try for the Plover"? A fairly obvious answer of 'yes' and we were off......
The bird had originally been put out as 'not visible from the fence' so it was a bit of a gamble.... but it had flown about which was our best hope? We parked up at about 5.45, there were about 20 birders present and it had been showing (albeit distantly)!! It was basically feeding in a small section of the far scrape which was hidden but..... every 20 minutes or so - the bird wandered out. After 20 minutes then, it came into view - what an awesome bird and wow, those bright yellow legs lit up by the evening sun. Scope views in the evening light were actually quite stunning!
I even got the camera out for the second and third showing - OK just record shots but I'll settle for these! You've only got to check out Steve Young's website to see just what the folk in the permit holders hide were treated to - the bird was right in front of them!!
(Very distant) record shots.....
We called it a day at about 7.15, anyone thinking of going whilst the sun is shining - best advice is to wait until evening! Having witnessed what the sun and heat haze did to a potentially awesome Wilson's Phalarope, I'm not sure I'd even attempt a bird here in full sun (before evening) again.....
Setting the scene, by astonishing coincidence, I had a business meeting at work with fellow local birder RV. By the time we'd wrapped up everything, any other business became decision time - "do you want a lift to try for the Plover"? A fairly obvious answer of 'yes' and we were off......
The bird had originally been put out as 'not visible from the fence' so it was a bit of a gamble.... but it had flown about which was our best hope? We parked up at about 5.45, there were about 20 birders present and it had been showing (albeit distantly)!! It was basically feeding in a small section of the far scrape which was hidden but..... every 20 minutes or so - the bird wandered out. After 20 minutes then, it came into view - what an awesome bird and wow, those bright yellow legs lit up by the evening sun. Scope views in the evening light were actually quite stunning!
I even got the camera out for the second and third showing - OK just record shots but I'll settle for these! You've only got to check out Steve Young's website to see just what the folk in the permit holders hide were treated to - the bird was right in front of them!!
(Very distant) record shots.....
We called it a day at about 7.15, anyone thinking of going whilst the sun is shining - best advice is to wait until evening! Having witnessed what the sun and heat haze did to a potentially awesome Wilson's Phalarope, I'm not sure I'd even attempt a bird here in full sun (before evening) again.....
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Old Moor - Broad-billed Sandpiper
I had planned to have a quiet day on Sunday but as ever, I’m ‘on call’ for news of a good bird. One wader in particular I’ve been trying to catch up with is Broad-billed Sandpiper and mid morning news of one found at Old Moor RSPB had me expressing more than a bit of casual interest! I’d agreed to tip Andy off for a potential twitch and he had no hesitation in being rescued from garden centre duties, South Yorkshire here we come……
Until, just two or three miles down the road……. came the dreaded ‘no sign’ update! I didn’t fancy a wasted journey on spec (although Andy predicted it would probably still be there somewhere!) and the next best bird (well, we were already on the road) would be the Seaforth female Wilson’s Phalarope! Cue - a u-turn in the direction of Liverpool…
90 minutes later, we were peering through the fence which I knew would be distinctly dodgy from a photography point of view (didn’t even get the camera out of the bag) but against the light it was almost very dodgy from a scope point of view! Nevertheless, we were soon on it with another Shropshire migrant (Dave Western) making a gallery of three! A bonus Black Tern year tick was also present, just a shame about the light…..
Andy had been spot on too (was that ever in doubt) – the Broad Billed Sand was now showing again at Old Moor too!! Cue decision time, well, it was only a short journey across the Pennines….. Knowing the little so and so would not be staying overnight, there was to be no hesitation this time, South Yorkshire here we come (again)……
Satnav got us around some accident mayhem too and just before 5.00 pm we were welcomed by the new ‘welcoming face’ of the RSPB, slightly shellshocked by the sudden rush of interest in ‘Old Moor’! A delightful young girl, keeping the side gate open for us and armed with up to the minute info, where to go first, where to try next etc…. Gone was the dour “Can I see yer membership card”?? RSPB, you got this appointment spot on – had I not already been a member, I would have joined immediately- honest!
We got to Wader hide, which was virtually empty and….. no sign from here…..
You could sense the buzz from the few birders crammed in the left hand section of Wath Ings hide another 130m further on – it was in view from here…. On my list within seconds, courtesy of another birders scope, it was keeping company with a Dunlin on the narrow muddy spit of a distant island. After a short while, the assembled gathering dwindled and we got a grandstand view !! Only problem, we were viewing into the dreaded light again and the bird was a fair way distant but no problem in having a good relaxed view of this five star (for me) Asian vagrant – record shots duly followed…..
Sensing that visibility would be much better from Wader hide, we made our way back there…. Eyes were locked on the same small island covered in vegetation – a completely different aspect from Wath Ings though, the spit was completely hidden from here! Almost without exception, every birder entering refused to believe this was one and the same island! Good numbers of Gadwall, a pair of Common Tern, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover helped ease the strain of waiting for the main attraction to appear….
We had allowed it two lots of ‘give it just ten more minutes then’? Just as well we did, at the end of the second ultimatum, it wandered into view tagging along with the Dunlin. This was more like it, plumage features including that boldly striped head pattern, now lit up by the low sun – still distant but down the light - oh you little stunner!!! The moment didn’t last of course but it was certainly up there with all the other great bird, great view moments!
Now at least you can see clearly what the fuss was about….. although, still at record shot distance…..
The moment didn’t last and apart from one brief reappearance and a flushed flight/return to the spit, that was our lot for the day! Never mind, three year ticks, two class waders and one lifer for me – Old Moor and Broad-billed Sandpiper is now firmly etched in my birding memory lane….
Until, just two or three miles down the road……. came the dreaded ‘no sign’ update! I didn’t fancy a wasted journey on spec (although Andy predicted it would probably still be there somewhere!) and the next best bird (well, we were already on the road) would be the Seaforth female Wilson’s Phalarope! Cue - a u-turn in the direction of Liverpool…
90 minutes later, we were peering through the fence which I knew would be distinctly dodgy from a photography point of view (didn’t even get the camera out of the bag) but against the light it was almost very dodgy from a scope point of view! Nevertheless, we were soon on it with another Shropshire migrant (Dave Western) making a gallery of three! A bonus Black Tern year tick was also present, just a shame about the light…..
Andy had been spot on too (was that ever in doubt) – the Broad Billed Sand was now showing again at Old Moor too!! Cue decision time, well, it was only a short journey across the Pennines….. Knowing the little so and so would not be staying overnight, there was to be no hesitation this time, South Yorkshire here we come (again)……
Satnav got us around some accident mayhem too and just before 5.00 pm we were welcomed by the new ‘welcoming face’ of the RSPB, slightly shellshocked by the sudden rush of interest in ‘Old Moor’! A delightful young girl, keeping the side gate open for us and armed with up to the minute info, where to go first, where to try next etc…. Gone was the dour “Can I see yer membership card”?? RSPB, you got this appointment spot on – had I not already been a member, I would have joined immediately- honest!
We got to Wader hide, which was virtually empty and….. no sign from here…..
You could sense the buzz from the few birders crammed in the left hand section of Wath Ings hide another 130m further on – it was in view from here…. On my list within seconds, courtesy of another birders scope, it was keeping company with a Dunlin on the narrow muddy spit of a distant island. After a short while, the assembled gathering dwindled and we got a grandstand view !! Only problem, we were viewing into the dreaded light again and the bird was a fair way distant but no problem in having a good relaxed view of this five star (for me) Asian vagrant – record shots duly followed…..
Sensing that visibility would be much better from Wader hide, we made our way back there…. Eyes were locked on the same small island covered in vegetation – a completely different aspect from Wath Ings though, the spit was completely hidden from here! Almost without exception, every birder entering refused to believe this was one and the same island! Good numbers of Gadwall, a pair of Common Tern, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover helped ease the strain of waiting for the main attraction to appear….
We had allowed it two lots of ‘give it just ten more minutes then’? Just as well we did, at the end of the second ultimatum, it wandered into view tagging along with the Dunlin. This was more like it, plumage features including that boldly striped head pattern, now lit up by the low sun – still distant but down the light - oh you little stunner!!! The moment didn’t last of course but it was certainly up there with all the other great bird, great view moments!
Now at least you can see clearly what the fuss was about….. although, still at record shot distance…..
The moment didn’t last and apart from one brief reappearance and a flushed flight/return to the spit, that was our lot for the day! Never mind, three year ticks, two class waders and one lifer for me – Old Moor and Broad-billed Sandpiper is now firmly etched in my birding memory lane….
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Anglesey - Terned out nice....
I always try and get a day on Anglesey during May to check out the popular sites, celebrate some overdue obligatory year ticks and generally have a good day’s birding! Yvonne thought it would be a good day out too…..
A late decision to take in ‘Worlds End’ got the day rolling with a good number of Black Grouse eventually on view, somewhat distant but the highlight – a group of nine males lekking made good viewing through the scopes.
First stop on Anglesey was Fedw Fawr – I don’t get lost anymore in this neck of the woods as I’ve invested in a new means of transport and travel in by sea!!
Not sure whether the two Black Guillemot seen here were impressed by this though……
South Stack was hard work, seabird numbers appeared ‘down’ to me and the higher crevices normally holding good numbers of Kittiwake and Fulmar were quite barren! Just two Puffin were found after a lot of seacrching from the lighthouse steps. The lower cliffs held 100's of Guillemot and Razorbill as ever though with a few Fulmar and Kittiwake on the wing plus Gannets out to see. Given the calm conditions, we didn’t expect to see Manxies and this proved to be the case! Chough put in a late appearance, just as we were beginning to wonder where they were hiding!!
We got to Cemlyn at about 2.00, it was stiff with Terns and at least 800 Sandwich Terns have been counted in with up to a hundred Arctic Tern and Common Tern. The blue skies and direct sun meant that Terns flying in from the sea gave the only possible angle for photography! Never mind, we eventually coped with the tricky light – here’s all three species….
Sandwich Tern, plenty of fish in the sea, small or large.....
Arctic Tern....
Common Tern.....
The time seemed to slip away like crazy and we suddenly realised at 6.00 that we still had a bit more travelling, back in North Wales, to do to catch up with one more species….. Little Tern at Gronant!
They were doing quite nicely too! A huge area of the beach has been roped off and 300 odd Little Terns were busy pairing up, dangling fish for all they were worth, trying to attract a partner! With the light fading, one or two record flight shots…..
A spat with the local Ringed Plovers provided useful comparison - just hown small Little Terns are!
Here's one very obliging Ringed Plover……
It certainly had terned out nice....
A late decision to take in ‘Worlds End’ got the day rolling with a good number of Black Grouse eventually on view, somewhat distant but the highlight – a group of nine males lekking made good viewing through the scopes.
First stop on Anglesey was Fedw Fawr – I don’t get lost anymore in this neck of the woods as I’ve invested in a new means of transport and travel in by sea!!
Not sure whether the two Black Guillemot seen here were impressed by this though……
South Stack was hard work, seabird numbers appeared ‘down’ to me and the higher crevices normally holding good numbers of Kittiwake and Fulmar were quite barren! Just two Puffin were found after a lot of seacrching from the lighthouse steps. The lower cliffs held 100's of Guillemot and Razorbill as ever though with a few Fulmar and Kittiwake on the wing plus Gannets out to see. Given the calm conditions, we didn’t expect to see Manxies and this proved to be the case! Chough put in a late appearance, just as we were beginning to wonder where they were hiding!!
We got to Cemlyn at about 2.00, it was stiff with Terns and at least 800 Sandwich Terns have been counted in with up to a hundred Arctic Tern and Common Tern. The blue skies and direct sun meant that Terns flying in from the sea gave the only possible angle for photography! Never mind, we eventually coped with the tricky light – here’s all three species….
Sandwich Tern, plenty of fish in the sea, small or large.....
Arctic Tern....
Common Tern.....
The time seemed to slip away like crazy and we suddenly realised at 6.00 that we still had a bit more travelling, back in North Wales, to do to catch up with one more species….. Little Tern at Gronant!
They were doing quite nicely too! A huge area of the beach has been roped off and 300 odd Little Terns were busy pairing up, dangling fish for all they were worth, trying to attract a partner! With the light fading, one or two record flight shots…..
A spat with the local Ringed Plovers provided useful comparison - just hown small Little Terns are!
Here's one very obliging Ringed Plover……
It certainly had terned out nice....
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Frampton Marsh - Oriental Pratincole
I had a lie in following yesterday’s 15 hour marathon but with a certain Lincolnshire bird on my mind, a snap decision to ‘go for it’ saw me out on my first out and out twitch for quite some time!
Less words more pictures methinks but Frampton Marsh is certainly picking up some good birds, some year ticks here: Wood Sandpiper (visitor centre) Curlew Sandpiper (360 hide) and Temminck’s Stint (off the path to east hide). Little Gulls were to come later too at East hide (some pics too) but absolutely no doubt of the class act for the day – Oriental Pratincole!
Following (bad) advice, I started at the 360 hide and after 30 mins or so at least it was on my list! Hawking for insects in front of the distant raised sea bank., it soon relocated in front of the East Hide and was clearly giving the assembled crowd a show and a half!
OMG - will someone tap the guy second from the left on the shoulder and tell him he’s looking the wrong way!!
Just over 1km to get round there, I’m on my way then….. Next step was to get to the front of the crowd by the side of the hide (no chance of a seat in the hide). One birder who’d seen enough departed – I was in!!
The next hour or so witnessed an awesome spectacle – Oriental Pratincole hawking on the lagoon in front of the hide and very now and then skimming the nearby field/ditch right in front of me. The 500mm lens (all I had with me) was simply too big to cope with the speed in flight when close (and it did fly within 50m!) but I managed a few keepers now and then…..
In full sun....
Over the water.....
I quickly learnt that, delightful though this pose, this bird does not look at it's best against white sky!
Against the green of the adjacent field, it was just a question of trying to stick with the bird and hope.....
Head on shots....
My favourite?
I suppose I need images of Collared Pratincole for comparison too now but just to clinch the key id features of OP – the short tail streamers and lack of white trailing edge to wing 'arm' – all clearly shown here…..
Oh and here’s one of the Little Gulls (first Summer birds) I mentioned earlier, at least five on view here....
Useful size comparison....
By 4.00 pm the bird was spending more and more time ‘down’ and with another potential lifer ‘on the way’ home, I decided it was time to move on.....
Less words more pictures methinks but Frampton Marsh is certainly picking up some good birds, some year ticks here: Wood Sandpiper (visitor centre) Curlew Sandpiper (360 hide) and Temminck’s Stint (off the path to east hide). Little Gulls were to come later too at East hide (some pics too) but absolutely no doubt of the class act for the day – Oriental Pratincole!
Following (bad) advice, I started at the 360 hide and after 30 mins or so at least it was on my list! Hawking for insects in front of the distant raised sea bank., it soon relocated in front of the East Hide and was clearly giving the assembled crowd a show and a half!
OMG - will someone tap the guy second from the left on the shoulder and tell him he’s looking the wrong way!!
Just over 1km to get round there, I’m on my way then….. Next step was to get to the front of the crowd by the side of the hide (no chance of a seat in the hide). One birder who’d seen enough departed – I was in!!
The next hour or so witnessed an awesome spectacle – Oriental Pratincole hawking on the lagoon in front of the hide and very now and then skimming the nearby field/ditch right in front of me. The 500mm lens (all I had with me) was simply too big to cope with the speed in flight when close (and it did fly within 50m!) but I managed a few keepers now and then…..
In full sun....
Over the water.....
I quickly learnt that, delightful though this pose, this bird does not look at it's best against white sky!
Against the green of the adjacent field, it was just a question of trying to stick with the bird and hope.....
Head on shots....
My favourite?
I suppose I need images of Collared Pratincole for comparison too now but just to clinch the key id features of OP – the short tail streamers and lack of white trailing edge to wing 'arm' – all clearly shown here…..
Oh and here’s one of the Little Gulls (first Summer birds) I mentioned earlier, at least five on view here....
Useful size comparison....
By 4.00 pm the bird was spending more and more time ‘down’ and with another potential lifer ‘on the way’ home, I decided it was time to move on.....
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