Timewarp to 2009 - Cover shot

I've had a broad smile on my face recently and here's why......



Peering back at me from the magazine shelves last week was a smart Grey Phalarope. After I'd got over the illusion that it must be someone else's, I realised it was mine! Taken from a session in November 2009 (at Crosby Marine Park). A seasonal image, if we get another big blow?

The original posting is here

Here's the original web sized image - it makes a cracking 10 x 8 print if anyone is looking for an early Christmas present for someone :-) Cheapest pressie you'll ever buy!



I looked back in the archive hard drive and as ever, there were plenty of images gathering pixel dust which have never seen the light of day. I'd better point out if anyone has dived straight in past the words to look at the pictures - THESE ARE HISTORIC - FROM NOV 2009!





Another close up.....



A few more action shots capturing droplets.....





A fitting image to end with!



I must do more delving in to the archives through the Winter, which reminds me Mike -I'll be sorting the rest those Cirl Buntings again..... one day.... :-)

Wall Farm - Steppe stacks closer

No - it wasn't any closer but I decided to try stacked converters to double or nearly triple the focal length of a 500mm lens and bring the Shrike nearer to me......

Sounds fine in theory but it isn't a recipe for success! The depth of field is much shallower, every tiny vibration sets up 'shake' and of course you can forget auto focus. I did however establish that with a 7D, autofocus does actually work when in live view!

Anyway, back to the bird - twice as close but twice as shaky! Record shots remain the norm and these will have to do!

Post preening and somewhat 'fluffed up' pose!



A few flight shots showing the upperwing (various degrees of quality but it's the detail that counts)...









And the underwing.....







If you haven't been (and wish too) please note that there will be no access to the field tomorrow (Sunday!) This will be reviewed for next weekend if the Shrike is still there?

Wall Farm - Steppe still showing

Would you believe it, showing all week albeit distant, the Steppe Grey Shrike has got sleepy Shropshire back on the birding radar for all the right reasons. I manged a quick session today and didn't get any better static shots but will settle for this flight shot only 150 odd metres away?

The Shrike was always always distant. 150m (ish) the best it will normally do and more distant the norm but it never seems to leave the hedgerow it favours. Looking back over the week, I don't think anyone who has been on site has not had decent scope views and from what I'm told, everyone has gone away happy!




I'll be back helping out with organisation tomorrow!

If anyone is thinking of travelling......

The Steppe Grey Shrike was still present until late afternoon today but Access arrangements for the Weekend remain unchanged. Local birders will be on site from early am. Please note the directions - there is no other access other than the field car park! Approx 3 miles West of Newport on the B5062, turn left (if heading from Newport) down a narrow lane, signposted 'The Wall'. After approx 1/2 mile there is a farm on the left and after another 200m or so, turn right into the field designated for parking at SJ679179. Do not park on any of the verges of the narrow road or the farmyard. The landowner has made the field available for parking and opened up access to an area which is normally out of bounds. Go past the hide and almost immediately turn left over a small bridge. Turn left and follow the field perimeter to the far side. The fence line gives decent views. He has asked for a donation of £3.50 per CAR. All proceeds will be going to the Poppy appeal.

The rain hammered down late afternoon and still is locally but tomorrow should be fine! The the car parking field is OK at present, the entrance from the road is getting a bit churned up however so be careful when exiting (near a tight bend) or driving down the narrow lane nearby.......

Attenborough - Squacco Heron :-)

It’s had been a quiet month on the birding front. Talks here, there everywhere and getting them ready have seriously hampered me getting out. With the local scene in the seasonal doldrums and yesterday’s Pied Wheatear doing a flyer overnight, I was seriously demotivated!

All that changed with a check of the day’s rarities and a browse of bird forum’s thread on the Notts Squacco Heron! I had this on my radar (a lifer if it stayed put). Another magic example of birding folklore too... An aarsy fisherman got his just desserts on Saturday when deliberately flushing the bird and got his tackle trolley thrown in the river for his efforts! (I packed my landscape lens in just in case another opportunity arose!)

I was late off the mark and got there just before 1.00. Just a short walk and fortunately the Heron, was right out in the open, viewed under the railway bridge (it’s favourite fishing spot!) I say fortunately as after another fifteen minutes, it was gone – and I’d used another dollup of ‘just in time’ luck!!

Nevertheless, in those fifteen minutes, I watched it stand still



Pose in a manner that could seriously damage the health of fish (false alarm on this occasion)



Stand still again



Another more seriously threatening posture!



Then SPLASH, diving headlong into the water



Before emerging with a small Perch



Struggle all he might, this Perch was lunch I’m afraid!







Alignment of the fish for a smooth journey downwards!





Down the hatch





A moment of satisfaction or the train rumbling overhead effect? Moments later it flew upstream!



Only one fish was harmed in the making of this blog, no fishermen were seen, let alone sent for an early bath and the only barracking was reserved for two numbskull birders who tried (unsuccessfully) to make their way under the right hand side of the railway bridge to the sandbags – potentially stopping a reappearance! And for once, all the photographers were good guys!

It was 2.45 and I received a summons from Shropshire! It was Andy Latham with an interesting development regarding the Wall Farm 'Great Grey Shrike' – was it something else? I legged it to the car.....

Wall Farm - Steppe Grey Shrike !!

Crikey, could it be?? Pictures would be undoubtedly be needed for the Wall Farm Shrike to be taken seriously as a Steppe contender but..... there I was mid afternoon – 75 miles away!

Taking up the story, Andy Latham had been looking at the Shrike over the usual (long) distance and was convinced this was no ‘ordinary’ Grey Shrike. Access to get a bit nearer had been brokered, it was 2.45pm, the Heron was still not showing so I started a breakneck journey to get back and hopefully see it / photograph it before the light went.

Arriving at 4.10 and parking up, there was still the yomp to the hide and across the field to contend with. Rich Vernon had just arrived too and it must have been gone 4.30 before we got to the edge of the wetland overlooking the ploughed field. The light was dropping FAST but the Shrike was in view about 100m distant in the loose hedgerow. It was still feeding fortunately and after each foray to the ground (usually to the ploughed field) it ended up a little nearer…..

It seemed to always sit ‘head on’, the bill was certainly quite pale and the black mask was a really striking feature – sharply cut off at the eye!





I sensed a flight shot or two might be useful but it was virtually dark now – quite a challenge! Cranking the ISO up to 1600 and panning, I got a couple of half decent distant images showing the extensive white wing patch and tail pattern





After disappearing for 10 mins or so it reappeared and at last sat with a side on / rear showing view – just what I had been waiting for! How I kept these shots sharp, I don't know – 1/6th second exposure!



I’ll quite honestly say at this point, it was virtually impossible to study the bird, given the light I just kept on it, clicking and hooping! The consensus of the gathered locals was that this bird WAS looking good for Steppe Grey Shrike and if the images were useable (what you see above!) then ‘expert opinion’ would be sought to further confirm matters that evening!

Andy had a few contacts to seek opinion from and Rich had details for Martin Garner. Images were posted out by 9.00 pm and by 11.00, Martin at least had got back to confirm this looked good for ‘pallidirostris’. Martin's is jetting off but plans to blog the bird later too! News had also got out to BirdGuides by then too but unbeknown to them, there was going to be one hell of a problem regarding parking and access!

Luckily after some feverish negotiation first thing Monday morning by Andy and with me trying to keep BirdGuides up to speed, with developments a field was ‘setaside’ (an appropriate use for a field eh ) for parking! The twitch was now seriously ON but with my car being serviced today (Monday) and work all week, the Shrike is out of bounds for me – let’s hope some good pictures in decent light come out and the identity is further validated......

Venus Pool - Whooper drops in

At last I'd had the sense to 'wait for news' saving myself an unecessary trip to Gloucs and that most obliging of Pied Wheatears! The Friday night is flight night rule applied!

That meant, when I eventually emerged - a short day in Shropshire and there was only bird to show from it - a Whooper Swan on the fishing pool from VP reserve.

The Mute Swans seemed to tolerate it's presence.....



But it spent most of the time in the company of Canada Geese





Until I managed to single it out from the other residents....





Clocks go back tonight and I need to go forward - out of County! Wonder if the Squacco Heron in Notts will stick?

*** Update ***

Sorry folks, the talk season is firmly upon me and with most of the past week spent in Dublin (not a drop of guinness passed my lips either) and more talks this week/ weekend, I have little time to catch up and blog......

Here's the last bird photographed on the 9th October - a drake Mandarin downstream of Highley (4 males and 2 females were present here)



Those Norfolk pics will get done too (honest) even if it's Christmas. I've added images from Day 2 below.....