|
|
I found this 1st winter female myself in the Top shrub, shortly before it was mist-netted, having just watched another bird only 100 metres away. An increasingly rare Autumn find |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This bird was an end to a great 2 days in the south-west, with Gyrfalcon and lots of gulls and other bits seen. Sadly I only had 3 photos left by the time we saw this bird, 1 to quickly prove to Rob I saw it in case it goes! Then these 2! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This 1st winter bird was among a few Common Gulls lazing on the beach, sadly I had run out of chips so not the greatest of views, note the tail pattern and coverts on this bird, only a matter of time until ones at Church Wilne Res?! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have friends who live opposite the car park at Copperhouse Creek and visit them every new year, so this bird has been the first bird of the year for about 12 years! Typically showy, it'll be strange when it goes for good. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This much travelled bird has travelled from a cage, to Ireland, Cornwall, Somerset and Northern Irland, quite a trek, still, always nice to see an eagle, never find raptors myself though, never look in the sky! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What a bird, sitting in the churchyard at Rame at dawn waiting for a Chimney Swift to show, this was definitly the highlight for me over the Swift, a fantatic little bird |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finally, a rare bird in September that not only shows well, but has the sun shining on it too. We had this bird all to ourselves and it didnt seem bothered one bit, a selection of photos to choose from |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd never twitch like this again, can't stand it anymore, it was great at the time though, must have got on site within 3 hours of it being on the pager. This wasn't the highlight though, double figues of Garganey, 20 Hobbys, loads of waders, great place |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This bird made me realise how much I hate some twitchers! I'd been watching this for on my own when twitchers started to arrive, saying this wasn't the right bird because of blah blah blah, so they watched another bird, photos proved mine was the bird, all those twitchers never really watched the right bird! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whilst photographing a Lapland Bunting we heard a Rosefinch, turned around and saw it flying in off the sea and land right next to us! So obviously I switched my camera around to this bird, sadly the ringers got hold of itand who knows what happened to it in the end |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A fantstic approachable bird, can't you just imagine one calling in the reedbed at Willington?! Nope, neither can I. Not long after my first, a pair in Somerset. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another bird I had all to myself on the way to Cornwall, a great bird to watch and photograph, showed too well some of the time to photograph! I'm very pleased with this shot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I still remember seeing 6 of these surrounding a Grey Heron at the same site when I was about 8, a rarity in those days, this was one of several birds feeding around the boats, always nice to see |
|
|
|
|
|
|
See the sightings page for more info on this bird, cracking views of this bird, shame about the light though, using a camera adaptor for a kowa scope in those days! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sadly his was the last time this bird was seen on the river without a fishermans hook in its bill, I very sad end to a terrific and powerful adult White-billed Diver, my first and only one |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sadly this bird was found dead, and a day after the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler left the cemetary, oh well, having seen these birds well in Yorkshire only 2 years before I have only managed one since, a bird I found in Cornwall in Autumn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This bird was singing outside the hotel for several days, one of several we saw during our week here, including feeding one Penguins (no, the chocolate bar) on the road on Fetlar with R-B Shrike sat behind it |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
This bird sang and showed well for a few days, not quite as showy as the bird I saw at Blakeney Point on my YOC bird race, along with a Pacific Swift! Surely one of the best YOC bird races of all time! A cracking bird to watch hoping along looking for food |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note the black face mask and yellow bill of this 1st winter bird that wintered at this site, I had previously missed it 2 months back, it was accompined by 2 Water Rails when I saw it, if only I had more film left! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WOW! What a bird, not as white as the Wembury bird but a damn sight closer. I persuaded Rob to climb down the cliff here below where everyone was looking at the bird as I knew we could see it much better, didn't realise it would be only 30 feet away when we found it! Stunning views |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A big surprise to hear about this as I was birding by the hotel pool overlooking a marsh covered with birds in India, luckily it hung around long enough for me to go down to take a look. Looks like its ready for a nap, no, it flew to land on top of a high rise building, great! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Check the tertial pattern on this 1st winter bird, makes it a lot easier to identify. This bird was first seen in Grampian (check out the missing tertial). It typically showed well, coming towards me as the tide rose, until it came to high and flew off |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sadly light wasn't great here, a little too dark, I'd be ok now I've got a flash, annoying, what if is so often the case with my photography! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A quick stop off on the way down for a few days birding in France, a crcking stop at a cracking place too. What a bird, if only those reeds werent in the way all the time though, crakes can be great but annoying birds, brilliant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This mostly distant bird was one of only a few Franklin's Gulls to linger for more than a day, I've now seen hundreds in Summer plumage in America so not fussed anymore! Nice to find one in the roosts though! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found whilst we were on our way down to Cornwall for our regular later Autumn visit, so a nice surprise for us when we arrived on Scilly, a great time to go last wek of October, not so many 'birders' not birding, but real birders birding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This bird was in the middle of a council house estate, nice! So we kept our bins close to our chest, luckily someone put some apples out so it should well eventually |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surely a photo taken from a collection?! Nope, seen again on a RSPB coach trip, with with the Pochards at feeding time with the swans, tricky to photograph with it diving constantly among thousands of ducks and through glass. Surely wild?! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of a pair feeding among the BHG's on the beach, came to 2 loaf worths of bread! I've lost my best pictures of these birds though, very annoying! They must be around somewhere, so this photo will hopefully change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I spent 2 days photographing this bird as it was right next to the friends we stay with, managed a photo of it in Birding World too, colours are a bit yellow due to it being a negative transferred to slide, will change it soon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A great inland bird of the best gull around, always great to find one pushing against the waves in a gale on the Cornish coast but even better having one walk through your tripod legs! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This bird was one of several divers and grebes I used to photograph on this pool in winter, I regularly managed 5 species (once 6!) of grebe and 3 species of diver on this pool and the adjacent harbour on the same day, all allowing stunning views |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blown onto the tiny Half moon pool during massive gales, we saw it fly onto hear while watching thousands fly past out to sea and over our heads! Eventually though this bird was picked up and taken into care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I first saw this bird the year before but went back to see it with ROH and his dad, a fantastic bird, dangling over the cliff edge to take a photo, great walk to the bird being bombarded by plenty of Great Skuas aiming for your head! |
|
|
|
|
|
