crap pics of rare birds!

Continuing this occasional series, I'm posting a couple more rarities for your perusal. About a month ago I visited Lakenheath Fen, followed by the short 4 mile hop to Weeting Heath. Although I missed the Golden Orioles at Lakenheath I very fortunately got a shot of an adult Crane with chick. Thrilled with this next up was Weeting, where after much walking about I snapped 2 adult Stone Curlews also with a solitary chick.

Ospreys at Rutland water

Hello again. Here are some shots from my recent trip to Rutland water. I expected the Ospreys may be some distance from the hides, though not that distance! Shooting with my 300mm lens was pretty pointless, as the birds could have been carrier bags for all I know? Fortunately one of the birds decided on a spot of fishing, coming quite a bit closer. I'm not expecting any awards for the shots though...

guest slot – from Portland

Here is a lovely article from my friend from across the pond, take it away Michele...

"Hummingbirds are quite common in North America, particularly in the west. They are the among the smallest species of birds and are also the only group of birds that can fly backwards. They are quite fast and can fly at speeds exceeding 54 km/h. With a very high metabolism to support the rapid beating of their wings, they consume more than their own weight in nectar each day"

"In Oregon, we have about 5 species of hummingbirds, with the most common in the Portland area being the Anna's Hummingbird. Anna's are unique in that they don't migrate, but tend to stay in their home territory year round. I've had a regular visitor to the feeder on my balcony since about February. He's a male Anna's, which have a metallic green back, dark rose-red crown and gorget and grayish breast. It has been a bit challenging to get a good photo of the little guy as they don't sit still for very long, but with a little patience and perseverance, I managed to get a few good shots"

 

wildlife gardening

As gardening and birding aren't what you'd call mutually exclusive I'll add some shots from my own patch. I recently started planting more native wild flowers, which in turn attracts a wider diversity of insects, well I guess you get the picture!...

paxton pits & ouse washes

I was fortunate to get some sightings of what to me are 3 new ducks, this Sunday gone. Having previously failed to see Smew, this time I was in luck as a male & female were seen almost straight away. Pleased with ourselves me and fellow birder, '2 man' Bob set off to the Kingfisher hide, where we were lucky enough to spot 5 Red Crested Pochard (4 males, 1 female) after we watched a mink crossing the Ouse we finally stumbled upon a male & female Goosander. Not a bad days work!

To finish a good trip out we decided to check out the Ouse washes reserve, where this Sparrowhawk landed on the roosting box, joining us in watching the Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and assorted finches feeding below.

passive passerines

I managed to snap a couple of oblivious little fellas yesterday and will add more pics to this post as and when I take them.

Invasion of the berry snatchers!

Hello again peeps. I was moved to type this, as looking out of my living room window right now I can see a Cotoneaster bush which has a whole lotta shaking going on? I can't remember ever seeing so many Redwing as this year. When do you remember seeing this pretty member of the Thrush family in such proliferation as this year. I have seen some unusual birds (a Quail outside the courthouse early one morning?) around Ely over the years, but never Redwing from my 'office' chair.

The big freeze

As well as allowing us to see the fabulous Bitterns, the recent cold snap has afforded some great photo opportunities around our waterways. I always take my camera with me when myself and my 'stealthy' friends are crashing through the undergrowth (think cows crossing a river) Water is always photogenic, ice it seems even more so. Here are a few shots I was quite pleased with.

Thrice Bittern

Well who would have thought it? 44 years I've been on this planet and I'd just about given up on this ridiculously rare and shy bird. Having for once made the effort to get to Roswell Pits before sun up, I was feeling pretty cheesed off to find that by 11am myself and a regular twitching partner hadn't even had so much as a glimpse of this increasingly common to Ely rarity. To say we were over the moon to end up with 3 separate sightings during the course of the day is putting it mildly (although I feel rather guilty about accidently flushing the first one out)

casual sightings

If like me, you're of a rather lazy nature, you may like to join me cataloging your bird sightings to and from work. My usual mode of transport is provided by British Rail, running from Ely to Royston Mondays to Fridays. So far I have, from my warm (if sometimes noisy) carriage, variously seen, in no particular order: Golden Pheasant, Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Buzzard, Redshank, Cormorant, Redwing, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Tufted duck, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Harrier, Hobby. These are the rarer species I've seen, but would love to hear of your sightings.

Be lucky