Mediterranean Gull

While we were waiting for the Gulls to feed over the catching area at Pitsea tip yesterday. I had a go at trying to get some flight shots of the Med Gulls. In the first shot below, you can just see a faint pencil line on the outer web of its primary. Something that you can't always see when out in the field but up close its just visible. The same goes with its bill, all photos show a deep red bill but up close its got a pale yellowish tip. That's why I enjoy Gull ringing ,you get the chance to see all gulls finer detail. Where maybe you can't see or miss when your out birding!

Med ringing

Had a very enjoyable morning with the NTGG on Pitsea Tip as we tried to catch some Mediterranean Gulls this morning. Paul Roper had a small team out, so we would only go for a small catch. 3 Adult Med, 10 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black Backed and 20 Black Heads were processed. Any birder would say Med Gulls are smart out in the field but in the hand, superb!. The morning went so well we even had time to get some nice flight shots which I will put on in the next day or two.

 Med magic

 

Me in front of the camera for once, thanks Paulboy!

nets ready and loaded

Clutter

As I've started to use the camera more and more over the years it's only the last few weeks that it's been in manual mode, its not easy but the results will be better so I'm told. The thing is you can get the bird in focus and posing nice but the back ground matters too, well it does with me. So, I get the bird right-ish but the back groung wrong. Its not easy is it!

Pacific Swift

Pacific Swift breeds in Asia and is a vagrant to Britain but today there was one at Trimley Marshes Suffolk and I got to see it with some very happy birders this afternoon. It took over a hour to drive there and a 3 mile walk and a bit of a jog, but it was well worth it seeing this MEGA!  It showed well for over an hour or so while I was there, showing us all its white rump,white chin patch and looked a lot slimmer than Common Swift. Twenty years ago was the last one to twitch, so I'm very pleased! 

 

Spot on!

Spotted Flycatchers  have a sharp eyed appearance and very appealing look about them. Plumage, maybe dull but a bird I like very much and don't get see well  enough  at times unfortunately. So this evening it was a real treat to see this pair very well. I will have to go back again soon for another go at them as I felt that photo wise I might do a little better. Let's hope so and hope they breed as they are now getting a scarce breeder.

All ISO 400 f5.6

Crackerjack!

This Meadow Pipit thinks its playing one of  the games from the children's programme called Crackerjack, where they had to hold as many items as possible without dropping them!

A grey day at Lakenheath

After I dropped off family at Stanstead Airport Saturday morning, I made my way up the motorway to Lakenheath RSPB again for a mornings birding. It certainly didn't feel like June as the temperature was well down for the time of year and the grey sky made it very unlike summer. However, the birds thought differently as a pair of Marsh Harriers made a food pass and some final touches to their nest. Booming Bitterns and Cuckoo were always heard while I made the walk around the reserve. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling too and I had a few flight views of Bearded Tit. A nice morniing!

Pied Wagtail

Having enjoyed Lakenheath RSPB reserve yesterday morning I stopped off at the Walkers Cafe for a bite to eat. Once I'd finished eating lunch and just  about to leave for  the hour plus journey home, this young Pied Wagtail was feeding on insects and small caterpillars which had been blown off the above trees by the wind. A Grey Wagatail and Meadow Pipit made the most of this easy way to feed too by picking up all the fallen food on the ground.

 

valley birder

If you have read by blog recently you would of thought that I've forgotten about my own patch but how could I . Its just nice sometimes  birding somewhere else for a change. The  last two evenings have been ok patchwise. A pair of Cuckoo, Kingfisher  I know its not much but that's the patch for you. Still on 93 sp for the year and Red Kite should be soon? Well I hope so..

Dunnock

Return to Rainham

I made my third consecutive visit to Rainham Marshes RSPB this morning and wasn't disappointed. Although no real surprises in the birds being seen ,it was just nice to plod around with the camera. Talking of which I've brought a new one. This time it's a Cannon 400mm instead of a Sigma one and I'm really pleased with it. No frame fillers yet but it's alot sharper than the Sigma was.

Meadow Pipit

Singing Corn Bunting

Still looking

A after work visit to Rainham Marshes RSPB last night produced the following Corn Bunting, 3 Hobby, Common Buzzard, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover.