Late news: A male Siskin in the garden today at around noon.
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Late news: A male Siskin in the garden today at around noon.
Posted at 01:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
A went out earlier than normal today in the hope of getting better light and consequently better shots of the Cettis. The light wasn't as good as I hoped but I almost got that "killer" shot of my intended quarry. Very satisfying because I had followed a plan and waited for around 2 hours for the shot which does show the cocked tail stance very nicely, what a shame the head is obscured.
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Stop Press
Stop Press
Posted at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
As I slowly dawdled down the Towpath a chap approached me and asked if I had seen the Spoonbill ....... I hadn't! As we both looked, it took to the air and flew a little nearer, still in the distance but I managed a couple of good ones as it came in to land. I am glad that we have this one with us, I think its been here for a day or so. We watched it feeding for a while and with a bit of luck it may come to one of the scrapes nearer to the roadway. The birds already settled on the water look very much like Whimbrel, in fact I am pretty sure that they are! So a good morning really with 3 new species for the year making a total of 163 species so far for the year.
Posted at 02:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
With the weather a bit dodgy I decided to do a bit of shopping for equipment and purchased a new tripod. I am thrilled with the results, It is rock steady and has improved my pictures considerably. These were taken in very poor light but they are very satisfactory! Collarerd Doves are breeding somewhere near by and as I stood taking pictures of the Clematis just to test, this bird settled on the fence. I was very pleased to get the chance to snap a quick shot off. I love their eyes which are a great feature.
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The Tawny Owl is a bird that I have to confess that I have not seen all that often throughout my life but it is also a bird that I have grown up with. From time to time I have heard them calling and I can remember as a child being petrified when I lay awake one night with one calling nearby and wondering what could possible be making such a noise! I have caught fleeting glimpses through the years and occasionally I have found one dead on the roads. I have also seen them in zoos and bird collections.
I am pretty sure that this is a Chiffchaff because I heard it calling but to be honest I can't be certain that it was this very bird which as I look closely again looks very Willow Warbler like to me with flesh coloured legs and greenish body, they are very hard to tell apart.
I know this is a Blackcap!!!! Who wouldn't. They sing really beautifully and this one was really giving it some wellie!
Canada Geese are a bit of a pain really and they are actually harmful to the breeding success of other geese being very territorial. At the top pond this pair have chosen to nest. The fox, according to the Baliff had the first 2 eggs but she continued to lay more and now she sits on 4. I cant believe that the fox has not taken her because she is in a very vulnerable place and I am sure she is not safe.
She didnt seem to mind me being near her and just carried on sitting with absolutely no reaction whatsoever. She does make a very pretty picture and I am pretty certain that she will make the fox an even better dinner, its just a matter of time!
Posted at 09:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The first thing I noticed was the profusion of blossoms and also how the vocal all the small birds have become. Its a good time to be walking with the recorder. For example I listened to a lovely song and wondered what was making such a beautiful noise, I was surprised when it turned out to be a Chaffinch and amazed that I had not immediately recognised it. Since my return I have added 2 new birds to my 2009 list, Swallow and Willow Warbler. Willow Warblers are very similar to Chiffchaff but have a totally different song. They are also a little "longer" in shape and more yellowish/green and usually have light flesh coloured legs. I am pretty sure that this is a Willow Warbler.
Hard to say I agree but what do you think? I would be interested in your comments, by the ay I heard it sing so I am pretty certain!!!!
There has been an Osprey at Topsham. In actual fact it would be more precise to say on the River Clyst because when I saw it yesterday that is where it was perched, on the warf where the Clyst joins the Exe. Good but distant views could be had from the viewing platform at Bowling Green Marsh and even more distant from the hide. The Little Gull eluded me yet again, I don't seem to be able to pin them down!
Posted at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I have to confess that it has been hard to adjust back in to the routine here in the UK after my great trip to my favourite destination, Florida. Of course everyone associates the State with the the theme parks and Disney but it is so, so much more and to me it offers opportunities to do and enjoy all of my favourite outdoor experiences. The beaches are absolutely fabulous with glorious weather and azure seas. Sunsets and the sunrise have to be seen to be believed and wildlife is abundant even in the heavily built up areas. Sea Turtles nest on the beaches and fresh water turtles ......... terrapins to the rest of the world show themselves constantly. Lizards and geckos scurry through the undergrowth constantly and feral Iguanas are abundant almost everywhere and in plague proportions in some. Blossoming trees adorn the gardens and parks with squirrels and woodpeckers competing for space. Manatees are in the waterways, I saw them 6 feet away on one memorable Sunday morning dawn! Herons and Ibis nest only feet from visitors in several wildlife refuges and even the common birds like Grackles and Doves are a great spectacle. If I have one criticism at all, there is an obsession by every American with an interest, to turn the whole thing in to a sanitised "wildlife theme park" and almost every wildlife area has toilet facilities that would rival a good hotel in any other part of the world. But, parking is free as is the entry at most, and at least that way there is no litter or obnoxious behaviour. So once you are used to the inevitable "have a nice day" greeting, you can enjoy the experience and imagine that you are actually in the wild! The people are lovely, friendly and sincere and those that I met either observing or photographing were so nice. I met a few people with a good knowledge of their local environment but most, and that included uniformed park staff know very little about the wildlife that surrounds them even describing cormorants as ducks and not knowing that the brown Ibis are actually young White Ibis for example. Thankfully conservation is on the agenda which has perhaps arrived as an afterthought because vast areas of the Everglades have been drained and turned into yet more sanitised suburban communities. Amongst these conurbations though are massive recreational parks and wildlife areas which give a glimpse of the real environment which once existed and still does further west some 25 miles from the coast and beyond. This is very convenient for wildlife watchers like myself as wildlife is contained in these areas in large numbers and can be observed at close quarters. All in all as I have said South Florida is a great place to visit, there is something special about a place where you can wear sandles and deck shoes for 3 weeks and forget what it actually feels like to have socks on your feet, and occasionally have the need to step out of the air con to get warm. Even at 7 in the morning the air is warmer outside on your balcony than in doors!
Posted at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Sat in Ft Lauderdale airport as I am at the moment I have been reflecting on my my great trip to South Florida, mostly Broward County, Dade and Palm Beach. I have seen around 80 species of birds, not a great amount but most very special. My last morning trip to the park before I left for home was another very interesting bird day.
I spotted the Yellow bellied sapsucker again as well as Common Yellow Troat, Red Winged Blackbird, Least Tern, Coopers Hawk, Ahninga, Mottled Duck, Blue Winged Teal, Common Galinule, Green Heron, Blue Heron, American Crow, Blue Jay, European Starling, Boat Tailed Grackle, Double Crested Cormorant, Laughing Gull, Ring Billed Gull and Palm Warbler. The highlight was a banded Kingfisher. I cant say why it chose today to show itself, but it was being harrassed by a Grackle and did a good fighter plane interpritation as it was chased back and forward accross the lake, at times turning the tables and chasing back! I manageed a photo from quite a way away which I was surprised and pleased with. Yesterday was incredible! In the morning first thing, knowing that it was to be my last full day I left the appartment at just after 7 with the sun rising above the adjoining ocean. I went to the Anne Kolb mature centre which adjoines the Intra-Coastal waterway to drink my first coffe of the day and watch the sunrise above the palm trees opposite. As I stood knee deep in water I disturbed a juvenile Barracuda in the shallows. A Red Bellied Woodpecker called above my head and the sand flies were eating away at my eyebrows, the only place that I had not smeared with repellant! Suddenly I heard a blowning amd snorting sound, the kind that Rebecca Addlington does at every length turn, I heard it for at least 10 seconds before I realised firstly where it was coming from and then, what was making it .............. a Manattee. Just to my right only 10 feet away an absolutely massive anaimal that was probably as interested in me as I was her. I got a few photos but none that are worth posting, it ws such a magical and thrilling encounter. I literally tingled with excitement and I fumbled with the camera to try and get a shot or two. After a while the Manattees, there were 3 I think moved in to deeper water and showed themselves once more befor they dived deeper and were gone. As I walked back to the car my eyes filled with tears of joy........ yes thats how priviledged I felt. Later in the day we went out west to the Burrowing Owl nests to see if the babies had fledged and got some great shots of a youngster by one of the burrows.
Posted at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I have read about Vireos before and on previous trips caught glimpses of them but have never managed a clear enough view to put a name to one! Can you just imagine my pleasure when I glimpsed this bird. I didn't get a good photo at first and then after staking a bush out for half an hour it suddenly showed itself again and I managed a few photos with the sun out and in a good position.
As I look at the photo I can't believe how lucky I have been to see such a superb bird, everything about it is absolutely lovely. I see that they are not a particularly scarce bird in the USA which says a lot about the grest birds they have on this continent.
Other Warblers included this Yellow Throated Warbler seen last week as well but I didn't get a great shot. A bit of patience pays off in the end.
and wow............. look at this beautiful Palm Warbler male in full breeding condition. This one was a bit harder to get photods of because they are so active.
I also saw this obviously female warbler that I do need to positively ID.......... is it a female Yellow Rumped Warbler?
As well as these birds there was a Black and Whit arbler and who knows what else would have appeared if I had been able to stay a little longer.
This next one is a Palm Warbler and one of the best shots of this bird this trip.
Posted at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
The Red-Winged Blackbird is a bird taken for granted by the vast amount of people but I really love them and when they display they are so stunning.
THe Green Heron below was nesting only fee from the boardwalk and as we watched the nest one of the couple came in to take his turn on the nest. As he arrived he did a display by erecting his head feathers and cackling.
Then he proceeded to turn the eggs and did his stint on thre clutch.
The Great Blue Herons ere feeding two almost fully grown chicks.
This is one of the adults who couldn't have posed better.
At the back of the reserve in a quiet are I was thrilled to see two pairs of Blue Winged Teal a lifer for me.
Then on the edge of another quiet bank the highlight of the afternoon showed itself. A Black-Necked Stilt, a truly stunning and beautiful bird. I had seen them the other day in flight in Miami so I knew that they were about, but to get so close and get a good photo or two was a bit special for me.
I have posted this next photo of a Downy Woodpecker which I have to admit is not a great photo and trying to photograph it really challenged my photographic ability.
Posted at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
There is a little corner of the lake at West Lake Park where I have seen 5 different species of heron in the last few days. Can you imagine that? This morning I photographed both Louisiana Heron and Great Egret. The white series of herons can at times be confusing if you don't keep your wits about you. I was watching this Great Eget today without taking too much notice and when I got back home realised that of course it wasn' a Snowy Egret which are much, much smaller and have a black beak. Th yellow beak of the Great is diagnostic. But then, immature Little Blue Heron are white as well bu have yellow legs instead of black. To make matters even more confusing there is a "white form" of Redish Egret with a black tipped pinkish beak. So as a casual visitor like myself you have to be on the ball as we say. Oh, I forgot to mentio the white morph of the Great Blue Heron known as "Great White Heron". I am getting more and more confused by the second!
The one below is a Louisiana Heron, the most attractive feature is the contrasting white plume which flicks around in the wind. This bird also has a very contrasting white belly which is more notieceable when the bird opens it's wings.
Posted at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
At first light this morning I was at John Lloyd State Park just to see what was about. I have been waiting for an opportunity to get good photos of a Green Heron and with a bit of stealth I acheived it today. Whisky Creek at John Lloyd park is a smashing little environment fringed with mangrove and sand. The mangroves provide a great refuge for small fish, crabs and invertabrates and therefore a perfect habitat for Herons and Ibis.
I have seen Green Heron there regularly so when I spotted one today it wasn't unexpected. It was tucked away around the roots of mangrove, close to the stems in the dappled light. I assume that it felt safe and well concealed because when it realised my presence it just hugged closer to the roots. I have a strategy for getting close to birds like this. I snap off a few shots and then very slowly slide the tripod forwrd to my full reach and then shuffle very slowly towards the subject. Usually this will not cause too much alarm. I then let the bird settle down ad carefully repeat the process. The photo below is proof that this strategy works well.
Just have a look at how strong the shadows are on the body of this bird. Remember I said it was only very early morning and already the light is making it hard to adjust the camera properly and get good results.
Posted at 02:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
The discovery of these magnificent, elegant, wild free and proud Sandhill Cranes was like a gift or treat bestowed on me as a reward for my perseverance, some woulkd say obsession. I discovered the Wetland Park right at the top of of Sheriden Street after an abortive attempt to find the Broward Bald Eagle nest. It turns out I was in the wrong place but whatever, I will be back later to find it. My day was being made special by the presence of stunning sights of a Loggerhead Shrike who was acting very territorially against a Mockingbird. Now and again the Shrike would chase the Mockingbird out of his "space" and perch high up and very close to me.
All the while the Mockingbird hunted amongst the grass and I got a magnificent shot of him eating a Dragonfly. (To see this picture full size, double click it and wait for it to open at my Flickr galleries).
Why did I bother because they eventually were 5 inches from me and I asked the meale to go back a bit becaue I couldn't get a good shot of him.......................yes honestly
Posted at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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