Wednesday, September 30, 2009

juvenile Hen Harrier





I came across this harrier first thing in the morning but it inevitably flew off -- bumped into it again about 2 miles away later in the morning and then it was back in the original spot early afternoon so I staked out the spot for the next 5 hours and eventually it returned but by then there was just no light! I was on 2000 ISO and still getting 1/800th sec on the shutter -- when it landed rather close by there were thin stems of white grass between me and it -- amazing how the AF in a DSLR can pick up grass stems about 3mm across and yet it can miss a bird the size of a small dustbin!

Hen Harrier 2




Herring Gull juv

Marsh Harrier 1cy





its amazing how quickly these birds become worn having only fledged about 12 weeks ago --

Golden Plovers






up on the Wolds behind Barton Goldies are sporadic and usually distant but these were a little closer to the road at the weekend

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Pectoral Sandpiper records






an elusive Pec at Alkborough for the last 2 days allowed some recored shots (the big lens was at home!) -- as with so many tame waders it was the companions, Redshank, Lapwings and Dunlin, that were spooking the bird and of course the odd Peregrine! -- hoping to add some passing Sandhill Crane images later in the week!

Saturday, September 26, 2009