Thursday, July 30, 2009

waders on the patch






a small area of inter-tidal not covered by the falling tides today produced the following; 340 Dunlin, 200 Lapwing, 230 Golden Plover, 3 Ringed PLover, 7 Redshank, 2 Grey Plover, 3 summer plumaged Knot, an adult summer Curlew Sandpiper, 1 summer Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Avocet, Common Sandpiper, Curlew and 2 Oystercatchers -- but not a hoped for goody; it seems strange that we used to find the odd Pacific and American Goldy when they were genuinely rare but since they became common we don't seem to be getting any? or maybe its just failing eyesight

Alkborough morning






rain, thunder, lightning, wind just what the summer needed -- why they ring Ruff on the tarsus I have no idea -- two birds here spend all their time in sloppy mud -- after 3 weeks of trying I think I got both combinations this morning but colours were muted in the dull weather; quite a few Yellow Wags moving in to feed up before departure and 2 shanks

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sooty Tern (its been a wet day)






and its still raining -- sat looking through a few old images I see this was one of the first birds I had on the blog back in July 2005 -- one of the advantages of RAW's is that you can go back and hopefully make a better job of converting them second of 15th time around -- not amazing images but a great bird -- my images of the Bridled Tern at the same spot, Cemlyn, are on dust gathering slides

Monday, July 27, 2009

Grey Heron and light


Common Terns






about 20 birds feeding around the eastern pits at the moment --- most are catching fish by dip feeding rather than plunge diving

waders






the upper Humber waders were typical today; distant, flighty, in rain or heat haze, on inaccessible fields at high tide and 3 miles off at low tide -- photographically the mind wandered to areas of the world where shorebirds are 100% tamer, approachable and in places where you can approach them -- a nostalgic selection from across the pond

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sand Martin on the road





seemed to be good numbers of juveniles in this post roost flock -- I missed the shots of the bird chasing this feather in flight which was rather comical

Sand Martins 2





a second visit this time after a few minutes 2 cats and a dog intervened -- rifle needed

Brown Hawker



a pretty worn individual -- all the butts and dragons in recent posts with 300 2.8 and extension tubes

butterflies





standard and different perspectives

Friday, July 24, 2009

flying Black-tails





had a session with the godwits this -- no sign of any Lesser Yellowlegs and only 700 godwits a poor showing

islandica 2





the upper bird had an elongated upper mandible