male Marsh Harrier and 2x converter excess

 Raptors are never close in Britain so I tend to keep the 2x converter on the 400 lens but occasionally things go wrong - I had seen this male flying around in front of a hide and assumed that no-one was in the hide as they know when the flaps are open and keep well away but as it was raining I thought I might as well sit in the hide for lunch - never actually expected this ale to make two close hunting trips right in front of the hide but he was challenging another male for an established territory and maybe his mind was not entirely on the job 

Hen Harrier

 terrible images Monday but a bit better today - looks like a 2cy male

 

fortuitous Bittern hour

 the rain eased a little after lunch so popped out for a couple of hours and in the only bright spell two Bitterns started booming opposite each other which caused this male to fly towards its opponent -- a bit of luck - Canon R62 with Canon 400DO2 and 2x converter 

old lady is back

This female Marsh Harrier first bred locally in 2013 and was at least two years old at that time - back again this week from her winter holidays she is now at least 13 years old 

 

Cetti's Warbler

 a fairly unusual view of a Cetti's Warbler 

a very old male Marsh Harrier

 stunning male 

Alpine Swifts Lincolnshire

Capitulated and went to Chapel Six Marshes for the two Alpine Swifts - performed very well early but by mid morning drifted off high south and were never very photographable after the early period - all Canon R62 and Canon 400DO2 with 1.4x converter