tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20472892260886493282024-03-13T12:40:24.261-07:00Joe Wynn PhotographyBird and wildlife photography from the North West and beyondUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-7778376791792436982014-09-30T09:15:00.001-07:002014-09-30T09:15:28.578-07:00Scilly BirdingI'll refrain from using the obvious pun for the duration of this post, which I can assure you is no mean feat of self-restraint. I planned to visit the Isles of Scilly last year, but stupid and irrelevant things got in the way (like school and family, as I say trivial matters). So here I am, still battling through stupidity and irrelevancy (and still in full time education, and paying through my nose for the privilege) and there I was on the boat to the Isles of Scilly.<br />
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Birding folklore has made Scilly only slightly less mystical that Camelot and the iPhone 6, and whilst the boom period is mid-October, the flow of birds I observed in the middle of September was impressive enough. The learning curve I followed over a week's birding in Scilly was little short of vertical, and I would consider myself a better birder because of it. However, this talk of learning is boring (and is something I will be doing a lot of over the next few months). So let's move onto birds, baked beans and scrumpy cider.<br />
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I arrived bright and early on the Scillonian III on a bright(ish) morning, with a pair of broken(ish) binoculars and a text telling me there's a Wryneck at Lower Moors. So naturally I ran up to the Garrison and put my tent up in record time, threw a cheese and onion sandwich down my neck and headed out after it. I couldn't see the Wryneck, but made do with the common fayre on the pools, such as Ruff, this Greenshank...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386802491/" title="IMG_3954_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/15386802491_2c8e6f533e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_3954_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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Further off, but with better light...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389653612/" title="IMG_3978_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15389653612_87b007f7c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_3978_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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and a few Snipe...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203225689/" title="IMG_3996_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15203225689_1d33239b6c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_3996_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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On the tip off of a local, I decided to catch Joe Pender's Sapphire Pelagic out that evening, even though it'd be very late in the season for anything and there was rain forecast. Good call as it turned out. I stopped on Hugh Town beach for some Turnstones...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203389078/" title="IMG_4026_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/15203389078_c82cd94c9c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4026_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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Looking at the people on the quayside above...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389969295/" title="IMG_4031_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3875/15389969295_0d79b68566_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4031_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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Then headed off onto the boat. First off were the hundreds of gulls following the boat out, taking bread from the bow wake. I really wanted a shot of the smart Med Gull amongst them, but I had to settle for some of the commoner species, like this juvenile Herring Gull...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389650392/" title="IMG_4059_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15389650392_f7ec1c5fd1_z.jpg" width="640" height="348" alt="IMG_4059_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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And this surprisingly pale Gannet...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203222509/" title="IMG_4122_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/15203222509_f36986db47_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4122_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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The first quality bird of the day took the form of a Bonxie, feeding in the chum and coming for bread off the boat. Couple of primaries missing though...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386797151/" title="IMG_4191_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15386797151_b67d96fb19_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4191_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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The next bird to pass (aside from Storm Petrel, a lifer for me) was Sooty Shearwater, a truly beautiful bird and against the dying sun little more than a shadow over the breaking waves...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203458307/" title="IMG_4263_2 - Copy by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3867/15203458307_24248e13d0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4263_2 - Copy"></a><br />
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As dark drew near we saw more stormies and shearwaters, and Joe caught 3 blue sharks. Common Dolphins were breaching all round the boat, and interestingly the dog on board went mad every time one surfaced. I think it might've heard them calling. A second, younger Mediterranean Gull joined the birds feeding on the slick...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203290430/" title="IMG_4406_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/15203290430_da7621864a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4406_2"></a><br />
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And we had 3 Sabine's Gulls flying past. But as the dark drew in my stomach was nearly as close to my mouth as those of the sharks we'd caught (fun fact: a shark caught on a line can (and will) throw up it's own stomach in an attempt to dislodge the hook. They can swallow them again of course, so no harm done), and with this we headed home in the gathering dark and rain. Not before I talked with Jim the ringer, and set up a rendezvous the next morning. <br />
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The next morning was foggy! And a lot warmer than I was expecting. It was also busier than I was expecting, and out of the nets came a steady stream of wonderful warblers, from Grasshopper Warbler to Willow Warbler to Chiffchaff to Reed, Sedge and onto Melodious. This was quite an exciting find and only the second of the autumn for Scilly, so photographs were in order...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389646122/" title="IMG_4486_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/15389646122_ffd6d2793b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4486_2"></a><br />
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The local birders were out in force...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386793411/" title="IMG_4490_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/15386793411_4ffeac0c1c_z.jpg" width="640" height="528" alt="IMG_4490_2"></a><br />
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Next up was a trip up to the allotments, to look for Barred Warbler. There are two problems I can find with the allotments:<br />
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1) They're fenced off with no public access<br />
2) They're a bit too close to a children's playground to use a long lens and binoculars without feeling weird<br />
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And add to that the relatively small problem that the Barred Warbler wasn't showing then you get a reasonably clear picture of the place. Osprey overhead was cool...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203286880/" title="IMG_4528_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15203286880_057bb587c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4528_2"></a><br />
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As was the Ruff that was showing really well down at Lower Moors...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386791451/" title="IMG_4720_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/15386791451_599789c685_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4720_2"></a><br />
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Too close to focus with the new lens at times...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386790811/" title="IMG_4819_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/15386790811_df6202ccaf_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4819_2"></a><br />
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The numbers of Willow Warblers was so large now that they were actually feeding on the mud at Lower Moors, presumably not enough food out in the bush...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389962135/" title="IMG_4696_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/15389962135_e13d197b90_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_4696_2"></a><br />
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Next stop was Booted Warbler up on the headland, which showed wonderfully at close range in the murky and non-too-photogenic light...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389960345/" title="IMG_5087_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15389960345_ae754b1a57_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_5087_2"></a><br />
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...no 'boots' here, I think it needs a new name really as Booted makes it sound misleadingly well-marked!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203377798/" title="IMG_5185_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15203377798_bb08976dd4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_5185_2"></a><br />
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Next day I was up and out looking for migrants in the nets again with Jim, but not much in the way of quality (aside a smart little Whinchat I forgot to photograph) so most of my photos were of the Black Tailed Godwits feeding in the shallow waters of a nearby pool. Quite confiding, and even prettier in real life...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386788631/" title="IMG_5577_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/15386788631_84e5bff8c0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_5577_2"></a><br />
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With a curlew sand...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203211689/" title="IMG_5837_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3836/15203211689_97421a0858_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_5837_2"></a><br />
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This was joined by a pair of Curlew Sandpipers, a bird I have a disproportionate love for...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203282560/" title="IMG_5802_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/15203282560_d3647cc8ca_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_5802_2"></a><br />
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Next stop was Hugh Town, where I picked up the BN Grebe, surprisingly close in it was too...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203208449/" title="IMG_5924_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15203208449_d085672abc_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_5924_2"></a><br />
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And this rather sad sight, a Herring Gull juvenile hanging around the corpse of another, wondering what it should do. I know we shouldn't anthropomorphize but this really did look like mourning...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203210339/" title="IMG_5908_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15203210339_148ec2366c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_5908_2"></a><br />
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Next order of the day was birding the fields in the north of St Mary's, where a lot of common stuff turned up and not a lot of rarities, such as this Pied Flycatcher...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389953705/" title="IMG_6036_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15389953705_3c97b9eb04_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6036_2"></a><br />
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Next day I was back ringing, and back watching the sandpipers and godwit on the pool. The light was better and I picked out both quite nicely in the weak (non-foggy) sun...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15366936256/" title="IMG_6376_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15366936256_a6f26e7aa2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6376_2"></a><br />
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In a lone ray of sunshine...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389634322/" title="IMG_6532_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/15389634322_56cf28b028_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6532_2"></a><br />
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Over to Tresco I went, to see the long-staying Spotted Crake (which to my knowledge hasn't been reported since I saw it) and had some photographic goodies in a mixed bag of waders close into the hide. I don't care much for the elevated angle I was viewing from, but the species were decent so who cares? First another Snipe...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389950425/" title="IMG_6715_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15389950425_02eb72f913_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6715_2"></a><br />
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...and a Green Sandpiper (NOT juvenile solitary as I'd briefly got excited about)...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389631742/" title="IMG_6764_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/15389631742_e33c9a6463_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6764_2"></a><br />
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...and yet another Godwit...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389949125/" title="IMG_6831_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15389949125_88eab4375f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6831_2"></a><br />
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Walking about Tresco looking for migrants I picked up (amongst the Wheatear and the Whinchat) the local Linnets, which were more obliging than their Manc counterparts...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203366588/" title="IMG_6893_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15203366588_f8b4f26ee7_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6893_2"></a><br />
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Not much going on back on St Mary's though so I called it a night after a fairly intensive search for Wryneck (none turned up though). My final full day (and final day's ringing) turned up the Curlew Sands again (but no Godwits), and finally in dawn light! This was waterbird photography as it should be: low light, low angle and close subjects. Set boots to filled...!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389628502/" title="IMG_7118_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15389628502_9131cf8de1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7118_2"></a><br />
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But noise from the reeds to my left alerted me to the presence of a Water Rail, close in to me too. I tracked it as it skulked across my position, and got some shots I'm quite pleased with...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389942235/" title="IMG_7232_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15389942235_febbe9d6c9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7232_2"></a><br />
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The hardest thing is always getting the water perfectly horizontal...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15366926676/" title="IMG_7227_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/15366926676_66a8133d26_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7227_2"></a><br />
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Pity the bird's a scraggy little bugger...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203362348/" title="IMG_7215_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15203362348_a6ce452625_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7215_2"></a><br />
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I think it could hear my shutters...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203437417/" title="IMG_7213_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/15203437417_16810a88a4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7213_2"></a><br />
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Once it'd passed it was back to Curlew Sands and they were close enough for some full framers...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203432837/" title="IMG_7275_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/15203432837_627ed65940_z.jpg" width="640" height="368" alt="IMG_7275_2"></a><br />
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Rainbow water...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389622772/" title="IMG_7332_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/15389622772_83a1abebc5_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7332_2"></a><br />
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They moved off a bit then and again I could take advantage of the still water and perfect reflections...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389939565/" title="IMG_7414_3_5 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15389939565_b16ff5be45_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7414_3_5"></a><br />
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Next stop after saying goodbyes to Jim was the Barred Warbler at the allotments, which was finally showing nicely in the open. A bit distant but hey it's a Barred Warbler...!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15366921886/" title="IMG_7441_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/15366921886_8b40d54596_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7441_2"></a><br />
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I then boarded the boat to St Agnes to look for migrants and try and photograph the long-staying Little Stint. I found the pond it favoured and embedded myself in the reeds (sadly quite literally, the mud was like cement only more solid and smelling faintly of dog shit) and waited for the Stint to arrive. It soon did in a flock of 7 Dunlin, which were initially more obliging and so I photographed them first...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203429897/" title="IMG_7548_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/15203429897_674b7a5172_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7548_2"></a><br />
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Interestingly it's easier to get a glint in the eye of a Dunlin than a Stint...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389618832/" title="IMG_7549_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15389618832_ba1fa7d8d4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7549_2"></a><br />
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But soon the Stint drew level. The first thing that struck me is how small it was. Surprising, right? The Little Stint is Small.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203353138/" title="IMG_7620_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/15203353138_31e9c87f96_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7620_2"></a><br />
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But it was reasonably calm with me watching from a few feet, so I proceeded to get my best shots of this, my favourite wader...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203258700/" title="IMG_7622_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/15203258700_2f7edfbcac_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7622_2"></a><br />
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The mud kept bogging the birds down, so they stuck to the less viscous shoreline...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203424887/" title="IMG_7646_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15203424887_95190f2d95_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7646_2"></a><br />
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Another one down the hatch...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386763101/" title="IMG_7670_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/15386763101_ea5e17216f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7670_2"></a><br />
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I switched positions to a slightly lower angle, not a big difference but I prefer it...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389932235/" title="IMG_7746_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15389932235_f00cd80fb1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7746_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15203423177/" title="IMG_7784_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/15203423177_953f4b2495_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7784_2"></a><br />
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Stretching to free the leg from the mud...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15386761531/" title="IMG_7850_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/15386761531_218c9c557d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7850_2"></a><br />
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Back on St Mary's I didn't have much luck with the rest of the birds, but did again find the local Linnets very obliging and photographed this slightly scraggy bird up at the airport...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389930635/" title="IMG_7910_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/15389930635_0f8ab83249_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7910_2"></a><br />
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...before another look for Wryneck, at which point I gave up and went to bed.<br />
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Next day, my last, started with the dismantling of my tent and packing of my bag. Next stop was the day's obligatory Wryneck dip (this time at Penninis head), where I got this rather lovely little Wheatear...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15366914346/" title="IMG_7949_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/15366914346_220366a39a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7949_2"></a><br />
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At this point I decided I was going to find my own birds and screw the pager. So I headed up to Holy Vale, and found a Wood Warbler (but then remembered it was a long-stayer I'd forgotten about), but then I got the news of a Yellow Browed Warbler down at Higher Moors. This showed really nicely, easily identifiable by call and easy to track through the bushes...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/15389929365/" title="IMG_8052_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15389929365_d3a427bab7_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_8052_2"></a><br />
<br />
pity about the twig across the beak, but hey it was my last bird on Scilly so still a belting sighting.<br />
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But yea that was it basically. All things considered a great trip to go on, and one I'd try to repeat as soon as possible (though maybe later in the year next time). My thanks must go to the Manchester birders who helped me plan things, as well as to Spider who helped me get onto more birds than I'd have dared hope for, as well as to Jim for letting me sit in on the ringing. <br />
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Also if you're the guy who was sleeping in the bunk above me at Penzance Youth Hostel, please address your sleep-talking; you kept saying that it was 7:40am which was when I was meant to be leaving and it kept me up and on edge all night. Try saying something less time-sensitive. Ta.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-9147464711503563672014-08-16T08:31:00.000-07:002014-08-16T08:31:41.681-07:00All ChangeWell it's nearly the August bank holiday, the harbinger of Autumn and the final nail in the coffin of the summer. And this past week the Dee has been saturated with waders, a sign I always assosciate with Autumn and the coming Winter. As I walked down to King's Gap this past Tuesday, the wind up the high street to the train station was testament to this seasonal change, and it was this wind that pushed the tide and the birds up the beach towards the onlookers on the promanade. As ever the flock remained initially distant...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738962279/" title="Hoylake 020_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/14738962279_d45423740a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 020_2"></a><br />
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But before long the outlying birds reached my position, prone as I was on the muddied sands of the estuary edge. The first to arrive are nearly always the Ringed Plovers, who neatly separate them off from the flock as a whole and feed on the peripheral edge closest to the shore...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14902630996/" title="Hoylake 104_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/14902630996_2e0987d666_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 104_2"></a><br />
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As if it wasn't Autumnal enough, the big clouds of rain that pressed ominously down opened and drenched me and the birds...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14739053037/" title="Hoylake 190_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/14739053037_cc546102d9_z.jpg" width="640" height="264" alt="Hoylake 190_2"></a><br />
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The showers were intermitent, so by messing with shutter speeds I achieved a number of different shots of the birds in many different conditions...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738958609/" title="Hoylake 207_3 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3923/14738958609_ca33981739_z.jpg" width="640" height="278" alt="Hoylake 207_3"></a><br />
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The odd dogwalker always disrupts proceedings, but the birds always return to the same few positions...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14925269162/" title="Hoylake 314_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3867/14925269162_1039b99dd7_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 314_2"></a><br />
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...the wind also blew loose sands at the birds (and into my lens!), which- to judge from their expressions- they weren't too keen on...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14902626666/" title="Hoylake 343_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/14902626666_318709d4e9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 343_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738999608/" title="Hoylake 359_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/14738999608_43be10511d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 359_2"></a><br />
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As the tide drew closer, the birdlife changed and Dunlin like this became easier to snap. This one was ringed high up on the leg with a BTO ring, it would be awesome to see where it was ringed and where it breeds, my bet's on the Shetland Isles!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14739046537/" title="Hoylake 405_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/14739046537_25a0fb4dd9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 405_2"></a><br />
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This fine Ringed Plover had retained almost full summer plumage, and was easy to pick out of the flock...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738950969/" title="Hoylake 583_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14738950969_023d73538e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 583_2"></a><br />
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This Dunlin was an amazing individual, as it had no feet and one leg. It was equally harrowing and hilarious watching it trying to land on the loose sand at the water's edge, trying to balance it's weight on it's pegleg...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14922537081/" title="Hoylake 654_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14922537081_f3a1c09bdc_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 654_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14922535541/" title="Hoylake 681_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14922535541_fe97957192_z.jpg" width="640" height="401" alt="Hoylake 681_2"></a><br />
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As high tide approached, the birds started to calm their feeding and rest a little...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738991038/" title="Hoylake 743_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/14738991038_89dea73bf6_z.jpg" width="640" height="351" alt="Hoylake 743_2"></a><br />
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As mentioned previously, it's the Plovers that tend to inhabit the shoreward side of the flock. The seaward side is primarily occupied by Sandering (as well as the ubiquitous Dunlin), the former of whom are constantly running in and out of the flotsam like tiny clockwork toys. This one stopped long enough for a snap...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14922533711/" title="Hoylake 760_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/14922533711_44599e0214_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 760_2"></a><br />
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I really love this pose...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14922532101/" title="Hoylake 764_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14922532101_d1692e271b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 764_2"></a><br />
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As the tide continued in, the birds started to wheel high above the sands, and as they settled to landing again I tried to catch that moment the air brakes go on and the undercarriage is deployed...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14925613345/" title="Hoylake 790_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14925613345_b7d5a97f81_z.jpg" width="640" height="416" alt="Hoylake 790_2"></a><br />
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...Some are quicker on the uptake than others, and some come round for a second pass...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14925252802/" title="Hoylake 820_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/14925252802_55a9d21fc0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 820_2"></a><br />
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It's amazing to see the flock mentality, it's almost like an elastic band; the birds wheel out to one side, and if a sufficient number leaves then the band breaks and the birds start to move off. If too few leave, then the birds return to their feeding. I wonder if there's a specific threshold, a miniumum size for a splinter flock if you will...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738936690/" title="Hoylake 826_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14738936690_04964f83f3_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 826_2"></a><br />
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...But enough of that, it's enjoyable enough just watching the colours change as the birds wheel..<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14925609505/" title="Hoylake 879_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/14925609505_6e6dbb1839_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 879_2"></a><br />
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This sea of golden birds will soon be silver...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14738937809/" title="Hoylake 939_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/14738937809_eb953af4c9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hoylake 939_2"></a><br />
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And so another season starts, and I'm not just talking about the football. Though that's always pretty exciting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-16223031356561629382014-08-05T04:47:00.001-07:002014-08-05T04:47:29.821-07:00RomaWell having posted some recent images from a few weeks back, I'll post some from a little bit further in the past. These images are from Rome, and were taken on a family holiday in February. As ever with holidays, wildlife is never far from my focus, and I like to take some of my gear with me. On the continent then the collection of common birds are different to the ones I'm used to, and commonest and most ubiquitous of them all are the Black Redstarts. I love these birds, and I've photographed them a number of times. One thing about these birds i've always missed though is the male birds in full breeding plumage, as I usually miss that time of year. So I capitalised on the fact I found many in Rome, such as this one on a not-so-roman piece of the Colosseum...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14765132251/" title="Roma II 159_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/14765132251_aa2c7470fd_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 159_2"></a><br />
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This one was frequenting a piece of ancient masonry in a ruined city near the coast...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581830487/" title="Roma II 597_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14581830487_8a9caec9eb_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 597_2"></a><br />
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...This one was enjoying the rough ground between railway line and surrounding houses...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14765934674/" title="Roma II 786_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14765934674_8d287f8f01_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 786_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581656998/" title="Roma II 819_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/14581656998_aedfd0bba1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 819_2"></a><br />
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in the Roman forum the number of birds increased markedly, giving me excellent views of species both familar and unfamiliar. The latter category included a first for my lens (but not for me), a female Serin...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581835937/" title="Roma II 263_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/14581835937_f1cd3d7dae_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 263_2"></a><br />
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A Goldfinch fed, apparently oblivious to the tourists, alongside the path in the dasies...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581833277/" title="Roma II 310_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14581833277_5194f2e2bd_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 310_2"></a><br />
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Ring-Necked Parakeets are always a little controversial as they are aliens, but regardless of any opinions they seem to be hardy and adaptable enough to live in most European cities and are rather comical in their nest holes. First we see the head...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581647489/" title="Roma II 921_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14581647489_97d63e2cc6_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 921_2"></a><br />
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...then out it pops...!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14745275956/" title="Roma II 953_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14745275956_d9514da450_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 953_2"></a><br />
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The gardens of the city are actually surprisingly birdful, especially with some of the commoner species. This would include the House Sparrows, who were particularly fond of dust-bathing...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14765108761/" title="Roma II 1010_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/14765108761_36e7fb24ff_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 1010_2"></a><br />
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As well as the ubiquitious Hous Sparrows, there were the prettier and more exciting Tree Sparrows. I had an absolute field day with these birds, hiding in the villa borghese between the hedges (much to the bemusement of the locals) and snapping them as they waddled along the tree-lined avenues...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581573860/" title="Roma II 974_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3858/14581573860_717a03ec1b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 974_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14581641198/" title="Roma II 1031_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/14581641198_337d13237d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Roma II 1031_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14745268596/" title="Roma II 1024_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14745268596_284873afc2_z.jpg" width="640" height="386" alt="Roma II 1024_2"></a><br />
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There's that phrase 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do', and clearly this Gull followed it too rigidly, for it murdered and consumed a pigeon in the most foul way imaginable. The two were feeding side by side, before the gull grabbed it and held it in a fountain until it drowned. At first the bloodied corpse resembled a bird...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14835254295/" title="Yellow Legged Gull- Meat is Murder by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14835254295_e145527d85_z.jpg" width="640" height="389" alt="Yellow Legged Gull- Meat is Murder"></a><br />
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..before being torn into progressively smaller and less recognisable pieces. This truly was nature red in tooth and claw (and beak and feather)...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14538316849/" title="Yellow Legged Gull- Constellations by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14538316849_f24617d4ae_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Yellow Legged Gull- Constellations"></a><br />
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So that was Rome. Next? No idea.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-15388182716658474962014-07-17T09:44:00.000-07:002014-07-17T09:48:39.334-07:00Terning CirclesOh flippin' 'eck this has been coming. These last few months have been pretty horrible (workwise that is, though the weather's been lovely i'm told), but that's not to say I haven't taken all that many photos. I've got a few posts worth I think, but with my editing backlog the size of a small mountain it'll take me a while to get through it all. Still, here I am, and here's a very recent post of images from Anglesey.<br />
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I've spent an awful lot of time on Anglesey, i've got family there and there's a great trainline out to the Isle of Shadow (Ynys Mon). So when there's a free few days I often find myself over that way. And so the other day I found myself on the Virgin service through to Holyhead in hope of catching up with the Peregrines up on South Stack cliffs. I was about a week late for them, so perhaps unsurprisingly I couldn't get any decent shots off, though saw the young bird on numerous occasions.<br />
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So I went to photograph something altogether more common, as I am want to do in such scenarios. Theis is what I call the 'bird in the hand' scenario; there's no point chasing hypothetical peregrines about when there are perfectly good subjects at hand to work with. The light was pretty dire and the wind was blowing an absolute gale, but Stonechats can always be relied on to perch openly.<br />
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I located a group of newly fledged youngsters in the bracken below the path, positioning myself above them so as to catch the adults coming in. I should add, before getting into any shots, that I am using my brand new Canon 400mm prime, which is a stunning beast. This may expain any improvement in quality. First the female...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14489672849/" title="South Stack 1213_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5580/14489672849_7d66204844_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="South Stack 1213_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14676332875/" title="South Stack 1012_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2908/14676332875_5c3bca4816_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="South Stack 1012_2"></a><br />
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...and her mate...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14489701948/" title="South Stack 1234_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14489701948_e8d54203af_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="South Stack 1234_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14676026612/" title="South Stack 1085_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2910/14676026612_eb7e808556_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="South Stack 1085_2"></a><br />
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Further off the path the Stonechats soon learned I wasn't prepared to go, so sat happily there and surveyed their young...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14489878777/" title="South Stack 1161_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14489878777_e0244fc51e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="South Stack 1161_2"></a><br />
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And with the shots in the bag I headed home for the night.<br />
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Next day was Cemlyn day, somewhere I've never actually visited in decent light. This trend showed no sign of changing, and the slate grey skies mirrored the colour of the tern wings. This made exposures something of a nightmare...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14673519574/" title="Cemlyn Bay 571_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/14673519574_5d7dce48cd_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 571_2"></a><br />
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Nothing for it, I was just gonna have to shoot below the skyline where the exposure wasn't such an issue. There are primarily three tern species at Cemlyn (aside the Roseate, who's existence I refuse to acknowledge until it obliges me with a photo); the Sandwich, the Common and the Arctic Terns. Sandwich is biggest and also the commonest here...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14489408677/" title="Cemlyn Bay 1141_3 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14489408677_68ff8000f1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 1141_3"></a><br />
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Still can't decide whether to crop this some more, I quite like it as a headshot. But I digress, the next species is Common Tern, with orange beak and feet. It's a little less numerous but still if I came away without having photographed one i'd be disappointed...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14675856495/" title="Cemlyn Bay 333_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14675856495_0b0e14a261_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 333_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14652850906/" title="Cemlyn Bay 1040_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/14652850906_e1e7ebd8be_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 1040_2"></a><br />
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Last of the Terns (and i'm not sure they breed here, if they do it's as an offshoot of the colony on the Skerries) is the Arctic Tern. The longest migration of any animal, it's no surprise these two were just loafing on the beach (non-breeders, I assume)...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14489196539/" title="Cemlyn Bay 903_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14489196539_432ec8abb9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 903_2"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14675548092/" title="Cemlyn Bay 863_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/14675548092_0104b00be3_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 863_2"></a><br />
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A bonus was this Oystercatcher, the new prime lens nailing every single shot of it against the busy background. It's quite a piece of kit...!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/14489400957/" title="Cemlyn Bay 1128_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/14489400957_449859b033_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Cemlyn Bay 1128_2"></a><br />
<br />
Anyhow it was a lovely few days, and hopefully over the next few months i'll get some of my other shots up for your entertainment and appraisal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-37118442825494835212013-12-30T13:16:00.001-08:002013-12-30T13:16:46.519-08:002013- The Year In As Many Characters or FewerHello internet! Remember me? No me neither. Still, i've had a fairly mental last few months so it's perhaps unsurprising how little time i've had for updating this page, and to be honest photos have been few and far between in any case so haven't had much reason to do so. Still, given it's the end of the year and it worked last year I've decided to do a festive roundup of the year that was 2013. So pick up something festive (i'd reccomend a mince pie, I think it's about the only time it's acceptable to do this so go for it), settle down into a comfortable chair and read on.<br />
<br />
So back to January. I had a busy January, a month of dissapointing precipitation punctuated by dissapointingly aversge AS exams and appropriately virolent norovirus. Still, every cloud an' all and there was more than a little hangover of last year's Waxwing hordes, all over Greater Manchester. It'd be rude not to, wouldn't it...?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8380223957/" title="Waxwing- In the Sun by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8380223957_dd82b2e810_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Waxwing- In the Sun"></a><br />
<br />
February dawned cold, as might be expected. It was for me a month of freedom, sufficiently far from the last exam season for me to feel like getting outside, but far enough from the next lot to get some serious birding trips in. Like to Llyn Padarn in Wales, for instance...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8515372391/" title="Goosander- Flappin' Aboot by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8515372391_cb69168a1e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Goosander- Flappin' Aboot"></a><br />
<br />
March came, as it always seems to, directly after February. And with March the undesirable hum of the revision machine whirred into life, so the garden was destination number one for my newest passion, the secret world of the Collembola...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8532490588/" title="Dicyrtomina Ornata- Final Straw by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8532490588_510206a24c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Dicyrtomina Ornata- Final Straw"></a><br />
<br />
April decided the revision machine had cut in prematurely, so the focus was shifted to the Isle of Mull, and to the shores of Loch Na Keal. Birds, Beasts and the wonderful world of the celtic-punk band Flogging Molly ensued, along with the first real coup for my new self-assembly hide with this Yellowhammer...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8671525581/" title="Yellowhammer- He of the Seed by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8395/8671525581_79ff238e5b_z.jpg" width="640" height="376" alt="Yellowhammer- He of the Seed"></a><br />
<br />
May was a month of depressing dullness it's barely worth a mention, but mention it we must (otherwise it'd ruin the chronology of what is in fact a very decent post). But there aren't any photos from May so let's move onto June and have two from there, first off these fantastic Great Crested Grebes, illuminated by the dawn light reflecting the colours of the M60 into the water...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9165261960/" title="Great Crested Grebe- Happy Families by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/9165261960_c2338bcaa0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Great Crested Grebe- Happy Families"></a><br />
<br />
...and of course this stunning Bonxie from Handa, an important breeding site for these mental birds...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322719252/" title="Bonxie- Elemental Mastery by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/9322719252_3f837109cc_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Bonxie- Elemental Mastery"></a><br />
<br />
But soon as June was done with July was rather inconsiderately knocking at the door. And so it was I missed a music festival to go to summer school (it's honestly not as boing as it sounds!) and then went to Wales to be eaten alive by insects. Then we went on holiday to France, where I learnt that even in foreign countries people don't understand the need to get low for that all important shot...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466699244/" title="Alps 2013_6 580_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/9466699244_5bc9c8d3d0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Alps 2013_6 580_2"></a><br />
<br />
So with July cleared away it became August (surprisingly) and a short stay down south in Cornwall ensued. No shots of note from there, but even at this 'dead period' my spiritual home of Hilbre Island turned up the goods in the form of a few resting Dunlin...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9650773789/" title="Dunlin- Beady Eye by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/9650773789_f1156ffda0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Dunlin- Beady Eye"></a><br />
<br />
...And so September was here! Back to school, the grindstone and the perpetual moaning about how little photography was being done. But to be honest Pectoral Sandpiper in Bolton was my month's highlight so I can hardly bemoan it, can I...?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9904123563/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper- The First of Many by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/9904123563_51e19e4d4a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper- The First of Many"></a><br />
<br />
...And just 30 days after it began September had ended. Scandalous. Still, October valliantly stepped up to take it's place, and when the smoke had cleared it was apparent this was going to be the migrant season of a lifetime. Not that i'd take full advantage of it, though Lesser Scaup and Glossy Ibis were pretty memorable...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/10296362573/" title="Glossy Ibis- In Golden Light by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/10296362573_f06a280a78_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Glossy Ibis- In Golden Light"></a><br />
<br />
...November came and with it talk of such bullshit as UCAS, offers, interviews and other such unmentionables. Though a trip to London gave some interest. So not many photos to speak of, although a colour ringed Black Headed Gull provided some interest...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/11652263054/" title="Misc 371_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/11652263054_595d4895b7_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Misc 371_2"></a><br />
<br />
...and here we are. Back again. I spent a slightly mental first half the month doing interviews, spent an altogether happier second half back out in the field. Most exciting find was a Bank Vole, which (hopefully!) promises photo opps into the future...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/11424407275/" title="Bank Vole(?)- Peekaboo! by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7414/11424407275_8dd40bf39e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Bank Vole(?)- Peekaboo!"></a><br />
<br />
...so I guess this is the end really. Thatcher gone, Mandela gone, me 17, applications sent to university, saw Frank Turner live in Manchester...it's been quite a year; 2013, it's been nice knowing ya. Good luck and happy hunting to everyone in the new year, and let's hope Liverpool can keep up what has been thus far the best season of my sentient existence!<br />
<br />
See you on the other side!<br />
<br />
JoeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-13570671598735462542013-09-26T08:54:00.001-07:002013-09-26T08:54:38.710-07:00Transportation (Or 'Nice Pecs')One of the things I find odd (and I suspect everyone else finds acutely annoying) about photography is the way I can completely ignore the passage of time. Lunchtime? Time to catch the train home? No idea. It all passes me by. Which is fantastic in a way, I can think of very few things that can so totally absorb you as photography. <br />
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And this happened the other day, lying as I was in the shallow waters of Rumworth Lodge. There was Pectoral Sandpiper there, a lifer for me and a bird i've always wanted to get in front of the lens since i'm stupidly obsessed with drab wading birds. Anyhow there I was, cold, muddy and smelling faintly of something I couldn't quite put a finger on and there it was, sitting 20ft away sleeping... <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937282154/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 657_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2867/9937282154_12f11a7203_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 657_2"></a><br />
<br />
But then it gets up and walks over to me, picking delicately at the mud. And through that viewfinder, covered as it is by my muck and mud and crud, the colours of the water and the sky blur with that of the land and you could, for a second, be forgiven you were somewhere in the arctic watching this bird on a peat pool...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937254756/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 1140_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9937254756_199a4b0f2d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 1140_2"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9904123563/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper- The First of Many by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/9904123563_51e19e4d4a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper- The First of Many"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
...picking towards me indirectly, you could acutally see its footprints in the soft mud...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937286044/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 1537_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/9937286044_0c8b5b1246_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 1537_2"></a><br />
<br />
...and the closer it got, the more you could see the resemblance to other birds in it. The Snipe's brown, the shape of the Dunlin...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9917955146/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper- Profile Shot by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2844/9917955146_2f7294869d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper- Profile Shot"></a><br />
<br />
...a raptor overhead see it duck low, one eye fixed on high before lying down completely...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937268634/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 1403_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/9937268634_cfef55fbf0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 1403_2"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937279894/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 1108_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/9937279894_2485af7cdf_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 1108_2"></a><br />
<br />
...and then all of a sudden its too close for the frame, so you go for the headshot...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9952251186/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper- Headshot by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2889/9952251186_72ee0ea60d_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper- Headshot"></a><br />
<br />
...and then its too close for anything, and you wait patiently for it to retreat a little so as you can focus on it...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937273004/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 1206_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/9937273004_70d88dbbb9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 1206_2"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9937229175/" title="Pectoral Sandpiper 1515_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/9937229175_c2899e8d7d_z.jpg" width="640" height="403" alt="Pectoral Sandpiper 1515_2"></a><br />
<br />
...and off it potters, along the shore back to its favourite spot near the bush. I have no idea its been nearly 2hrs in the making, but the shot I want is in the can and i'm off home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-60478495929904622902013-09-01T12:03:00.002-07:002013-09-01T12:03:30.388-07:00'Le Animaux des Alps'- The Mud PuddlersIn Britain it would be quite hard to identify butterflies. It would be, but us Brits have cunningly avoided such problems, by inventively and indiscimniately eliminating entire species, so that there are fewer and thus identification is indefinitely easier. Those stupid Europeans though, they don't understand this simple trick! With there endless alpine meadows of an endless assortment of flowers, they're just making it hard for themselves. <br />
<br />
But joking aside, the variety is utterly stunning. But superlatives aren't making me any better at identifying them, despite my best efforts most of them remain unidentified. So if you know one of the below please do pipe up, you'll make a man very happy!<br />
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Still, the post title comes from a habit I found out Butterflies do, they congregate in huge numbers on the paths when they're wet. Which means that to photograph them I have to lie in the mud. So not pleasant. But still, its a genuinely interesting phenomenon as the butterflies aren't drinking, they are (allegedly) sucking up salts and amino acids. And in fact some moth species have taken 'mud puddling' to extremes, adapting mouth-pieces for blood-sucking, the most potent of all puddles.<br />
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But thankfully these little beauties weren't quite so vicious and stuck to more conventional puddles, and boy were they there in spades...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9645596393/" title="Alps 2013_3 083_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_3 083_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/9645596393_3003621a63_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...when walkers come though...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9645593511/" title="Alps 2013_3 103_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_3 103_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/9645593511_585d3efc57_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...I guess there's salt in sweat, and this little fella capitalised on it...!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9648837258/" title="Alps 2013_2 827_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 827_2" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/9648837258_5ee11453ea_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...with a little fill flash...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9648830548/" title="Blue sp.- Mud Puddler by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blue sp.- Mud Puddler" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/9648830548_8457e3784f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...What i'm hesitantly calling a Moutain Argus...?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9648823466/" title="Alps 2013_4 255_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_4 255_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/9648823466_dde406c940_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...looks Skipper-esque, but not sure...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9645591415/" title="Alps 2013_3 123_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_3 123_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/9645591415_3c00925f12_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and one I can actually ID...!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9645606325/" title="Alps 2013_4 386_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_4 386_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/9645606325_a11276a1c2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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And alas I'm gonna have to start scraping the Alpine barrel soon, but there's a few more posts in me yet...!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-28543324715165059502013-08-28T09:30:00.000-07:002013-08-28T09:30:44.535-07:00'Le Animaux des Alps'- Le Rouge et NoirWe're all proud of the stupidest, most insignificant things aren't we? I mean look at my birding record, my proudest moment of UK birding was this winter when I spotted a Glaucous Gull in flight and pointed it out to a fellow birder. Hardly inspiring stuff. Or my Greater Manchester highlight, spotting Little Egret on my local water park. But these are trumped into insignificance by my foreign highlight, which isn't even rare.<br />
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When I was but a little kiddiwink, complete with oversized and over-focussed Viking binoculars, we went on holiday to France and to the mountains, as I have done many times since. When there we stayed in a little place I can't remember the name of, but the point was that I could see all these little birds around the place, all foraging round car parks and in the gardens and on the roads. What were they? I asked this question to my birdbook, a less-than-portable coffee table photographic version of the Hamlyn guide.<br />
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And my first birding coup was finding the answer to this question; the 'Rouge et Noir' as they said in the local tongue, or the 'Black and Red' in my own. And I think this pretty much sums up the bird in question, for the Black Redstart is characterised by these two simple and contrasting colours. <br />
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Sadly uncommon in the UK, its fantastic to be able to see them common as dirt on the continent and in being common and ubiquitous in towns they're also predictably very approachable. This post, as with almost all my efforts to photograph this species, concentrates on the juveniles, purely because they're more approachable...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9616877742/" title="Alps 2013_1 141_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 141_2" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/9616877742_385f428a4a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This individual was a baby, who'd flown a nest built in the side of a rusting JCB-type digger, which was a particularly cool nest site and something I didn't take full advantage of with the photos. What I did take advantage of though was the approachable nature of the bird at hand, if you look at the eye you can see the hillside reflected there...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9613639015/" title="Alps 2013_1 171_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 171_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/9613639015_5177988b7e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I also found a rather attractive one in Suburban Argentieres (if it has suburbs, I mean its smaller than my local park), part of a family of three youngsters being fed by an adult. This was particularly cute but never happened close enough to me for a shot, so I made do with some portraits...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9616921892/" title="Black Redstart- 'Le Rouge et Noir' by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Black Redstart- 'Le Rouge et Noir'" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7418/9616921892_1632e44764_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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That characteristic upright chat stance...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9616872154/" title="Alps 2013_5 070_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_5 070_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/9616872154_bcfa72973a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Anyhow a lovely bird and one particularly close to my heart. Next time I won't do a bird at all, but I will do the closest thing to one... :DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-25948368066651003922013-08-22T09:29:00.003-07:002013-08-22T09:29:52.975-07:00'Le Animaux des Alps'- The Crag MartinisBaby birds often have different names to their parents, like goslings. Or pufflings. So why don't we extrapolate the trend to include the world's favourite Hirrudines; Crag Martins?<br />
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Yea so I figured, given that I was quite close to Italy, I would add 'i' to the end of the word. So young Martins are actually 'Martinis', and no they weren't in the least bit shaken by my presence. Nor were they stirred.<br />
<br />
They had in fact just fledged, but being lazy they'd only got as far as the shutters below the rafters they came from. So I climbed a wall to watch what is one of the fastest food passes in nature. They're very quick. So what i've done here is accumilated the shots from 2 or 3 passes and laid them out so you can see the intricacies of an act that can't take more than a second. So the parents must be pretty awesome flyers. First the wee baba starts to call. A lot...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9571524582/" title="Alps 2013_4 142_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_4 142_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/9571524582_9d1548b02b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...Then the adult comes in, like a little missle (Missile? Doesn't even sound accurate!)...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9571523602/" title="Alps 2013_4 143_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_4 143_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/9571523602_33354b401c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...Then the food pass, notice the baby seems to be concentrating on something else...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9568799405/" title="Crag Martin- Introducing the Crag Martini by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Crag Martin- Introducing the Crag Martini" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/9568799405_f17a5ef014_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...then over and out...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9568726621/" title="Alps 2013_4 177_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_4 177_2" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/9568726621_79da1d90b5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and the great thing is this was taken all taking place as the people bought their bread underneath. They must've thought I was mad...<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-39729875087203178882013-08-19T09:41:00.001-07:002013-08-22T09:50:00.260-07:00'Le Animaux des Alps'- Fur coats and HandbagsOr 'The Life and Times of Luis Suarez', he's the most obnoxious little bastard at the moment isn't he? Still, let's not dwell on such things, let's move onto an altogether more appealing little rodent...no not Danny Alexander ('Ginger Rodent', according to Harriet Harman. Pretty funny for an MP to be honest) but the rather adorable Alpine Marmot.<br />
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I like to think of them as terrestrial beavers, they're about the same size and have quite a few resemblances in the way the body is made up. They're one of those staples of the upland grasslands, a bit like...err..grass? But they're a bit more dynamic than grass, and they're quite comical at times. Especially with their rather comedic lolloping gait...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9548576248/" title="Alps 2013_2 032_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 032_2" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/9548576248_2bcb76ee7c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but the most interesting thing about them is their social structure. They have a matriachal female who breeds on behalf of the group, harrassing the other females into miscarrying (bit grim eh?) so as there's no conflicting interests. They also have sentries too, who'll stay out the burrow and make amazingly loud whistling noises until the others are safely tucked away...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9545791807/" title="Alps 2013_1 263_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 263_2" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5334/9545791807_8cc844ba7a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and as for any queries as to what they eat...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9548575706/" title="Alps 2013_2 498_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 498_2" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/9548575706_fe689a846f_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
...see what I mean about the beaverishness...?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9545787965/" title="Alps 2013_2 569_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 569_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/9545787965_3d985e8971_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and the 'handbags'...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9545779979/" title="Alps 2013_2 707_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 707_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/9545779979_c10f189e27_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and enjoying the vista in the harsh morning's sun...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9548564314/" title="Alps 2013_2 750_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 750_2" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/9548564314_b11414db44_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and an amazingly close pair, sitting out on a rock in the afternoon...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9545785089/" title="Alps 2013_2 633_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 633_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9545785089_67e183fa60_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...you could just cuddle them, couldn't you...?<br />
<br />
(but you wouldn't would you? They've probably got icky little lice and rabies and mingin' stuff like that.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9554324179/" title="Alpine Marmot- Sitting Pretty by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/9554324179_d7397bdda8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Alpine Marmot- Sitting Pretty"></a><br />
<br />
...yea they're pretty awesome animals...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9548568860/" title="Alps 2013_2 637_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_2 637_2" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/9548568860_e395afcfe4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
..but that's yer lot, I can't be bothered editing anymore. So next time we've got some lovely wee boidies for you to look at, cant be having with all these mammals... :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-48235445723762761562013-08-11T02:39:00.001-07:002013-08-19T09:42:35.748-07:00'Le Animaux des Alps'- Goats on the EdgeWhen the Spanish Armada sailed in the 1600s the crew, being a forward thinking bunch, packed not simply just food but also livestock. In fact, they took with them a huge number of goats. This meant that when they were pushed north, they took the goats north too. This meant when the ships were wrecked off the Scottish coast, the goats were wrecked too. Goats are famously hardy, so there's now a sizeable feral population in localised areas, such as Colonsay.<br />
<br />
These are now seen almost as semi-wild, and it is testimony to the hardy and adaptable model that is the Goat's body that they can thrive in so many different environments, including central Manchester where they make a delicious curry. But aside this they have also colonised the high mountains, including the Alps. In fact there are two Goat species in the Alps, the Chamois and the Alpine Ibex, the latter being larger with huge sexually dimorphic horns. <br />
<br />
And to live up high they have to be expert climbers, if only there were some way of conveying how sure-footed they were on scree and boulder, perhaps some kind of well-known phrase? Alas I cannot think of one, but suffice to say that south of Croix du Bonhomme there is a steep slope of gravel and muck, and i've seen an Ibex climb it...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9473662710/" title="Alpine Ibex- Climbing High by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alpine Ibex- Climbing High" height="429" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7394/9473662710_2a2e23da4f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...Yep that preamble really was just to get to the idea that i've seen an Ibex. Well I'm quite excited about it so that's pretty brief, in comparison to what I want to say about Ibex. Next question is 'did you get any photos, Joe?' Answer: 'Hmmmm...define 'photos' '. What I mean by this is that the Ibex arrived at the Col at teatime. As a storm set in. So photography wasn't a real option.<br />
<br />
Not close up, anyhow. That shot before was of one we chanced upon on our way up to Bonhomme. I think I best explain what Bonhomme is first, its a refuge. Which basically means its a hut which has beds and food in it. And imagine our surprise as, half way through tea, four Ibex appeared on the horizon. It was speckling rain and the sky was the colour of the slate beneath my feet as I clambered up to get a view of the goats. An idea came to me; what about Black and White? Well I switched onto full BW and shot a couple of frames...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9482925697/" title="Alps 2013_1 1136_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 1136_2" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/9482925697_a6fff002af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...not bad...but i'd much rather be closer to em! But still there's something vaguely atmospheric about these types of shots, at least they kinda show off the hardships of life in the high mountains...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9482925591/" title="Alps 2013_1 1105_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 1105_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/9482925591_59fdcd1211_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and in a way i'm quite pleased with these shots, so I returned to my food with renewed gusto...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9482932221/" title="Alpine Ibex- Storm's Edge by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alpine Ibex- Storm's Edge" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/9482932221_60777a73ed_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...next time, some shots of one of my favourite small rodents (and its no longer Luis Suarez!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-82998202319832206542013-08-06T07:04:00.001-07:002013-08-08T08:43:21.137-07:00'Les Animaux des Alps'- An Afternoon with Brian ChoughI got a wee confession. I don't speak French. At all. I don't mean i'm bean all self-depricating and modest, I literally cannotstring a sentence together in a coherent fashion, so it may surprise some peopel that I absolutely bloody love France. Partly cos I don't even have to try to explain what the hell i'm doing crawling along the road, or lying in the mud, or sitting on someone's land when I ought'nt to be, or the list could go on. But it won't.<br />
<br />
But I really like France for the meadows. But Joe, I hear you ask in my head (I should probably get that checked out), we have perfectly good meadows here don't we? But you're wrong, so wrong. You haven't seen a meadow if you ain't seen the ones of the continental hills, meadows as far as you can see, as far up the hills as they go (OK up to the snow line).<br />
<br />
And so when my family decided to do the Tour de Mont Blanc I was prepared to fight tooth and nail to get my camera gear into our modest allowance of stuff to carry. It was always going to be an ask for me to take a full DSLR camera kit, so I stripped it back quite a bit, just to the 'bare essentials':<br />
<br />
Canon 50D<br />
Sigma 120-400mm<br />
Canon 18-55mm<br />
Extender tubes (c.100mm)<br />
Milk-bottle Diffuser<br />
<br />
And so the stage is set, the players cast and my rucksack altogether more heavily laden than it has any right to be. Let the TMB begin! Wait no, we won't do a conventional chronological report, that'd be boring. Besides, introducing the creatures of 'la montagnes' one at a time will allow for more elaboration. Yes, i'll do that. And I'll start with my favourite of all the alpine birds, the Alpine Chough...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466704550/" title="Alps 2013_6 230_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 230_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/9466704550_624739ae93_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Chough, for me at least, evoke hours of waiting patiently waiting on the paths at South Stack for one to happen upon me. They are accomodating, incredibly so at times, though I find that when I actively try and approach one they're less complient. I think it must be something to do with their intelligence, they know when they're being stalked.<br />
<br />
But this time I found them, or rather they found me. On our way round the TMB they were one of the commonest birds we encountered, often flocking up in excess of one hundred birds. However, my first extended views of one up close were at Col du Bonhomme (Bonne Homme? Good Man? Maybe 'Gentleman'? Says the guy who doesn't speak French), as one spiralled up from the snowy, glaciated valley below...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466710548/" title="Alps 2013_1 292_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 292_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/9466710548_d74794d04c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but the refuge at Croix du Bonhomme (the 'Cross of the Gentleman'? Could the 'Bonhomme' be Jesus?) proved to be far more fruitful for these charasmatic birds. They're strictly monogamous and bond for life, which can be seen in the way you either see family groups or pairs. Here below the refuge the Chough had learned to take food, so I could watch them flying away or in to feed their babies. Their squabbly, raspy tones became a good indicator of an incoming bird...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463926493/" title="Alps 2013_1 1046_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 1046_2" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/9463926493_49c278b01f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...now i'm something of a BiF puritan and a pedant; birds in flight should, in my view, be against an interesting backdrop. That means I don't like birds against a brilliant blue sky. But as the stormclouds rolled in for the night that mix of shiny black and dulled greys combined with an afternoon sun prompted me to take a rare 'bird against the sky' shot...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466709076/" title="Alps 2013_1 976_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 976_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3754/9466709076_58c19c2ddb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and as the 'exception that proves the rule', here's another one...!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463925715/" title="Alps 2013_4 429_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_4 429_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/9463925715_a908761f65_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and as the light fades you've only got one option; go all arty-farty. Well these birds are really quite acrobatic, perhaps I should add a photo that emphasises this point...?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463927757/" title="Alps 2013_1 867_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_1 867_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/9463927757_d44a9d7f4f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...some people will have just have inadvertently dribbled on their keyboards in awe of the sheer artiness and unprecedented fartiness of that shot (go wipe it up before anyone sees it), others, like me, consider it an abomination and don't consider it a 'proper' photo. So they you have it, a perfect storm in a teacup.<br />
<br />
But believe it or not these birds do spend some time on the ground, not that you'd know from my meagre photographic record. But they do, and I can prove it...!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463924871/" title="Alps 2013_6 118_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 118_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/9463924871_c12848dac1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...Lovely flowers too. But over much of Choughland (as I've renamed the Savoie Alps) the terrain is a little less rich, as this portrait kinda shows...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466706114/" title="Alps 2013_6 172_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 172_2" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/9466706114_6f0b070624_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...or this one...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463923261/" title="Alps 2013_6 194_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 194_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/9463923261_33539a560e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but some Chough are tamer than others and the birds at Lac Blanc were the tames i've ever encountered. I'm just saying 55mm and soft cheeses, nothing else...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466700424/" title="Alps 2013_6 420_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 420_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/9466700424_5d7a2d9942_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...actually sod the cloak and dagger, these birds came in on our picnic and in true stingy British fashion we allowed them the rind of some cheese to eat. This lead to some utterly privileged views...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463921663/" title="Alps 2013_6 260_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 260_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/9463921663_334b8d03a5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...with the Lac in the background...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466702146/" title="Alps 2013_6 409_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 409_2" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/9466702146_d91f395669_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...in flight, again its against the blue sky but I excuse this with the crazy trippy sun in the top left...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9463916197/" title="Alps 2013_6 615_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 615_2" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9463916197_77b63fd613_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...back to the wide-angle stuff, with the Massif du Mont Blanc in the background...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466696544/" title="Alps 2013_6 852_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 852_2" height="346" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/9466696544_d6b93e0048_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...and to end it all, a bird with Lac Blanc in the background. These birds have pretty much made my summer, I am (to quote the wee aliens in Toy Story) 'Eternally Grateful...'<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9466699244/" title="Alps 2013_6 580_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Alps 2013_6 580_2" height="427" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/9466699244_5bc9c8d3d0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-54614062074586906372013-07-19T09:53:00.000-07:002013-07-19T09:53:05.626-07:00Gulls on SteroidsMy blog, my blog, why have you forsaken me? OK it doesn't work (I update it not the other way around) but nonetheless there's been something of a hiatus from posting. Something about AS levels, I wasn't really listening. So I'm back, i've got some photies (i've been in Scotland, that's how they say it round there) and here's a post. I was going to do some more Mull stuff, but I can't be bothered trying to remember so i'll go with something more recent...<br />
<br />
Of late i've been something of a vagrant, i've wandered over Manchestor and the UK generally in search of, well, nothing really. But spent a belting three days up in Scotland, the details of which I will regail the discerning reader with in due time, but for now some pure, unadulterated action from my most favourite inshore small island in Sutherland: Handa!<br />
<br />
So imagine a really sunnny coupl'a days (hard isn't it? Perhaps try looking out the window for inspiration), then the day you head over to an exposed island it all goes decidedly rainy. Well that's what happened to our Handa trip, we arrived on the island and soon the sky was doing its best to turn Handa into a quagmire and me into a photographer with a broken camera. This Wheatear seemed to sum up my mood rather well...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9319918435/" title="Wheatear- Wet Wet Wet by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Wheatear- Wet Wet Wet" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9319918435_1864de6d8d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but luckily rain is something we Manks are used to, so I carried on regardless with the day. The cliffs were teeming as usual, as a photographer the gauntlet is always thrown down over getting close to birds, but at distance and with so many subjects it makes sense to take a step back and include the whole vista...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322711322/" title="Guillemots- Meet the Neighbours by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Guillemots- Meet the Neighbours" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9322711322_77ab3c9c3b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but what Handa is renowned for are the Great Skuas, or Bonxies. The UK holds over 50% of the global population of these birds, and they're invariably found around smaller birds due to their piratical habits. They will force birds to sick up or drop any catch they might make then eat it, so as one can imagine they're not the prettiest of birds to look at...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9319919681/" title="Bonxie- Flying High by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bonxie- Flying High" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9319919681_3a4f0415cb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but there is beauty in design, they are superbly evil looking cretures...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322708540/" title="Bonxie- Portrait of Menace by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bonxie- Portrait of Menace" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/9322708540_6602b72c8d_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
...more elegant are their cousins, the scarcer Arctic Skuas. If boxies are born thugs I like to think that Arctic Skuas are assassins...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9319921499/" title="Arctic Skua- Undercarriage Down by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Arctic Skua- Undercarriage Down" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9319921499_910bb1fc4a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9319920809/" title="Arctic Skua- Up in the Air by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Arctic Skua- Up in the Air" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/9319920809_d6732e1534_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...but as the day brightened we set off with the wardens to inspect nests. This was particularly exciting with the Bonxies who are 'territorial' to say the least, here's my uncle Mark making his blog debut shortly before avoiding a clobbering...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322718400/" title="Bonxie- Target Locked by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bonxie- Target Locked" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/9322718400_fb71cff67c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...when you see them this close you can appreciate their aerial mastery...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322719252/" title="Handa and Dipper 020_2 by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Handa and Dipper 020_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/9322719252_3f837109cc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...But we also got to see the rather adorable chicks. These are very young, no more than a week old, and still possessing an egg-tooth. So this was an incredibly special encounter, just as the sun came out too...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9319924031/" title="Bonxie- Give it a Year... by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bonxie- Give it a Year..." height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/9319924031_b671bf756b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322716142/" title="Boxie- The Innocent One by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Boxie- The Innocent One" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/9322716142_37d03aca15_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
...and as we left the island we saw the final speciality, the Arctic Tern...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/9322713876/" title="Arctic Tern- Heading Skyward by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Arctic Tern- Heading Skyward" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/9322713876_56ffea730c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
So an ace day in all, and some pretty special encounters. This is birding at its best, perhaps over the next month I can show you some more photos from the last 2 months! :)<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-72124576626552138952013-04-16T13:52:00.000-07:002013-04-16T13:52:41.783-07:00'The Mountains Afar', Mull 2013- Part ILord Byron once wrote of Scotland that<br />
<br />
<em>'England thy beauties are tame and domestic</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>To one who has roved on the mountains afar'</em><br />
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Now I don't know Byron all that well (given that he's dead) but from his writing I can only assume he's never visited central Manchester on a Friday night. Yes one walk down Oxford Road on a Friday night would indeed confirm England's beauties are not tame. Nor are they domestic. But I suppose we can give him a little poetic licence, for indeed there is nowhere where the couplet is more true than the Isle of Mull.<br />
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You catch the boat out from Oban harbour to get there, a small CalMac job but more than adequate for the island's handful of inhabitants. There are probably more sheep than people. There are certainly more fish, in the farms moored offshore in the Sea Lochs. We were bound for a holiday on the north side of Loch Na Keal in central Mull, of Sea Eagle fame and featured on so many photography websites I won't bother naming any of them. Still, as the sun set over the loch we arrived.<br />
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I do not want to do a conventional trip report, a blow-by-blow account of what i've done on the island. Instead I shall write by classification. I shall perhaps do two or three posts, but lets start with one. I want to look at the Loch itself, something inescapable when I look back on my time on Mull, probably because it was right in front of me for a lot of the time. Maybe its something deeply ingrained in my being. But its probably the former.<br />
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We visited in April, a time that is traditionally a time of green shoots and newborn lambs, but March decided to forego the whole 'in like a Lion, out like a lamb' thing and decided it was best just to be a Lion the whole time. So there weren't so many spring visitors, but an abundance of winter ones. One of the most common was the Great Northern Diver, a bird assosiated with the high arctic in the summer and the British coast in the winter. As they swam in the Loch where the water reflects the mountainside they looked particularly elegant...<br />
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...but in the evenings I noticed some behaviour i'd never seen before in Divers, rafting. This is when many birds gather together in a huddle on the sea. But Divers are nearly always singletons, or at best are found in small groups. Therefore the sight of 27 one evening was something of a surprise...<br />
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They're never found close to the shore under normal conditions, so I had to make do with these distance views. But nice views of what is a bird of which I know very little. One day on Mull we did indeed go on the now famous boat the Lady Jayne in seach of Sea Eagles. The Sea Eagles of Loch Na Keal have become local celebrities and every morning the Lady Jayne's procession up the loch is watched from the shore by birders and locals alike, waiting for the eagle to come along. The setup is this: the boat sets off into the Loch and on the way picks up a small army of gulls which feed on bits thrown over the side. The flock attracts the eagle's attention and when the partner returns to take over nest duties the bird comes out. However, whilst waiting for this happy event I did get some decent images of Common Gulls, not something I often photograph...<br />
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...but the reals star was yet to arrive. About two hours passed of chatting and drinking tea, the latter for me leathal and I ended up below decks soon enough, not to put too fine a point on it. Whilst I was below the shout went up that an Eagle had just been seen, so I rushed up to see a large speck coming our way. The way this works is that the Eagle comes for a fish, takes it and then leaves. However, it first did a pass overhead...<br />
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...and then he's steep into a dive. Now i've seen Osprey dive, and this fella is so much bigger with such massive wings that surely he can't match the Osprey for speed? But he can, oh he can...<br />
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But its one of those moments i'm sure all film-makers and photographers get when they're completely detatched from the action are 'watching' but not 'observing' the subject, everything's light, apeture and shutter speeds. But sometimes the shot just comes off and you're grateful, especially with a burst of images at 171mm of which 2 are usable...<br />
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...but then he's gone off to eat his snack, and this is the reason he's not tame. He really isn't arsed what's going on aboard the boat, he won't take any crap and won't 'perform', what he will take is a fish and he'll take it first time. Then bugger off. Yea.<br />
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But then you're off home and the day's light is all but spent. It was at this point I indulged my need to revise and work for my A Levels. But in the evening as night falls it is the time of the landscape photographer, and well, it would be rude not to attempt a few 'birdscapes', like this Red Breasted Merganser against the Isle of Staffa...<br />
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...and then night falls. As I say i've never seen Scottish weather like this, so i've also never seen the Milky Way in its entirety ever. But by God its pretty good out there on the Hebrides, so I tried a star trail or two over the loch. This one's over Ben More...<br />
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...So a day out on Loch Na Keal ain't bad is what i'm saying. This is quite a broad-based photography approach, prehaps next time i'll do something more 'species specific'. but I dunno.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-86737451796106675732013-03-09T00:16:00.000-08:002013-03-09T00:16:27.170-08:00A Regent's TreatOh what a pun that is! Try reading it back, try it on your friends and bask in its comedic glory! Don't know whether you can tell but i'm quite pleased with myself, this way with words must be a direct result of my time in the capital for that is the reference of the title. I found myself of a Tuesday in Regent's Park looking for the Bearded Tits that were resident, only to find they'd flown literally that morning. In fact, I can't believe my bad luck. Still, the birds were excellent despite the lack of rarities, no more was this true than with the excellent Heronry that is on the island there...<br />
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...that's a young bird by the way, unusual to see one breeding so early in life...<br />
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...but up close in the dying light you can see their Dinosaur origins...<br />
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...but the very same light sets the cloudy water on fire of an evening...<br />
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....The amazing thing is how easy it is to get close to the ducks, they're so acclimatised to the good folk of London they're not adverse to the odd Manc...!<br />
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...in short, a nice trip to a nice park. Wish we had such a park in Manchester. Whitworth ain't bad I suppose. But its so busy down there, not for me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-64614773828582055842013-03-05T13:12:00.000-08:002013-03-05T13:12:03.177-08:00On Glassen Waters...Its one of those things that is generally accepted about photography, that there are certain places to see certain species. Now I tend to have to avoid these places, these places tend to be a long way from the railway line and civilisation in general, so it is only when I have the help of others that I get out to these species-specific sites. This was the case towards the end of last month as I had a weekend in Wales, I managed to get out to photograph a rather confused bird.<br />
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Now that last statement may require some clarification; clarification I am more than happy to give. The word for a male 'Goose' is a 'Gander', whilst a female is referred to as, well, a 'Goose'. As a result, it is surprising to see a bird called a Goosander, they're not hemaphrodites as far as I can see! The Goosander Gander (if I can call them that) is well renowned as the hardest bird to expose. Ever. White on the bottom, green on the top. Now I love that bottle green and the salmon-cream white of the underside, but trying to get them both the correct colour, jeez. But hey ho I had a go, have a look fer yourselves...<br />
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...and the full body shot...<br />
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...now take the next one with a pinch of salt, its an arty effort...<br />
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...gettin' down low...<br />
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...the fable male...underexposed...<br />
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...and the flappy shot...<br />
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...all in all a top morning out, hopefully get down there again soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-11542365713281689432013-02-04T10:21:00.001-08:002013-02-04T10:21:27.394-08:00Down and Out in Manchester and RhylWell the other weekend I was on a train to Rhyl, not quite what I wanted as it was late in the day and an indirect route, but it was nice to be out for the day. However, it quickly turned nasty as the train was told to turn round due to flooding, so it was a similar scenario this weekend as I sped along the tracks as the morning mist cleared on my way to Bae Cinmel in North Wales.<br />
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The name Kinmel Bay has become synonymous with top quality Snow Bunting pictures due to the feeding of the birds by locals and visitors alike, so with me I brought a half kilo of seed by way of a sacrifice to the gods of photography to allow me some nice views. It was however disappointing to arrive and not find any area already seeded, so I effectively started 'from scratch'. I did however soon have 12 birds feeding, a good number and with some very handsome males in the mix. It was not long before they started moving my way, although it wasn't long before a dog walker came either, putting the birds up and me back to square one. I however knew they'd be back, so sat it out and waited for their return...<br />
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...That low, early morning winter sun really helps here...<br />
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...Red Alert! Dog Walker...!<br />
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...But its not all Buntings on the seeded patch, this Meadow Pipit has grown bold with the extensive disturbance and as a result has become quite tame...<br />
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...even down to eye-level...<br />
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...and that bit of luck required to get something more special...<br />
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...but soon the bunts were back and my attention drawn away from this unobtrusive LBJ...<br />
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...a stunning male struts his stuff...<br />
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...this one appears to be trying to hide...!<br />
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...and as the light faded and the train rolls into Rhyl station i'm off again, the sun setting behind me casting great long shadows across the sands of the Dee. The crags and contours of Hilbre are picked out in the glorious technicolour of the dying sun and, once again, I'm reminded that it ain't all that bad a lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-62345428324795288852013-01-20T05:29:00.000-08:002013-02-04T11:23:02.000-08:00Free ManOh the world of exams has not been kind to me of late, though the world of photography has been. As someone with eyes will have noticed my blog has been filled with Waxwings since November time and i've photographed little else since. It has therefore been surprising how few birds have hit my native Manchester, I have had to get out of town most of the time for my Waxie fix.<br />
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Not any more though, i've found (OK been told of) a flock on a bush very close to home, and the last two weekends i've been visiting the bush on my bike in order to pay my respects to the visitors from the north. There's always a good crowd on the corner watching em, so i've enjoyed an acquaintance with a great many people as I watch them descending to have a quick meal. I've also been lucky enough to see them having a drink from the guttering, behaviour i'd heard of but never seen. In short, i've been very lucky.<br />
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It is therefore, due to this being a photo blog, customary for me to allow you a look at some choice shots from the site. I must first thank John Harden for keeping the Manchester Birding Forum updated with news of these birds, I was very grateful to be able to be able to launch opportunistic raids on the site so as my revision didn't suffer. Much. Still, here's one breaking that western skyline...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8364361577/" title="Waxwing- Up Above the World so High by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- Up Above the World so High" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8364361577_0c342eaf83_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...and one down for a berry...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8380223625/" title="Waxwing- by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing-" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8380223625_b98075426f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...which one though...?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8380222667/" title="Waxwing- Bird of the Berry by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- Bird of the Berry" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8380222667_145d14b703_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...found one...!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8381297802/" title="Waxwing- Berry Nice! by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- Berry Nice!" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8381297802_dbc89d986b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...In the sun at last...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8380223957/" title="Waxwing- In the Sun by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- In the Sun" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8380223957_dd82b2e810_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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...and finally, after nearly three months, one on a redbrick backdrop...!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8381296774/" title="Waxwing- Getting There... by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- Getting There..." height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8381296774_951f258d80_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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So all in all not a bad few weekend's work! However, it is back to the coal face for one last hurrah in the form of the English exam, so expect a long wait for the next post.<br />
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Except no, wait. There are some good causes in this world and some of them are e-petitions which need signing, so get signing...!<br />
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<a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43978"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Save the Wildlife Crime Unit</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43941"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Save Worlaby Carrs</span></a><br />
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Both are excellent causes and require the signatures to prompt a debate in parliament.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-11046475989123997362012-12-31T08:02:00.001-08:002013-02-04T11:25:08.287-08:002012...The Year That Was<br />
Ah 2012...the year of the Olympics, the Leveson Enquiry and the final series of The Thick of It, but it was more than that really. I've been busy this year with my GCSEs, sitting exams in January and the June to get some rather pleasing results in August. I saw The Stone Roses live. And Noel Gallagher. I was *that* close to getting a drumstick at The Enemy when they played the academy. And I spent a cumulative total of around 5 days taking photos. So t'wasn't too bad really.<br />
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So I thought, what with this being the eve of 2013 and the Fiscal Cliff (scary eh?) I better get on with it and write it down, like an egalitarian online version of Samuel Peeps. Minus the massive wig, obviously. So without further ado, get yourself an eggnog (or a glass of water. Or nothing. I'm not forcing you.) and let me regale with tales of bygone days spent out in the field...<br />
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I'm going with one photo per month, so for January I go back to my old house. The wind whistles and moans, the trees gnarled (well one of them was a bit gnarled) and the rain lashes the windows. I'm at the kitchen window, with GCSE Biology on my lap and a mug of tea in my hand, but outside there is something altogether more interesting (seriously!). A goldfinch sits on a piece of string, the only redeeming feature of the day. Through an act of contortion through an open window I get shots off, and that's my day sorted. Revision is so underrated...<br />
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February cleared everything up, out in the field I was with a brew in one hand and my glass in the other. Sat in a bush in Conwy, patiently waiting for a certain owl to show. No gloves too in sub-zero temperatures, I hasten to add. Thank God that Shortie showed was all I could say, although it took me several days to say it due to my development of what a hypochondriac like myself would called pneumonia...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hSzJa-eEiLA/Tzat_xHcd0I/AAAAAAAAAX4/UffaQnCDlFA/s1600/Short+Eared+Owl+374_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hSzJa-eEiLA/Tzat_xHcd0I/AAAAAAAAAX4/UffaQnCDlFA/s640/Short+Eared+Owl+374_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...March came in like a Lion and left still very much like a Lion, if by Lion you mean a near-constant thunderstorm inter spliced with the odd clear patch and some frogs procreating in the back garden. I think my definition of a Lion is a bit off. Ah well, it was fun whilst the spawning lasted...!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_gmBfaVE9A/T0qfH1H8JZI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/BtmdrnaAcj0/s1600/Frogs+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_gmBfaVE9A/T0qfH1H8JZI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/BtmdrnaAcj0/s640/Frogs+137.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...April came just 31 days after March, and with it a trip to meet world-famous wildlife photographer Andy Hay. It was a humbling but ultimately interesting experience meeting someone so much better than myself, but a good time was had by all and I finally got that Yellowhammer shot i've always wanted...!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XB3KHtlf4oI/T4fnY5aJS3I/AAAAAAAAAe4/QPa1S32x43E/s1600/Old+Morr+843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XB3KHtlf4oI/T4fnY5aJS3I/AAAAAAAAAe4/QPa1S32x43E/s640/Old+Morr+843.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...May came and along with it a crappy speech from the Headmaster followed by being booted out of school for study leave. Roll on I said, and I was right to be so happy with happenings for I had some belting macro shots from the garden. But the unequivocal highlight of May was a belting experience with the Redstarts of Derbyshire...<br />
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But, just like that, June was upon us and I found myself in a new house and my exams over! So off I pottered to Shetland, my year's highlight by an absolute country mile. Some belting shots and species to boot, with great weather and food...<br />
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...but as June melted into July all was not lost for I was off to the Pyrenees for a week of, as I said afterwards, birds, bikes and norovirus. Aside the last one that was a belter of a trip, with some good shots and new birds...including this rather fetching Rock Sparrow...<br />
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The next month was August and with this change came the hatching of the pupae found in my stomach into beautiful butterflies. Yup, exam season was on. Still, sitting on a campsite with my mates, 2 random people from Grimsby and an unconscious brummy made me forget this somewhat, as did a family holiday to Andalucia, where this Scarce Swallowtail was a surefire favourite...</div>
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But alas the four months of holiday were gone, to be replaced with the murk of September. This saw me once more on Hilbre camera in hand and amongst my favourite birds, the Dunlin...</div>
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More fun was to occur in October with a trip up north of the border to Inverness, and another stint on Hilbre with this memorable Redshank shot the best of the day...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9lhVzVtw_I/UIqYwKcDhcI/AAAAAAAABEM/LGTsg8mayGg/s1600/Hilbre+1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9lhVzVtw_I/UIqYwKcDhcI/AAAAAAAABEM/LGTsg8mayGg/s640/Hilbre+1110.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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....then back to the exams again, like hitting a brick wall but with less physical pain and more subtle references to how university application is inextricably linked to THIS VERY EXAM! So no 'true' trips out, just a shedload of Waxwings over Manchester and the North-West, what beauties...!</div>
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...so here we are again. A year of birds, butterflies and (for the first time) beer! Still quite excited about that last one. Still, we stand on the brink of a new year, but to be honest its going to be pretty much the same as the last so don't get too excited. Have a good'n and see you all on the other side. :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-72424250375824232112012-12-05T09:13:00.000-08:002013-02-04T11:25:26.724-08:00'Shitloads of Brown Cockatiels'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You hear that? That kind of mechanical noise? That's the revision engine gearing up again, cogs turning inside my head and the chain slipping into a higher gear. Yep the big thing now isn't christmas, its the new year and its promise of yet more exams. Still, not all doom and gloom, i've been out the last few weeks chasing the wondrous Waxwings once more. In fact, i've visited one council estate in Moss Side no less than 3 times in the last few weeks. That's where the title of the post's from, a local's rather blunt view on what I had travelled to see. Still, a Waxy's a Waxy isn't it? First off one from the land of Baguley...</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8199917095/" title="Waxwings- They Came From t'North by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwings- They Came From t'North" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8199917095_2e7c9dcb43_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and taking what Radio 4 (or indeed Green Day) might call the 'long view'...</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8199907897/" title="Waxwing- The Long View by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- The Long View" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8199907897_263a221360_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and just, literally i'm talking a couple of minutes here, as the light went, they came down in numbers...</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8213907675/" title="Waxwings- In the Dark by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwings- In the Dark" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8213907675_c5e8bacfc8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and the best light i've had in a long while...</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joewynnphotos/8242379438/" title="Waxwing- 'Shitloads of Brown Cockatiels' by Joe Wynn Wildlife Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Waxwing- 'Shitloads of Brown Cockatiels'" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8242379438_f9d811b6ac_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm usually not too keen on harsh shadows but here I think it works, helps pick out those wing bars and that lovely face. Still, onwards and downwards as they don't say, i'm off to look at cell ultrastructure. Yawn.</div>
<span id="goog_1185789115"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-32489646759557979982012-11-17T07:28:00.002-08:002013-02-04T11:25:42.826-08:00Waxen of Wing...The True NorthernersWell if Preston is considered attractive to these birds, I can't imagine how bad Scandinavia is in the winter is all I can say. It was because of this odd attraction I found myself on a train bound for Preston around midday on a saturday. I'd sat in front of Birdguides all morning looking at reports coming in from all over about a certain invasion of a certain species. Over the last few weeks i've watched their progress from Shetland to Orkney to Inverness to Tyneside and final down to the north west. They've even penetrated Manchester, have these Waxwings.<br />
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The thing with Waxwings is that they tick all the photographical boxes. They're pretty, rare, approachable and spend an inordinate amount of time in cities and towns. They really are the photographer's best friend. Except they're not are they? They spend most of the time up trees in the topmost branches looking down on us below, sneering at the poor angle and light they've given us. They finally come down to feed, then the local Mistle Thrush comes bombing in and that's the end of that. They do circuits of the local TV aerials, call plaintively and regularly just to let us know they're still about. Nightmare.</div>
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But with the correct application of patience and fieldcraft you can get close enough for a shot. I literally cannot get enough of these birds when they're about, they're absolutely stunning creatures. Especially when the light's on them...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq-JbgEvW78/UKE6wyFVFoI/AAAAAAAABJU/eLjOzRWjMkE/s1600/Preston+Waxwings+524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq-JbgEvW78/UKE6wyFVFoI/AAAAAAAABJU/eLjOzRWjMkE/s640/Preston+Waxwings+524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...even when it isn't they're stunning...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7pF1bw626k/UKeozaYYUhI/AAAAAAAABL8/kEolwtsPiqY/s1600/Preston+Waxwings+287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7pF1bw626k/UKeozaYYUhI/AAAAAAAABL8/kEolwtsPiqY/s640/Preston+Waxwings+287.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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....up with the fairies...</div>
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...the 'ooh-look-i've-got-a-berry-in-my-mouth' shot...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xsPjXaKWH8/UKE66hsaY4I/AAAAAAAABJk/rFK9A47Wbxo/s1600/Preston+Waxwings+598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xsPjXaKWH8/UKE66hsaY4I/AAAAAAAABJk/rFK9A47Wbxo/s640/Preston+Waxwings+598.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...slight overbalance here...!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bskH5cHWC0/UKE61jt3LVI/AAAAAAAABJc/unuvTZwkWa8/s1600/Preston+Waxwings+555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bskH5cHWC0/UKE61jt3LVI/AAAAAAAABJc/unuvTZwkWa8/s640/Preston+Waxwings+555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...Showing off that gorgeous wing bar...<br />
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...two's company...<br />
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...liftoff...!<br />
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...'look what I found...!'<br />
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...that golden light...<br />
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...and don't we all love the shots that were lucky...?<br />
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...absolute belters, really brighten Preston up no end. But the bug's there now, and its there for the winter I feel. I'll twitch them tomorrow, and who knows when else! All I know is I'd like em on my garden list (yes good people of Shetland that's directed at you).</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-50789726797376195552012-11-07T12:26:00.000-08:002013-02-04T11:53:25.876-08:00Land of Ice and Fire....(minus the fire)So...its this blog's birthday! Crack open the party poppers, pull on a pointy hat, stick a CD in the player and let the good times roll. Alternatively board a plane to the icy wastes of Inverness, home of the the mighty ICTFC and my Uncle and Aunt. I wasn't up there in an exclusively birding capacity, but to be honest I did find some time to do plenty of the stuff. I even had 2 lifers, something I rarely get these days! If i'm honest the weather didn't exactly play fair, and nor did the birds of the higher climes, but I can't really gripe after some of the shots i've had. I hope to return after my January exams, something to look forward too.<br />
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So on the first day up north we climbed the peak of Benyack More. Whad'a'ya mean you've never heard of it?!? Its a smaller peak round the back of the bigger Cairn Gorm, and is renowned for, in spring, being a good spot for one of Scotland's scarcer birds. It was in the hope of getting Ptarmigan on the top that I carried my big lens up the hill, but they just didn't materialise. Still, had this Reindeer, obviously not native but looked at home...!<br />
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...and that was as the snowstorm was finishing, couldn't see anything at all on the top! That was about it for that day, dipping Snow Bunting and a reported Great Grey Shrike. Ah well, that's life isn't it?<br />
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Next day I stationed myself by the back door for about half an hour to watch some of my Uncle's Siskin flock. One thing I can't get over is how many Siskins they actually get. They get around 40 in December, up to 60 in a cold snap. I found 2 the other day and practically wet myself, so if I had followed through on this policy up north then quite a sizeable puddle might ensue...<br />
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...thankfully there are some nice enough natural perches about so I didn't have to muck about too much. That's Inverness in the background by the way, they have a great view of the city! The next stop of the day was one I had campaigned for, a trip to the coastal town of Burghead, famous for its sea ducks. On arrival we scanned the Eider flock for some of the more unusual suspects, didn't take long to pick out some Long Tailed Ducks, a lifer. Not particularly close and at a terrible angle, but they're so cool I couldn't resist trying to be clever with some of them in flight...<br />
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Not half as close as i'd like to be to these stunning sea-goers, but none the less beautiful and a privilege to watch. Whilst watch the flock we were informed of the presence of a single King Eider. About 15 minutes of scanning produced it, nice and close in too. Not close enough for stunning shots but again still nice...</div>
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...and it was suitably impressed by these nordic visitors we headed East to a place we know for a certain, rather charismatic little Tit. The Crestie. This is the stuff of legend, secret feeding stations deep in the woods, found only by following complex instructions and by keeping your wits about you. OK its not quite that exciting, but getting there and finding two of these fellas is...!</div>
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I absolutely love these animals, they're in all honesty my favourite mammal. They just feed at conventional bird feeders, and its a marvel to see them so close up. They look like they've just stepped out of a Lewis Carroll novel...<br />
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with their long tails I think portrait really suits these woodland stunners...<br />
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...then this handsome fella stopped by for a bite, although distant I actually quite like this shot...</div>
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...bit noisy if i'm honest, I've lost my copy of CS5 so it'll stay noisy for a while! Then, up in the canopy, a shrill and piercing call came. Then a flurry of movement, a falling pine needle. And down he came, branch to branch, tree to tree. And we were graced by the king of the woodlands up here...<br />
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....an absolute BELTER! My tawdry lowlight portraits don't do this bird justice, they're here there everywhere at once, they're so vocal too. at 1/50 of a second this really was pushing the limits of what I can get handheld (or log-held really), but just look at it. Sorry i'm going all gooey about it, but I do love these birds.<br />
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That does pretty much sum up my photos from up north, on the last day I did have c.45 Snow Buntings up on the tops in Glen Feshie but alas they didn't land. Belting birds though. It genuinely is just great being away from my (now cluttered) desk and my (now tedious) studies. Still, onwards and upwards, eh?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-4268096994330128312012-10-26T07:44:00.000-07:002013-02-04T11:53:59.815-08:00Snowed UnderAnyone visiting this blog over the last few weeks would be dissapointed. Its a bit barren, i've been out and about with the camera but that's all i've done. Everything that has happened seems to have happened all at one. First my computer packed in again, then A levels REALLY started, then I said i'd do D of E, then I started appreciating how much I really do love sleep.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I do love a night with just me and a stackload of photos to edit but I literally haven't had the time to do this, every evening is a maelstrom of Biology and Physics, every weekend a vain attempt to cram as much birding in as time allows. All in all this isn't a very satisfactory arrangement. So here I am again, hands held aloft and ready to regail whoever reads this with tales of birding and the like.<br />
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First off since I last posted i've been on the wader trail on the Dee. This is something I do every year (as i'm so original!) but of late have had to watch my step because of some animosity at certain roosts relating to the disturbance of the birds there. This is a photo blog and not a soap box and i'm not preaching or naming names, but it saddens me that one of my favourite places in the world is off limits now. Ah well, here's a Sanderling from afar in some rare sun...!<br />
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...and a little closer...<br />
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...I love these wee birds and their shorefront antics, like little clockwork toys! Now the next set of photos require a little background. I was out on the Dee (again) looking for waders when a shadow passed me. Not a real shadow, as that would require sun and obviously there was none of that, but a black shape against the obstinately grey sky. It moved quick down the estuary before pulling sharply up and meeting another shadow in the air. The two pigeon-esque birds tusselled for a bit with the sea behind. This was to be the theme of the day, for I was sharing my patch with a pair of Merlin.<br />
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Regular readers (or the singular, I don't know how many of you there are!) will have seen my shots from last year where i'd have only got closer to Merlin by shoving my lens up its arse. Not quite so this time, but I could still appreciate this bird even if it was sitting so far away the curve of the earth prevented eye contact...<br />
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...and indulging in some fencing...<br />
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...bit pissed off about the way the fence obscures it a bit but its such a great bird you could stick a golden statue of Jimmy Saville in shot and it'd still be OK. Because of this little beauty the wader count was on the low side, so when the light fell behind the point of ayr and the talacre dunes were bathed in golden light I crawled along the dee looking for em. First a Turnstone...<br />
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...then the 'oh God look at the light' shot...<br />
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...and as some bastard dog came out to me I managed this of a Redshank, to date my favourite wader shot I think...<br />
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...you got to love dog walkers haven't you? I returned home on the Merseyrail stinking of seaweed, covered in mud and listening to Green Day. Such is the live of the modern teenager.<br />
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And another thing, i've made a hide! I say made. And I say hide. Its a hole in the shed with hinges and a lock basically, but its actually given me a couple of hours of great birding so far. This fella has been the star so far, but I look forward to whatever it brings to me...!<br />
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So there you have it, a varied month to say the least! Couple that to my adjustments to sixth form (and the nagging feeling that I need to think about the future) and you'll see that its been an odd few weeks, but i'm off to bonny Scotland for a week which'll be right laugh. I hope...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-29155246336670393392012-09-29T13:26:00.000-07:002013-02-04T11:54:51.196-08:00'Every Cloud an' All' Well of late I have engaged my hidden talent of moaning my adolecent face off at the state of my hard drive. However, it is through this blog that the situation has been kept in check. I have, on this blog, uploaded a great many of my shots and whilst you've seen most I keep some 'reserve' posts for when i'm dying from withdrawal symptoms. You'll see these posts as they tend not to fit the season and are a bit aimless. Still, there's one post I kept back, and i'm so glad I did...<br />
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...Andalucia! I went to the Costa Del Sol! Officially the most unemployed district of Spain, 30 years ago it had 50% illiteracy rates and the temperature gets to 43 degrees every day. Perfect for wildlife. However, one fact I should disclose is that my best shots were of Spotted Flycatchers and were never saved so what you have here is the dregs. Still, they're quite good for 'dregs'. Let's start off with this young Spanish Sparrow...<br />
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...that last shot's an interesting one. That bird isn't calling. Or eating. Its panting, the birds here genuinely go round with their mouths open to lose heat. Its a bit surreal to see all these gaping sparrows, but not as surreal as seeing these birds. Before this holiday i'd seen Bee Eaters only in the Pyrenees, but never got close enough for a good shot. That's still true, but got some passable images of a perched distant one..<br />
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...a truly beautiful creature, I wish I could aquaint myself with these birds on a more regular basis. I did get a little closer, but the angle's not great. Grrr...<br />
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But I am a gambler. My wildlife kit weighs in at about 5kg and sits on the small of my back. It has, in its short existence, climbed about 10,000ft, accended the world famous Tourmalet on a bike, has been in a river (thankfully for a short period), visited Shetland and has now been to the tourists sites of Southern Spain. Why am I a gambler? That's an awful dead weight as you're wandering round the Alhambra (yes I thought it was in Bradford too), but I was (for the first time ever) rewarded for my exertions with this...<br />
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This shot's Exif:<br />
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1/400<br />
f7.1<br />
ISO 3200<br />
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It was taken on our only dull day, and in dense coniferous woodland I found shutter speeds a real struggle. Still, an absolute gem of a bird, as was my next Alhambra find...<br />
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You have no idea how much i've wanted to see one of these up close, then there's one outside the gift shop! Amazing stuff...<br />
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Another bird i've always wanted to photograph is the Griffon Vulture, this was not my lucky trip in the end. However, it was the end of a wait for another species; the Rock Bunting. Its not an easy subject, they're tricky to locate, but fairly accomodating (even if they stick to the shade from the ferrocious midday sun!)...<br />
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Perhaps my experience of the trip was pulling over to watch a Booted Eagle, whereupon it stooped into the olive grove near to me, whereupon it rose up and circled me. At midday the shots clearly aren't the best but i've never had anything like that happen, truly memorable...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0keCEMMP-KQ/UDd19aQj5oI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/54zh-kcTNCY/s1600/Andalucia+1165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0keCEMMP-KQ/UDd19aQj5oI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/54zh-kcTNCY/s640/Andalucia+1165.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But its not just birds in this cradle of life, the invertibrae front is good too (even if the ID of this fella escapes me)...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Isd7lcW5DkI/UDd1k2FqTWI/AAAAAAAAA8g/imTmdARNk-0/s1600/Andalucia+820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Isd7lcW5DkI/UDd1k2FqTWI/AAAAAAAAA8g/imTmdARNk-0/s640/Andalucia+820.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...but I say with as much certainty as a vegan cheetah that this is certainly a Scarce Swallowtail...<br />
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....not bad for the oul' sigma at 400mm! And a good trip for me too! I have to say that the lifestyle's quite agreeable, as is the food and the birding! Perhaps one day i'll return without my family in toe, get up at 3am and look for these creatures in the golden hours. Perhaps I won't. But for a 2 week family holiday cut short by a music festival it wasn't half bad. I think there's one more summer post to conclude the last 4 months, but I think that shall wait. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047289226088649328.post-52816257403315368722012-09-08T09:08:00.001-07:002012-09-08T09:08:43.179-07:00'That's Soooooo Last Season!'- Waders in the autumnHilbre Island is a small sandstone outcrop off the Wirral coast. It was at one point a spindly prominentary, but has since fallen foul of erosion and consequently is now a tidal island. It is home to a bird observatory and one of the UK's best wader roosts, mainly because of the lack of disturbance from the general public. It really is one of my favourite places on earth.<br />
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Still, as I looked across the sea from west kirby towards the island I looked with aprehension. This was mainly because i'd arrived by train from Liverpool and noticed I wasn't wearing a pair of wellies. Or walking boots. I was wearing a pair of trainers. So as I stared across the sands I had the unappealing prospect of soggy feet all day. So like the sensible person I am I took them off and tied them to the bag and crossed Croagh Patrick style. It was only as I reached Hilbre I did a headcount and found i'd lost a shoe. I was informed by someone crossing that the absent shoe was half way back to the mainland, and so ensued a race against the tide to retrieve the shoe before it did. I won. Just.<br />
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But this was all worth it, for as I sat and had my lunch a Pomerine Skua passed north-south along the island. This was followed by the wader roost, as it circled the island looking for suitable rocks. I caught up with them as they landed on the usual ledges, precariously placed below the cliff edge. This meant that into the equation I had to place both getting those killer shots AND staying alive. They say that if you wriggle towards waders they tolerate you on the grounds you look like a seal. I thought I looked more like a tit.<br />
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Still, some cracking individuals to look at, although sadly the bestest ones were lower down and out'a reach. To kick off here's a moulting Turnstone, taken looking down on it...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOOAuUpSCII/UEtoxHAooLI/AAAAAAAABAQ/Q4YQvvu6NrY/s1600/Hilbre+Island+456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOOAuUpSCII/UEtoxHAooLI/AAAAAAAABAQ/Q4YQvvu6NrY/s640/Hilbre+Island+456.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...here's a more wintery individual on the very recognisable sandstone island...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml2_1gLe1G8/UEto36cqIWI/AAAAAAAABAY/yI8BpHOA7SU/s1600/Hilbre+Island+682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml2_1gLe1G8/UEto36cqIWI/AAAAAAAABAY/yI8BpHOA7SU/s640/Hilbre+Island+682.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...its comical watching them try and move around on one foot, they refuse to put the second one down...!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l9v_kYsdYJk/UEto-LUK0EI/AAAAAAAABAg/gefeOW1_ClM/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l9v_kYsdYJk/UEto-LUK0EI/AAAAAAAABAg/gefeOW1_ClM/s640/Hilbre+Island+1144.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...one of the finer looking birds...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5T0-caiamek/UEtpUJYA8NI/AAAAAAAABBI/Q3ZwdWzWrfM/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5T0-caiamek/UEtpUJYA8NI/AAAAAAAABBI/Q3ZwdWzWrfM/s640/Hilbre+Island+1731.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...but roosting waders present a problem of bokeh. As they rest they like to be hard up against the rocks, so when you're trying to get close to them you have to try and angle yourself so as you get some depth of field. This one was well placed...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etmyVfFPU2E/UEtpPydgjgI/AAAAAAAABBA/2LsVA2LNzmA/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etmyVfFPU2E/UEtpPydgjgI/AAAAAAAABBA/2LsVA2LNzmA/s640/Hilbre+Island+1439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...a sleepy one...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5xs6L6k02k/UEtpfeEfyTI/AAAAAAAABBY/fhaHHQmbDzE/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1709_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5xs6L6k02k/UEtpfeEfyTI/AAAAAAAABBY/fhaHHQmbDzE/s640/Hilbre+Island+1709_2.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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...Peekaboo...!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmgPnD_r4jI/UEtpmmMPMfI/AAAAAAAABBg/nqxtq--Y9xo/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmgPnD_r4jI/UEtpmmMPMfI/AAAAAAAABBg/nqxtq--Y9xo/s640/Hilbre+Island+1638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...but its not just Turnstone on Hilbre. As I scanned them I located a small group of Dunlin, not as respledecant as they were when I watched them on Shetland, but still stunning wee birds...!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5OboURIjMFQ/UEtpIUhzvhI/AAAAAAAABAw/VMb6r3DQxbc/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5OboURIjMFQ/UEtpIUhzvhI/AAAAAAAABAw/VMb6r3DQxbc/s640/Hilbre+Island+1242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...this one's a bit over the top...!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oE0DSPGbqU/UEtpBw46yVI/AAAAAAAABAo/iiD3BW_K6aA/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oE0DSPGbqU/UEtpBw46yVI/AAAAAAAABAo/iiD3BW_K6aA/s640/Hilbre+Island+1215.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and the obligatory portrait...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRcsTBGSeks/UEtpJ_JuoMI/AAAAAAAABA4/mnVe4H5daac/s1600/Hilbre+Island+1484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRcsTBGSeks/UEtpJ_JuoMI/AAAAAAAABA4/mnVe4H5daac/s640/Hilbre+Island+1484.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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...and after I informed the bird observatory of my wader counts and seawatch bounty I set off over the sands, sun setting behind and wader massing in front, reflecting for the umpteenth time this holiday, its not so bad being off. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0