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Stephen Burch's Birding & Dragonfly Website |
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Home | Trip Reports | Gallery | UK index | Oxon pics | UK pics | Dragonflies | Other Nature | Contact | Links |
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Stephen Burch's Birding & Dragonfly Website |
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Home | Trip Reports | Gallery | UK index | Oxon pics | UK pics | Dragonflies | Other Nature | Contact | Links |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 13 March 2020 Nowhere near as close as the photo below but just saved by the background. |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 29 February 2020 After some success with the Kingfisher (see below), it was about 5th time lucky for the Barn Owl, when I finally managed to get quite close to it, and it even then flew towards me! Click to enlarge. To see a gallery of my Owl shots, go here |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 29 February 2020 The bird was initially further away along this fence line, but remarkably flew straight towards me, landing here, whereupon it came even closer, which provided the shot above. Click to enlarge. To see a gallery of my Owl shots, go here |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 29 February 2020 Flying towards the post on which it settled above Click to enlarge. To see a gallery of my Owl shots, go here |
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Kingfisher, 29 February 2020 At last, almost the shot I was after - with the bird on the nearby perch and some sun! Only briefly, though at about 11:00. Click to enlarge |
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Kingfisher, 29 February 2020 At above but in the nearby tree. More distant and poorer background but a better pose? |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 27 February 2020 Trying again during a rare break in the rain! But it was windy today and the bird(s) showed only briefly between about 14:00 and 15:00. During that time it again never came very close, and was difficult to track given its erratic flight - probably partly due to the wind. Nice to see it with prey, which it seemed to find quickly without any real difficulty on its first visit at least. Also encouraging that it has survived the last two storms, but it can't be easy for them with another due this weekend. |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 27 February 2020 High up and fairly distant, but it was easier to track against the sky. Again with prey. |
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Whooper Swan, Cote 14 February 2020 Rather easier than the Barn Owl to get photos of! One of the five birds currently residing between Cote and Old Shifford. Click to enlarge |
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Whooper Swan, Cote 14 February 2020 As above |
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Kestrel, Pinkhill, Farmoor 14 February 2020 Slim pickings today, after spending at least 5 hours here. The Barn Owl was being elusive for me, but at least this hovering Kestrel briefly obliged. |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 13 February 2020 After two previous unsuccessful attempts, it was third time lucky this afternoon. However the bird was very mobile and didn't stay in any one area for more than a few moments. Unlike for others, it also never came very close to me! |
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Barn Owl, Pinkhill, Farmoor 13 February 2020 With prey. This was one of the first shots I managed, but much to my annoyance I then lost focus lock so missed the closest approach it made this afternoon. |
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Marsh Tit 7 February 2020 After a considerable wait... Partially illuminated by a beam of sunlight that managed to penetrate the surrounding trees. Click to enlarge |
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Coal Tit 7 February 2020 These were even faster and more difficult to photograph than the Marsh Tits above. Click to enlarge |
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Smew, Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt 31 January 2020 Many thanks indeed to Justin for spotting this bird from way over the far side of the pit. At the time I was just about to leave, and much closer to the bird! |
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Garganey, Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt 31 January 2020 Thanks again to Justin - for putting me on to this distant bird on my arrival. I would never have spotted it otherwise. Very distant for DSLR photos though - a record shot only. |
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Kingfisher 17 January 2020 Its back! Having not seen this bird since October, it was nice to find it is still around. Today there was little sun, but in a prolonged 3+hr session, this bird showed well for almost half of this time. The following day, I was back in much better conditions and hopeful of a further appearance. The bird had other ideas however it seemed. |
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Kingfisher 17 January 2020 See above |
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Goldeneye, Standlake Pit 60 11 January 2020 These are the only birds coming anywhere near the hides at the moment. This one was displaying briefly on a dull morning. |
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Slavonian Grebe, Farmoor 9 January 2020 Still there! This time there was mainly cloud but with a hint of sun from time to time, as in this photo. Pushed closer to me by a couple of other birders! Click to enlarge |
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Slavonian Grebe, Farmoor 9 January 2020 Just before a dive. Click to enlarge |
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Fieldfare, Harwell Campus 4 January 2020 Coming very close while using the car as a hide, in the better than forecast conditions. Click to enlarge |
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Fieldfare, Harwell Campus 4 January 2020 Crop of the photo above. |
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Slavonian Grebe, Farmoor 3 January 2020 A return visit in the New Year to Farmoor, and this bird was still present in its usual corner of F2. Very strong sun for this shot, which made it difficult to avoid blown highlights on the brilliant white cheeks. Not coming very close while I was there. |
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Slavonian Grebe, Farmoor 21 December 2019 Thanks to Stuart for pointing this out to me on the causeway as I was returning from frutiless visits to both hides. Spent sometime waiting for it to come closer with David and then Bob. Click to enlarge |
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Slavonian Grebe, Farmoor 21 December 2019 The head on "stare"! Click to enlarge |
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Goldeneye, Standlake Pit 60 12 December 2019 Again reasonably close to the LL hide. This time it was displaying. |
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Grey Wagtail, Letcombe Bassett 10 November 2019 I find these birds difficult to photograph. This is a snap shot which I wasn't really set up for properly but is probably my best to date. Click to enlarge |
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Goldeneye, Standlake Pit 60 8 November 2019 Came close to the LL hide in a brief sunny spell. The deep water probably helped! Click to enlarge |
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Scaup (female), Farmoor 7 November 2019 Fairly close to the causeway Click to enlarge |
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Little Egret, Letcombe Bassett 31 October 2019 After several recent blank visits, it was good to find this bird back in its usual autumn/winter haunt at the cress beds. |
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Water Rail, Pinkhill 25 October 2019 Again a very dull day. This confiding bird appeared under the feeders quite soon after I arrived, but did not show again in the following 2 hours. Click to enlarge |
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Water Rail, Pinkhill 25 October 2019 A crop of the shot above. It was quite close! Click to enlarge |
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Great Tit 24 October 2019 Even a humble Great Tit paused briefly on this perch today! |
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Kingfisher 24 October 2019 No sun today! Today this bird appeared just as the rain set in and stayed for even less time than last week. No dives either. |
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Kingfisher 17 October 2019 Yet another Kingfisher shot - it showed only briefly in a 3 hour wait. Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Kingfisher 17 October 2019 Looking the other way! Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Kingfisher 17 October 2019 Looking down for prey Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Kingfisher 17 October 2019 A brief earlier appearance before the sunshine had reached the perch. |
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Teal, Standlake Pit 60 3 October 2019 A quiet morning today with only a pair of eclipse Teal coming within proper photo range. This photo was taken in a brief moment when the sun almost came out. Again no sign of the Kingfisher this morning. |
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Great Creasted Grebe, Standlake Pit 60 3 October 2019 This bird was some distance away but was worth a few shots in the brief period of time it took to swallow this rather large looking fish! |
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Kingfisher, 28 September 2019 After several fruitless visits, it was good to have another productive session this morning. Earlier on, the sun was out for most of the time which certainly helped. Flight shots are pretty hit and miss, but it was diving often enough for several attempts. Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Kingfisher, Shrike Meadow, Farmoor 28 September 2019 One the post. Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Kingfisher, Shrike Meadow, Farmoor 28 September 2019 Another one with the sun out, resulting in huge contrast on the bird. Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Kingfisher, Shrike Meadow, Farmoor 28 September 2019 No sun on this bird, but it does have a tiny fish! Click to enlarge For a gallery of all my 2019 Kingfisher shots, click here. |
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Common Sandpiper, Standlake Pit 60 27 September 2019 A brief appearance on what is usually the "island" - but now connected to the "mainland" due to the low water levels. No sign of the Kingfisher this morning! |
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Little Grebe, Standlake Pit 60 27 September 2019 There were some nice patches of early morning light from the LL hide briefly, but unfortunately only this juvenile Little Grebe presented itself during the short time before it clouded over. The more showy adult was less obliging. |
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Little Stint, Farmoor 19 September 2019 Nice to have some decent waders at Farmoor for once! In addition to this charming Little Stint there was also a Ruff, and Dunlin. Later on a Knot appeared but I missed that one. Great light today as well! Click to enlarge |
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Little Stint, Farmoor 19 September 2019 The Little Stint with its friend the Dunlin on the background. Click to enlarge |
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Little Stint, Farmoor 19 September 2019 No concrete on this one! |
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Chiffchaff, Farmoor 7 September 2019 Plenty of adult and juveniles today in the fisherman's car park above the zig-zag path. I presume this is a pristine juvenile and that the worn ones were the adults. No sign again of the Kingfisher afterwards! Click to enlarge |
© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch |
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