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Oxon Bird Pics Spring/Summer 2014
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Curlew Sandpiper, Farmoor
31 August
2014
Returning from a week away, I was delighted to hear of
a couple of Curlew Sandpipers at Farmoor - a species I have never
managed to photograph until now. So I was in the car park at
opening time and soon got onto these very confiding birds on the
western bank of Farmoor I.
Fortunately there weren't too
many other photographers around and so I had the birds almost to
myself. They were amazingly tame - coming inside the DO's 3m near
focus point several times!
Most of the time they were
feeding very actively, but just once they settled down for a rest
and a preen, as shown here.
Click to enlarge |
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Curlew Sandpiper, Farmoor
31 August
2014
Both birds together during their brief rest. |
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Curlew Sandpiper, Farmoor
31 August
2014
Note the water droplets
Click to enlarge |
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Curlew Sandpiper, Farmoor
31 August
2014
In the process of coming too close!
Click to
enlarge |
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Curlew Sandpiper, Farmoor
31 August
2014
Note the small worm in its bill - probably a blood
worm I was told. |
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Barn Owl, Farmoor
31 August 2014
This bird provided a brief distraction from my main mission
today - getting the pics shown above of the Curlew Sands! |
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Green Sandpiper, Otmoor
16 August
2014
This is a bird I have been after a reasonable photo of for
some time, so I was delighted when this one briefly landed on the
mud in front of the first screen. Still too distant for really
good results, though.
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Lapwing, Otmoor
16 August 2014
From the first screen. I'm told this is a juvenile that almost
certainly originated from here.
Click to enlarge |
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Turtle Dove, Otmoor
14 June 2014
On a grey day. This bird was fairly obliging, singing from the
wires above the corner by the cattle pens, from time to time. It
wasn't tolerating all the passersby though. |
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Turnstone, Farmoor.
24 May
2014
One of six, which were considerably more obliging than
the Whimbrel but less so than some others I have come across. |
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Whimbrel, Farmoor.
24 May
2014
I think this might be my first ever view of this
species on the ground in Oxon. However it was unfortunately too
wary for a good shot. |
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Common Tern, Farmoor.
26 April
2014
Unlike the Barwit, these were much more obliging,
repeatedly flying close by over the causeway.
Click to
enlarge |
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Bar tailed Godwit, Farmoor.
26
April 2014
This excellent summer plumaged bird flew over
at about 08:30 reasonably close to the causeway. It was the first
sighting in 2014 for both Farmoor and the county.
Unfortunately its fleeting appearance and distance didn't allow
for any better pics and this is the least bad! At least it shows
the impressive summer plumage. |
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Sparrowhawk, Wantage
18 April 2014
On the garden fence! |
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Little Grebe, Undisclosed location
18 April 2014
A bit closer would have been better (as
nearly always).
Complements the photos of its more
glamorous cousin below! |
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Red necked Grebe, Farmoor
12 April
2014
As this ace bird was still around, it seemed well
worthwhile going back for another stint today. Unfortunately the
light wasn't very good, with no real sign of the sun.
However with this longer and more relaxed stay, I was able to
watch its extremely productive fishing - at one point virtually
every dive appeared to be successful. This photo was also taken
from my preferred lower camera angle.
Click
to enlarge |
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Red necked Grebe, Farmoor
12 April
2014
See above, but without fish. |
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Curlew, Goosey
9 April
2014
Always a great bird to see on its breeding territory -
reminds me of my native Yorkshire Dales! |
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Red necked Grebe, Farmoor
5 April
2014
My first good views of this species in summer plumage
- so much better than their drab winter garb!
This bird was
being pretty obliging along the southern shore of F2, and there
was a little sunlight for this photo. |
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Red necked Grebe, Farmoor
5 April
2014
As above, but closer in and slightly sharper.
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Red necked Grebe, Farmoor
5 April
2014
As above - no apologies for another shot this great
bird! |
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Marsh Tit, Bushy Leaze Copse, Farmoor
22 March 2014
After a pretty fruitless visit to nearby
Farmoor reservoir, I paid a visit to this site following various
other recent photos on the Oxon Bird Log, hoping for Nuthatch pics.
However although these were around they never came down to the
ground.
Hence I reverted to targeting the next best things
- Marsh Tits and anything else that would pose for me (see below)!
Click to enlarge |
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Marsh Tit, Bushy Leaze Copse, Farmoor
22 March 2014
As above, about a second later. |
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Chaffinch, Bushy Leaze Copse, Farmoor
22 March 2014
See above |
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Robin, Bushy Leaze Copse, Farmoor
22 March 2014
See above |
© All
pictures copyright Stephen Burch |
