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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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Black-tailed Godwit, Brancaster Beach, Norfolk. 23 November 2025 Our usual early winter visit to north Norfolk was again quite productive, with my main focus being waders in flight. This photo is of an unexpected and reasonably confiding bird on the beach, taken with my "portable" gear - Canon R7 & 100-400mm f8 zoom. Previously the birds have tended to be distant at this site. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Black-tailed Godwit, Brancaster Staithe Harbour, Norfolk. 26 November 2025 This harbour is a good place for photography from the car. Depending on the state of the tide, birds can be quite close. This was a quick snapshot of a departing godwit which shows the upper wing pattern nicely. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Turnstone, Brancaster Staithe Harbour, Norfolk. 26 November 2025 One of several birds flying in to join a small group feeding on the mud close by. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Redshank, Brancaster Staithe Harbour, Norfolk. 26 November 2025 Flying past in nice light. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Brent Geese, Titchwell Beach, Norfolk. 26 November 2025 My visit her was timed to coincide roughly with low tide, but was less successful than previously with few birds coming anywhere near close at a sensible speed. These two Brent Geese were at least quite large and slow moving! Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Curlew, Titchwell Beach, Norfolk. 26 November 2025 Right at the end of the day, just as the light was fading this Curlew provided a last gasp photo. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Marsh Harrier, NWT Cley Marshes, Norfolk. 27 November 2025 With the three main hides closed today, I was very fortunate to get a Marsh Harrier fly past at reasonably close range from the Bishop Hide after only a short wait. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Marsh Harrier, NWT Cley Marshes, Norfolk. 27 November 2025 Another shot from the same pass. Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Bar-tailed Godwit, Brancaster Staithe Harbour, Norfolk. 28 November 2025 No flight opportunities for this last session, but this feeding Barwit came fairly close. I was kicking myself for not having my "long-range" kit in the car at the time (500f4 with a x2TC and the R7). Click to enlarge Click here for a gallery of these 2025 Norfolk photos |
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Chough, Porthgain, Wales. 22 September 2025 The only photo worth processing from a two week trip to Wales, firstly on Anglesey and secondly in Pembrokeshire (St. David's)! We saw Choughs along the cliff tops fairly regularly both weeks, but this was the only time they came within range of my new lightweight photo gear (Canon RF 100-400mm lens & Canon R7 camera, usually with a x1.4TC for extra reach). Click to enlarge |
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Kingfisher, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 I spent two days at Peter Spencer's hides near Yeovil, with firstly Kingfisher and then Kestrel on the agenda. For the first day it was very wet with torrential rain at times. This didn't seem to bother the Kingfisher much! It did however make action photos difficult due to the lack of light. For the most part, I tried slowing the shutter down to try to get long streaks of rain for increased effect. This shot was taken at 1/80 sec and has the best streaks. Click to enlarge Click here to go to my Kingfisher gallery. |
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Kingfisher, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 This shot was taken at 1/125 sec and has less dramatic streaks but the bird is perhaps slightly better posed. Click to enlarge Click here to go to my Kingfisher gallery. |
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Kingfisher, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 The only action shot I processed. The bird hadn't learned where it was supposed to dive yet! Only right at the end of my session did it get it right! Click to enlarge Click here to go to my Kingfisher gallery. |
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Kingfisher, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 Another shot but on a different part of the perch with nice red berries for a splash of colour! Click to enlarge Click here to go to my Kingfisher gallery |
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Grey Wagtail, Somerset Wildlife Hides,
Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 This Grey Wagtail was pottering around the pool from time to time and livened things up when the Kingfisher wasn't about. I quite like the effect here although the reflection is incomplete. Click to enlarge |
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Grey Wagtail, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 On a photogenic perch down the side of the pool. Click to enlarge |
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Grey Wagtail, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 10 September 2025 An inflight shot obtained using the great pre-capture option on the Canon R5 II. Click to enlarge |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 Here are my photos from the second day of my visit to these hides. Fortunately the weather was much better than for day one, with even some sun at times. At this hide, much the best of the light is to be had at the end of the day, especially if it sunny. Here is the fine male in the late afternoon light. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 The male with a colourful autumnal backdrop. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 Another shot of the male. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 The male departing its perch. A pre-capture image. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 A crop of flight shot above. A testament to the remarkable capabilities of the Canon R5 Mark II. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 The female was often present at the same time as the male and being bigger seemed to gently bully her spouse from time to time. Here she is in flight making a dramatic turn. Another pre-capture image. Click to enlarge. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 A crop of flight shot above. Again a testament to the remarkable capabilities of the Canon R5 Mark II. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 The female calling with some autumnal colours behind. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 The female with more extensive autumnal colours behind. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrel, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 The female calling loudly. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Kestrels, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 It was difficult to get an image with both birds together in photogenic poses. The female would often edge up towards the male and then muscle her way in, displacing the smaller male! Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Kestrel gallery. |
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Sparrowhawk, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 I had been alerted to the possible presence of this fine male Sparrowhawk. Sure enough this bird first appeared briefly mid afternoon but in a spot I couldn't get onto it. A little later it reappeared very close to the hide but not in the best position, as a hedge was very close behind. After staying for a few minutes it was off. So only one pose essentially. Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Sparrowhawk gallery. |
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Sparrowhawk, Somerset Wildlife Hides, Yeovil, Somerset. 11 September 2025 A close up of the image above. This bird was very close for my 500mm f4! Click to enlarge. Click here to go to my Sparrowhawk gallery. |
© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch |
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