|
|
Stephen Burch's Birding & Dragonfly Website |
|
|
Home | Trip Reports| Gallery | UK index | Oxon pics | UK pics | Dragonflies | Other Nature | Contact | Links |
||
|
|
Stephen Burch's Birding & Dragonfly Website |
|
|
Home | Trip Reports| Gallery | UK index | Oxon pics | UK pics | Dragonflies | Other Nature | Contact | Links |
||
|
|
|
 |
Long-tailed Shrike, Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire. 28 August 2026 On my last visit to see this ultra-rarity, it was generally very distant and only came close enough for a worthwhile photo right at the end of my stay. But it was in Oxon the whole time. For my present visit, the weather had changed and there was a stiff westerly breeze with more sensible temperatures. The bird behaved very differently, being always on view. It spent a lot of time on the lee side of the low hedge next to the road, which was not great from the photo point of view. Just occasionally it would perch somewhere more or less clear of obstructing twigs, leaves etc. But of course there was always the hedge close behind. Click to enlarge |
 |
Long-tailed Shrike, Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire. 28 August 2026 After a couple of hours in that hedge, the bird suddenly flew into its favoured bush along the hedgerow running at right angles to the road. Here it briefly popped up onto an unobstructed twig with sky behind, as shown in this photo. Click to enlarge |
 |
Fulmar, Kettleness, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. 4 May 2026 For the first week of our latest Scottish trip we stayed on Mainland, Shetland. This was our first ever visit to Shetland. For the second week, we were on Yell, which provided easier access to Unst and Fetlar. This spring in Shetland was a cold one, with a persistent northerly wind. We even had a snow shower one morning, with a dusting visible on the hillside opposite our self-catering house! This shot was taken with my light-weight photo gear (Canon 100-400 f8 RF lens with the R7) that I usually use for general walks when I'm not expecting anything compelling. Click to enlarge For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Fulmar, Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 5 May 2026 Our early morning photo trip to Noss with the Original Noss Boat was probably the highlight of our trip. It produced close flight views of Fulmar and Gannet. Here is a Fulmar photo. For others, see the gallery. Click to enlarge For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Fulmar, Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 5 May 2026 Another from Noss - closest approach. Click to enlarge For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Gannet, Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 5 May 2026 Once at Noss, the crew on the boat feed the Gannets by throwing a few fish to them. This attracts large numbers of birds (see those in the distance incoming). The bird in the foreground has its attention fixed on one of the fish in the air! It missed this fish as it had overshot it! Click to enlarge For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Golden Plover, Yell, Shetland, Scotland. 10 May 2026 While staying on Yell, we were fortunate to come across a small flock of these birds in a field by a track that I was able to drive down and use the car as a hide. Remarkably the flock hung around, on and off, for a few days. It took a few visits in the late afternoon to get a chance for close photos. This bird was probably one of a pre-breeding flock feeding up on the lower fields before heading up to the hills for breeding. One benefit of this early season visit. Not sure there were many others! For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Puffin, Hermaness, Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 13 May 2026 For this visit to the remote Hermaness NNR, we were lucky with the weather - it was calm, sunny and almost warm! However there were few Puffins to be seen during the day this early in the season, and the hoped for attacks on us by Great Skuas never materialised - there were only ones or twos around. They clearly hadn't started breeding yet. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Puffin, Sumburgh Head, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. 16 May 2026 On our return journey, as the ferry didn't sail until the evening, I had time for a quick second visit to Sumburgh Head. This time there were a few Puffins around. This one is just coming out of its nesting burrow. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Fulmars, Sumburgh Head, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. 16 May 2026 This pair were jointly seeing off an intruding bird. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Fulmars, Sumburgh Head, Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. 16 May 2026 Clearly these birds was pleased with themselves after seeing off the intruder (see above). For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Osprey, Aviemore Ospreys, Aviemore, Highland, Scotland. 18 May 2026 I don't seem to have much luck with my visits to these hides that require a very early morning start. Last year I had two sessions on successive days and only had a few dives, which was attributed to the very hot weather and a presence of a very dominant male that was scaring off all other birds. For this single morning, that bird was again present and we had no proper dives at all. The bird found the fish shown in this photo on the bank of the pond, so no dive was needed. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Goldeneye, Aviemore Ospreys, Aviemore, Highland, Scotland. 18 May 2026 In the absence of much Osprey action, I started trying for shots of this female Goldeneye that kept flying off and then coming back a few minutes later. This image was helped by using pre-capture. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Goldeneye, Aviemore Ospreys, Aviemore, Highland, Scotland. 18 May 2026 See above - a few frames later when the bird was a little closer. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Goldeneye, Aviemore Ospreys, Aviemore, Highland, Scotland. 18 May 2026 A close approach on the water. For additional photos go to my photo gallery for this trip. |
 |
Black-tailed Godwit, Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset. 25 March 2026 The were slim pickings this time for photography during our near annual week in Weymouth. But once again late afternoon along the western track at Lodmoor provided a few images worth processing. This is a fine bird in near full breeding plumage that ventured a little nearer than all the others while I was there. Click to enlarge |
 |
Black-tailed Godwits, Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset. 23 March 2026 Part of a small flock of these birds that flew in somewhat distantly in nice late afternoon light. Click to enlarge |
 |
Little Egret, Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset. 23 March 2026 A fine bird in breeding plumage that came reasonably close. Click to enlarge. |
© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch |
|
