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UK Bird Pics Spring/Summer 2017
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Little Tern, Chesil Bank, Dorset
5 July 2017
Checking on-line in advance, I found that the Little Terns
appeared to be back in residence this year, so I managed to pay
them a visit while on a family holiday in Weymouth.
Parking
at the Ferrybridge car-park the location of the roped off breeding
colony was pretty obvious - a little way along the shingle beside
the Fleet. So I walked over, and positioned myself by the
water's edge by the outer rope barrier.
Although most
terns were
distant, I reckoned that a few might come past quite close, if
they were fishing along the shore as some terns tend to like
doing. This did indeed happen but they made for tricky targets
being so small and erratic.
These are the best 2 shots I
managed to get in about 2hours.
Click to enlarge |
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Little Tern, Chesil Bank, Dorset
5 July 2017
See
above. |
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Black tailed Godwit, Lodmoor, Dorset
3 July 2017
As I've found before, the path along the western edge of
Lodmoor can be good for photography in the late afternoon as the
birds are very tame being completely accustomed to the constant
stream of human traffic along it.
This was again the case
today, after after a helpful tip-off from another birder while I
was attempting to photo the terns (see below), I made my way
further along to find this splendid almost full summer plumaged
bird. From time to time the sun came out producing great light.
Click to enlarge. |
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Common Tern, Lodmoor, Dorset
3 July 2017
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Arctic Tern, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire
25 June 2017
The road bridge over the estuary turned out to be the best
place to try for tern shots in the strong wind. Unfortunately, I
only a very limited amount of time before I needed to head back to
the airport for my flight home. |
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Slavonian Grebe, Speyside, Highland
23 June 2017
Came surprisingly close to me - again using the car as a hide. |
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Common Sandpiper, Speyside, Highland
23 June 2017
Again from the car. |
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Red Grouse, Lochindorb, Highland
23 June 2017
As
I've found before, the road running alongside the southern shore
of Lochindorb can be good for bird photography using the car as a
hide.
There were several families of Red Grouse by the
roadside, some with tiny young. This adult male was quite obliging
for some time.
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Oystercatcher, Lochindorb, Highland
23 June 2017
A gale force wind was blowing and this Oystercatcher was
trying to shelter low in the grass and permitted a very close
approach in the car. |
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Wood Warbler, Elan Valley, Wales
1 May 2017
Poor
conditions for our first visit to the woods above Elan Village -
rain from time to time and leaden skies. Getting Wood Warbler pics
isn't easy at the best of times, so this isn't too bad in the
circumstances.
This site also had Pied Flycatcher,
Redstart, Tree Pipit (at the top of the zig-zag path), Dippers on
the river and distant Cuckoo - practically the full set! |
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Pied Flycatcher, Gilfach RWT, Wales
30 April 2017
This delightful bird was showing really well early morning and
performing in front of the hide!
Click to enlarge |
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Pied Flycatcher, Gilfach RWT, Wales
30 April 2017
Another shot. |
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Pied Flycatcher, Gilfach RWT, Wales
30 April 2017
And another shot! |
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Willow Warbler, Gilfach RWT, Wales
30 April 2017
Another quite close shot! |
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Blue Tit, Gilfach RWT, Wales
30 April 2017
And another one!. |
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Nuthatch, Gilfach RWT, Wales
29 April 2017
A
frequent sight from the Otter Hide depending on the time of day.
This was its closest approach - more often it was further away. |
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Nuthatch, Gilfach RWT, Wales
29 April 2017
From
the Otter Hide. |
© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch |
