Top shots 2010 (part 1).

I have decided to share again with you some of my favourite shots from 2010. They are not in chronological order but I hope you will enjoy them with me.

This first is a simple shot, taken with my nikon compact I think, its not technically brilliant but I love the simplicity of it.

This was taken on Hergest ridge, North Herefordshire, the day that Chris G and I went a searching for Dotterell, didn't see them but got my closest ever, and first confirmed view of a cuckoo.  Again not technically brilliant but isn't it so lovely to see a foal with its mother?

Highland Cattle, so characterful and impressive with those horns. This one was at Fairburn Ings, RSPB reserve.

This was last winter, it was around the time that we got all the snow, I was living in Ross on Wye and this was the view from my back door.

Wild Boar piglets, this was an opportunity I didn't want to miss. I got up close and personal with these little fellows and 7 or 8 of their brothers and sisters with two adult sows whilst driving through the Forest of Dean. A chance encounter and one which I now have a photographic record of forever. I hope they dont eradicate them from the forest completely.

A simple shot of a Blue Tit, but I really like it.

Macro photography is something I would love to get better at. This was one of my attempts to capture the smaller things that lurk in our gardens.

 

Lastly for this post is a picture that I absolutely love. I have had a fascination with the Moon since I was a small child. I was really pleased to get this almost full moon.

These may not be the best shots I've taken this year, but they are amongst my favourites. I will post another selection soon.

Chasing Redpoll.

Recent reports from Old Moor RSPB reserve suggested that Redpoll were being seen on a daily basis feeding on the reserve. These were Lesser Redpoll but also given yesterday was a Common Redpoll so if ever I needed a reason to drive the four miles or so to the reserve this was it. I have only one or two pictures of Redpoll, they are a bird that have eluded me in my photographic endeavours.

On my arrival at the reserve I immediately linked up with the staff and asked where the best place to see the Redpoll was, they told me and off I went. Unfortunately what they didn't tell me was that I wouldnt be able to photograph them in situ as, a) The area in which they been seen is not accessible to the public, at least not close enough even with a big lens and b) even if it was its only accessible from one direction and guess what, yes you guessed, its into the sun.  I did see a few Reed Bunting but this picture will give you an idea of what I was up against.

This is quite a big crop.

I think they call this, backlit. Realistically is should be back in the deleted recycle bin.

In the feeder station Garden I suffered with the usual sun problem as well. In other words the shadow cast by the visitor centre completely covers the feeders from about 10am, which when you consider that the centre doesnt open until 9.30am rather limits one's chances. I did try though.

A Woodpigeon,

and a Goldfinch.

and finally a Grey Squirrel.

not a lot in the way of Redpoll and a very depressing visit to Old Moor. I checked later on the Old Moor webpage on the RSPB website and it was a day where very little being seen.

Bird list 2010

I dont normally do this but this year as I have seen so many birds I thought I would list them.

1. Blue Tit
2. WillowTit
3. Great Tit
4. Marsh Tit
5. Bearded Tit
6. Coal Tit
7. Long Tailed Tit
8. Crested Tit
9. Blackbird
10. Thrush-Song
11. Thrush-Mistle
12. Fieldfare
13. Redwing
14. Wheatear
15. Lark-Sky
16. Lark-Shore (lifetime first)
17. Pipit-Meadow
18. Pipit-Tree
19. Pipit-Rock
20. Bullfinch
21. Goldfinch
22. Hawfinch
23. Chaffinch
24. Greenfinch
25. Sparrow-House
26. Sparrow-Tree
27. Dunnock
28. Wren
29. Robin
30. Warbler-Willow
31. Warbler Wood
32. Warbler-Garden
33. Warbler-Grasshopper
34. Warbler-Cetti's
35. Warbler-Reed
36. Warbler-Sedge
37. Warbler-Mamora's (lifetime first)
38. Blackcap
39. Chiffchaff
40. Bunting-Reed
41. Bunting-Snow
42. Siskin
43. Brambling
44. Yellowhammer
45. Goldcrest
46. Treecreeper
47. Nuthatch
48. Woodpecker-Great Spotted
49. Woodpecker-Lesser
50. Woodpecker-Green
51. Redpoll-Lesser
52. Flycatcher-Pied
53. Flycatcher-Spotted
54. Redstart-Common
55. Moorhen
56. Coot
57. Water Rail
58. Bittern
59. Heron
60. Egret-Little
61. Egret-Great White
62. Spoonbill
63. Kestrel
64. Sparrowhawk
65. Buzzard
66. Red Kite
67. Marsh Harrier
68. Osprey
69. Peregrine Falcon
70. Owl-Little
71. Redshank
72. Spotted Redshank
73. Greenshank
74. Sandpiper-Common
75. Sandpiper-Green
76. Sandpiper-Curlew
77. Little Stint (lifetime first)
78. Ruff
79. Curlew
80. Oystercatcher
81. Turnstone
82. Snipe-Common
83. Snipe-Jack (lifetime first)
84. Lapwing
85. Plover-Golden
86. Plover-Grey (lifetime first)
87. Plover-Ringed
88. Plover-Little ringed
89. Godwit-Black Tailed
90. Godwit-Bar Tailed
91. Kingfisher
92. Dipper
93. Duck-Mallard
94. Duck-Tufted
95. Duck-Shoveler
96. Duck-Pintail
97. Duck-Mandarin
98. Duck-Eider (lifetime first)(wild)
99. Duck-Ruddy
100. Teal
101. Wigeon
102. Shelduck
103. Golden Eye
104. Goosander
105. Gadwall
106. Pochard
107. Grebe-Little
108. Grebe-Great Crested
109. Grebe-Black Necked
110. Cormorant
111. Red Grouse
112. Partridge-Grey
113. Partridge-Red Legged
114. Pheasant
115. Jay
116. Magpie
117. Chough
118. Crow-Carrion
119. Crow-Hooded
120. Rook
121. Raven
122. Starling
123. Waxwing
124. Dove-Collared
125. Dove-Stock
126. Dove-Rock
127. Woodpigeon
128. Diver-Great Northern (lifetime first)
129. Gannet
130. Guillemot
131. Kittewake
132. Razorbill
133. Puffin
134. Fulmar
135. Tern-Common
136. Tern-Sandwich
137. Tern-Black (lifetime first)
138. Skua-Great (lifetime first)
139. Gull-Herring
140. Gull-Common
141. Gull-Lesser Black Backed
142. Gull-Great Black Backed
143. Gull-Black Headed
144. Gull- Glaucous
145. Gull-Mediteranean
146. Goose-Greylag
147. Goose-Canada
148. Goose-Barnacle
149. Goose-Brent
150. Goose Egyptian
151. Goose-Snow
152. Goose-Ross's
153. Swan-Mute
154. Swan-Bewick
155. Swan-Whooper
156. Whitethroat-Lesser
157. Whitethroat-Common
158. Stonechat
159. Whinchat
160. Wagtail-Pied
161. Wagtail-Grey
162. Wagtail-Yellow
163. Avocet
164. Crossbill-Common
165. Swallow
166. Swift
167. House Martin
168. Sand Martin
169. Linnet
170. Cuckoo (Confirmed lifetime first)

When I was going through the birds I'd photographed and seen this year, from my main list, there were some that I had forgotten to add to my list for this year, Shelduck, Wren, Wigeon, Little Owl. Fieldfare, Little ringed Plover, Greenshank and Oystercatcher.

It is funny but with the exception of the Little ringed Plover they are birds that are so common to me that I must not have recorded the first sightings of them this year. The Little Owls, for instance. I see little Owls every year at Symonds Yat and Eastbach, and this year I spent a great time with Chris Grady watching whilst he photographed them in Herefordshire, yet I had not recorded them on this years list. When compiling my list I always cross reference the birds I see with my main list that I started in 2007 when I got back into birdwatching and when I first met Chris and Andy. That list amounts to 209 birds, which I know is not a huge number but it is a number that I am pleased with as I am, as previously stated, in no way a twitcher or serious lister. I have nothing against those people, whatever rocks your boat, but I could not chase around the country after rarities just to say I saw them.

I am really pleased to have added some cracking birds this year, Shorelark, Jack Snipe, Mamora's Warbler, Great Skua, Little Stint, Black Tern, Grey Plover, Eider Duck, Sandwich Tern and Great Northern Diver. There's one more bird which I saw up close and personal this year and despite it being a bird that I've known of all my life and possibly seen in the past without really knowing, this year I can say that I definately saw one and had Chris Grady with me to confirm it. The Cuckoo, Hergest Ridge, Herefordshire May 4th. What a cracking moment that was, and what a pleasure to share it with a bloke who has become a very good friend to me over the last four years.

There are birds that I would have hoped to get this year that I didn't, although there's still time for one or two more, Pink Footed Geese, Barn Owl, Hobby, Merlin, Black Redstart and even Tawny Owls have evaded me this year, but thats part of the beauty of wildlife watching and photography, you never know whats around the corner.

Two days of Glorious sunshine.

The last two days have been glorious haven't they? I spent the first (mon) trying to get Redwings, which aren't up here in any large numbers yet. I found a spot on Sunday where small groups of 5-6 were coming visiting the thorn bushes for the berries. I returned on Monday and got myself in a position where I could grab a few shots if the birds appeared.

Well thats what I hoped, didn't quite turn out that way though. Only a few birds showed and those that did, didn't hesitate on the outer edges of the bushes as I'd hoped. So time wasted. I walked to another spot that they had been reported at but again with no joy.

Today (tues) I decided to visit a spot which I've come to like immensely in my time here, Anglers Country Park. Its about ten miles away and is a complex of lakes which hold a large number of ducks, geese and other water birds. A few birds have visited recently which added a bit of excitement, Great Northern Diver and Red Breasted Merganser. In addition to these Goldeneye and Goosander often frequent the lakes too, so I was hoping for some fun.

Golden Eye and Goosander were seen, but too far away to get even record shots. I did get Pochard and Wigeon though.



and some lovely close ups of  Mute Swans.

The Merganser had disappeared earlier in the morning but the G.N Diver was there to be photographed, albeit at a distance.

Great Northern Diver.

I would have loved it to come closer, but it wasnt to be. Still I'm not disappointed as yet again a great day was spent at the country park. A move to a different lake gave me views of distant Goldeneye and Goosander but the star of that lake was a Great Crested Grebe.

Bad weather predicted now for a few days so come back soon and see what else I've been up to.

Is this the best I can get?

A decision to shoot over to Sheffield this morning would have possibly been so much more rewarding had I not stayed in bed for fifteen minutes after the alarm had gone off.

Had I arrived at Sheffield 15 minutes earlier I would have seen no less than two dozen Waxwings, but instead there were a lot less and unfortunately for me they became very camera shy and shot off into the distance about ten minutes after I arrived.

I did manage to get two slightly different shots of the same bird, but they are merely record shots.

and,

I spent a further hour driving around other locations that they have been seen in Sheffield with no luck.
Just before I left the original site I saw and captured this female Bullfinch, very sweet.

 I was disappointed, but the Waxwings I saw bring my yearly total of different birds seen to 160, so far. My best ever year, and despite what Mr Grady and Mr Smith might say I am not a ticker, or lister. I have not shot over to Manchester for the Grebe, or to Hatfield Moor for the Rough legged Buzzard, or to any other nearby sightings such as the Great Grey Shrike. I merely record what I see. Travelling to Sheffield was a lot less than a trip to Slimbridge from Ross on Wye when I lived there, I merely wanted photographs of these beautiful birds.

I still have a couple of more targets but unless I'm very lucky they will probably remain just that, targets. (Barn Owl and Pink footed Geese).

I cannot believe how many Waxwings are being seen across the country, I am hopeful that they will call in somewhere in Barnsley, My sister saw at least 3 from our back door in the garden a fortnight ago, and tomorrow I am going to walk along a public footpath near Old Moor RSPB reserve that has a number of Rowan trees along its length. Wish me luck.