A Flavour of flavissima

Saker

Understandably wary birds.  This pair were using one of the many nest boxes placed on the high electricity pylons just east of the Hortobagy NP and since the population crash of the Suslik, have adapted to feeding on Pigeons.  The female here is buzzard-size and seemed easily out-witted by a passing feral pigeon - almost Cheetah like, expending energy in a short burst rather than what I might have expected from a Peregrine which would have turned and come back for more.

Whiskered Tern

One of my favourites from the Hortobagy NP.  In the flooded areas managed by the national park, the abundance of birdlife was a spectacle to behold.  No people but great numbers of birds and great diversity from soaring White-tailed Eagles to three species of marsh tern, flocks of Ferruginous Duck and an array of wading birds.
My 30D really struggled with autofocus on these Terns so these are using manual focus.

Cuckoo

It was interesting to see how abundant the Cuckoo is in Hungary, both the lowlands and hill country.  At Monor near Budapest there were at least half a dozen males competing for the females and a great opportunity to see behaviour that would be difficult to see on the home patch given the way things are with Cuckoo populations in the UK.  Large catepillar food seemed in plentiful supply.

The lower image was taken in the Hortobagy where this female had been watched hawking Sparrowhawk-like over the reeds waiting to lay in the warbler nests.  This is behaviour I hadn't seen before first-hand.

Never Fear, DEFRA are here

Imperial

A magnificent bird which gave spectacular views from a well-known motorway service station east of Budapest.  Of the three aquilla eagles that breed in Hungary, this one is by far the most common, their staple diet being Brown Hare.  We also saw a few Lesser Spotted and a pair of Golden Eagle, one of only two pairs left in Hungary, a third apparently being lost to secondary poisoning in March of this year.

Latest from Vauxhall

Only available in Cream.   Bradnor Hill Golf Course.

Ural Owl

These birds seem to be doing very well in North Eastern Hungary.  The top bird is a female showing abraided feathers where she is brooding young.  The second image is a male at a further location and nesting only about 10m from a tree with nesting White-backed Woodpecker.

Hungarian Woodpeckers

Some challenging photography in the forests in the Zemplen Hills but a great time spent with all but two of our European woodpeckers, Three-toed not being present in Hungary.  Failed only in seeing or hearing Lesser Spotted so no change there!

Also managed some great views of a pair of Grey-headed but didn't have camera to hand.

Black, Middle Spotted, White-backed, Syrian and Wryneck.

Hungary for Red-foots

A few images of Red-footed Falcons taken last week in Hungary.  Fantastic birds.

Morning Chorus

Nice to have no rain and a little sunshine this morning.  The Cuckoo has at last found his voice and the Warbler numbers have increased significantly.  Sadly no Grasshopper Warblers or Nightingales heard so far this spring around Willington.

New Cygnets

A brand new family of eight Cygnets hatched on Sunday on the local settling lagoon.

Dung Wheatears

Plenty of bird activity with four Wheatear.

Paxton Pilgrimage

Wonderful birds.  This boy had two females in attendance although only now I think from viewing my images, that he has only one leg.

Oodles of Ouzels

A late evening hike up the slopes at Pegsdon to enjoy nine Ring Ouzels feeding together as the sun went down.  Reminder to self - must upgrade digiscoping options!

Wrong Camera

Had I realised how close this bird would be on Stewartby Lake, I would have taken my SLR but I resorted to another poor attempt at digiscoping in stead.

Chiffchaff

An especially confiding pair of Chiffchaff in Willington early this morning.

Easter Ramblings

The first twtichable Great White Egret at Radwell, for Bedfordshire following sighting of what is likely to be the same bird at Brogborough seen on 1st January.   Yes, it's white and great for local birding, but somewhat surprising this species has taken so long to grace the county.

I've learnt a lot recently about Thayer's Gull.  What it is, what it might be and what the various scientific research has concluded over time.
http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/thayer.php
Well whatever this turns out to be, it certainly looks like an Immature Thayer's Gull to me in comparison to images taken in Northa America but might end up being deemed a sub-species of Iceland Gull rather a full species - either way it will only matter to those that cherish an extra tick on their list.  In the meantime, an interesting bird I'm glad I saw.  Elsham, Lincolnshire.

Local Heron

The spring is looking promising for some local Heron photo opportunities.