Before I had a Canon

Before I had a camera and I managed to see a good bird, I would often sketch or do a quick watercolour from an image of the bird in question. Very occassionally I would try a sketch from life in the field but to be honest, I'm rubbish.

The Subalpine Warbler was seen earlier in the month at New Holland in Essex and didn't provide any photographic opportunities so I decided upon a simple watercolour instead. The lower montage was from ten years ago where I recorded ten species of Tern in the country and added each to the picture. I haven't improved but I still enjoy.

Buteo variation

The top bird is one of the breeding pair along the Ouse at Willington taken this morning. The second bird came in-off the sea in Norfolk last Wednesday and has a lot of Rough-legged Buzzard about it although I still think it is a variant Common Buzzard. What do you thnk ?

Autumn Already

Autumn already !

Spoonies

Nice to see Spoonbills doing well in Norfolk. Cley, Norfolk.

One Good Tern Deserves ..........

Four Black Terns at the fishing lodge at Grafham this morning. A good opportunity to compare plumage details with the juvenile White-winged Black, it having a darker "saddle" than the juvenile Black Terns which have a dark smudge on the shoulder/breast.

White-winged Black

Long stayer at Grafham.

Eagle Eyed

My reflection! Eagle Owl now a year old, Willington.

NJ - late oddments

White-breasted Nuthatch

Downy (ID as Hairy on BF but I think this is a Downy) Woodpecker

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

still working through my images and not much UK birding of late.

the inglorious twelfth

Today is the inglorious 12th, the start of a four month grouse shooting season in the uplands of England and Scotland.

See here for an idea of the illegal activities that support this profitable practice :-

http://raptorpersecutionscotland.worldpress.com/2011/08/12/welcome-to-the-inglorious-twelfth/

NJ Selection Box

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

Cedar Waxwing

Chipping Sparrow

Eastern Kingbird

Gray Catbird

Tree Swallow

Yellow Warbler.

New Jersey - Baldies

Working away again in New Jersey during recent 100 degree heatwave, I took a late evening stroll from my hotel and chanced upon this nest with two fully grown juvenile Bald Eagles. I must say I wasn't expecting these within half a mile of my hotel and Interstate 1. I photographed them at the nest from the road in harsh light and then I popped back in the early morning to find one of the birds sat on the roof of a local house and then as I was walking back it landed in a tree above where I was standing - It seemed intrigued in me with and what I was doing with my 400mm and I wasn't complaining!

Bombus ruderatus

A national rarity in my garden. Large Garden Bumble Bee - male of the dark form apparently.

Owl Activity

Single BO active at 9pm last evening and also a Little Owl - my first up the lane this year.

That time of year again

Great birds.

Holy Island

A pilgramage all birders should try!

more close ups

Still working through my images from the north east.

Easy Target

This young Song Thrush had flown into my kitchen window and whilst it seemed to be unhurt, it took a few minutes to recover giving me enough time for some easy shots through the window.

Willington or Extremadura ?

The barley field at Wood Lane became a purple patch on Saturday following a brief encounter with a female Montagu's Harrier. Whilst hoping the bird might still be around, Steve manages to hear a Quail calling - the first I've heard here in fifteen years of listening and hoping ! In evening sun the place it as it's best with an increase this year in farmland birds such as Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. What next ? Roller