tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18267324166596628022024-03-13T01:28:35.751+00:00Mike Randall Bird PhotographyMy photographic trials and tribulations on walks and visits to birding sites near to home in Yorkshire and further afield.Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-6230210798134347312013-04-03T20:05:00.003+01:002013-04-03T20:05:22.770+01:00Barn OwlsI have visited a site of a pair of local Barn Owls a few times recently, sometimes drawn a blank more often than not seen them in flight at a distance. On one occasion a couple of weeks ago one Barn Owl I managed to photograph at too great a distance on a far post, then a lot nearer on a piece of tree bough but still a little way off.<br />
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Another occasion a Barn Owl was quartering a grass pasture and then it landed on a post but I was in my car the wrong side of a hedge.<br />
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Finally I got lucky, the Barn Owl was approaching the same grass pasture, I scrambled to a gap in the hedge, I took a good number of flight shots but the Barn Owl landed in front of me on the post and I managed a couple of frames before it moved on.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-67989838743274920442013-02-12T19:31:00.002+00:002013-02-12T19:31:26.750+00:00Little OwlA week last Saturday we travelled locally, barely getting out the car with the cold weather but nice sun at times. After not seeing too much, some shots of Dunnock on the ground in good light but nothing else this Little Owl was spotted bathed in good light.<br />
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Having taken a few shots where the bird was partially covered by twigs I rolled the car forward a tad and the results are the best I managed. I do not like to linger too long and end up disturbing the bird so I moved off but I will try here again.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-50349590451650318182013-01-28T20:14:00.002+00:002013-01-28T20:14:56.386+00:00Mandarin at Scarborough MereSo much for my sentiments on 1st January about more regular posts. However, family matters have had to take precedence for a short while. I am now ready (weather permitting) to get on with some birding.<br />
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This Mandarin was at Scarborough Mere last week. I nearly missed it after walking around The Mere and not seeing this duck. Just about to drive away and it was with the other ducks feeding on some bread being thrown. It then proceeded to climb out of the water. They are very colourful birds, who would conjure up this paint job!<br />
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Anyway hope to post some new 2013 material soon!<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-55303507007712394372013-01-01T16:33:00.003+00:002013-01-01T16:33:42.490+00:00Happy New Year!!!Happy New Year to all readers of my blog.<br />
I hope to post regularly in 2013 and comment on fellow bloggers posts.<br />
Hope you all have a good one.<br />
My first bird of the year was a Blue Tit just on a short walk to my father-in-laws. This made me think of this shot a month or two ago in Forge Valley.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-29821465780062520272012-12-10T20:35:00.004+00:002012-12-10T20:35:48.083+00:00Water RailSorry for my lack of posting this last month, I have had a lack of material but still enough for a few posts so I hope to put a few out over the next week or so.<br />
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Today I got my first pictures of Water Rail, these have been showing well in scarborough's Northstead Manor Gardens since our freeze over a week ago. I was hoping for reports this am. so that I knew chances were good but nothing until 11:40 which reported two birds. <br />
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When I got there one bird was present and a short while after there was two, always distant or elisive for a while in awful light. Finally though it did brighten a yad and one bird showed well in a pool not to far off. Some shots were as low as ISO 1250!<br />
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<em>Taken with Canon 40D, Sigma 50-500mm lens, 500mm focal length 1/320sec f6.3</em><br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-73673996268053410592012-11-12T19:52:00.000+00:002012-11-12T19:52:06.715+00:00Right PoserThis juvenile Shag was perched on Saturday afternoon just behind Luna Park on Scarborough's South Bay at the corner of the harbour.<br />
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The innocence of youth not troubled by me on my hands and knees with my camera on my monopod. Easy pictures, I still need to micro adjust my lens to camera, the pictures were not as sharp as I would like and I have post sharpened a little, but that is all,these are full frame shots of course.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-55719779982490701312012-11-04T19:16:00.003+00:002012-11-04T19:16:49.418+00:00Owl doubleWe have spent the week-end driving around in search of Fieldfare and Redwing. Yesterday we drove towards Malton on very rural roads and found a number of small flocks of these birds. More Redwing than Fieldfare and present with good numbers of Starlings.<br />
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I spotted a Little Owl on a hay stack and managed a photo although it was difficult due to a high hedge to the front and the cut branches stuck up impeding my focus. As we left the site of the Little Owl I saw a white wing beat in a field and then it went down. a slow approach in the car and we stopped 10' from a Barn Owl with a large vole in it's mouth. A fantastic classic view on a great big fence post but into the sun and on the passenger drive so we quickly moved on and left it to it's early tea.<br />
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I photographed this female Kestrel who has very worn feathers.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-86688128615042476722012-10-28T19:41:00.000+00:002012-10-28T19:50:39.083+00:00Ruff and Tumble !The Ruff was pictured at Titchwell RSPB three weeks ago, manuallly focussed as I tried my Canon 400mm f5.6 lens with 1.4 converter. Please let me know what you thing good, bad or indifferent.<br />
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Yesterday was bright at times, wintery showers (heavy hail), bitterly cold with really strong wind. In Filey Country Park some waders were on the cliff top in the park probing the grasses, Oystercatchers and Turnstone and a lone Redshank. I got out the car and was blown away, the monopod blew in the wind, stupiddly I fell on some grass that was pure mud underneath, I shot up hoping no one saw me but now sport a lovely black bruaise where I landed on my beloved camera and lens. Serves me right, I need to be more careful but at leaset I got an Oystercatcher shot or two.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-50010866607201079472012-10-24T20:12:00.003+01:002012-10-24T20:12:38.267+01:00Sanderling (Calidris Alba)I was fortunate enough to catch up with these little fellows on a bright sunny afternoon on the beach off Holme Dunes NWT. as usual they were running along at the edge of the tide, they went off along from me. I thought it better to stay put and wait and sure enough they came back and this bird came quite close.<br />
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They were adopting the very distinctive dashing style in front of the breaking waves.<br />
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Pictures taken with Canon 7D and 400mm f5.6 lens.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-86093356099402482772012-10-22T18:50:00.000+01:002012-10-22T18:50:07.029+01:00ReflectionOn our first visit to Titchwell the week before last it was quite a bright morning and reasonably near to the hide a Lapwing was stood in the very still water making for a nice refection effect. I hope my pictures convey a little of the iridescent colours on the wing feathers.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-52027560682287455042012-10-18T19:27:00.001+01:002012-10-18T19:27:06.587+01:00Bar Tailed GodwitAs you would expect I saw a good number if godwits last week on Norfolk North Coast reserves, trouble was they were always a little too distant generally. On Friday afternoon we went on Hunstanton Beach, I was optimistically lloking for Purple Sandpipers on the groynes but in truth itb was too early, high tide was still some hours away and only Turnstones were to be seen until I spotted this Bar Tail.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-19668768381493984232012-10-15T21:50:00.004+01:002012-10-15T21:50:56.601+01:00Brent GeeseA few shots of Brent Geese in Norfolk where we have just returned from. They are so atmospheric these geese always chattering as they pass over head. These shots were taken on the footpath at Titchwell.<br />
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One of the highlights of the week were the v shaped formations of geese passing overhead at dusk as we stood on the doorstep of our cottage in Snettisham. I love this area, it was glorious last week with bright sunshine, warm days, deserted beaches (well Holme Dunes certainly). I will post a few shots from the week next.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-84268347895044363122012-10-03T20:26:00.000+01:002012-10-03T20:26:19.052+01:00Male Black DarterThere was a few Black Darters at Filey Dams a couple of weekends ago, all males. They were constantly landing on the bleached rails to the board walk. The pictures are using my Sigma 50-500mm lens (just before my new lens purchase). Whilst not sharp in the wings the body and legs are reasonably sharp.<br />
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Always nice to see this species.Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-11678071853210495042012-10-02T19:35:00.001+01:002012-10-02T19:35:08.515+01:00I don't believe it!For those of you that viewed my posting on 27 September of the Elepant Hawk Moth Caterpillar I said, 'not something I have ever seen before, a great sight, perhaps I never will again'. Guess what, I have seen one again. I got to Pat's Dads tonight in the village and Pat is stood there to show me an Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar going across the flags in front of his flat!<br />
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Nature never fails to amazeMike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-86865528157505683632012-10-01T19:26:00.001+01:002012-10-01T19:26:09.104+01:00Nearby DunnockWe popped into Filey Dams yesterday morning before going to Flamborough Head, there was a Bar Tailed Godwit that eventually showed itself.<br />
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There was a great flock of Tree Sparrow, up to 15 counted, they looked brilliant. I saw a Spotted Flycatcher on a Willow a little too distant for photography so here is a closer to Dunnock, a much overlooked species.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-15823484166697270512012-09-27T20:02:00.001+01:002012-09-27T20:02:57.929+01:00Elephant Hawk Moth CaterpillarA week last Sunday we popped into Filey Dams. Bird wise there was not a lot to be seen.<br />
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A number of male Black Darters kept settling on the bleached timber fence rails but that was about the lot.<br />
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On leaving the Board Walk to East Hide I saw this beautiful beastie crossing it. We guessed it was the caterpillar of a Hawk Moth but a 'birder' advised that it was the caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk Moth, not something I have ever seen before, a great sight, perhaps I will never see one again. A big caterpillar perhaps 4'' long, those eyes are to frighten predators and it has a horn on the rear end.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-11400569429312322682012-09-24T21:36:00.000+01:002012-09-24T21:36:14.139+01:00Strange Musings!On Saturday we visited Filey Dams briefly on a beautiful September day.<br />
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When we got home Pat was getting the washing in (yep, not me) when she saw a a rainbow forming a part circle in the ground. The effect had faded a little by the time I got a camera and removed a telephoto lens but I hope you see what I mean. Something I have never seen before.<br />
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I was trying out my new Canon 400mm 5.6f lens, I mean to get a 1.4 extender but in the meantime I am trying the lens, it's hard to get used to a fixed prime lens after my Sigma zoom lens. I have a lot to learn. Anyway, this common darter at the end of my Canon lens looks quite sharp in the body, I know the wings are out of focus.<br />
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I tried photographing some hovering Migrant Hawkers, they looked great in the LCD, colours right etc. On the computer less so, obviously zoomed in and cropped but the colours look burnt out too.<br />
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My blog aims to show my photographic success (as and when) and the traps and pit falls I encounter.<br />
All comments welcomed.Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-23272929987406149612012-09-04T20:39:00.000+01:002012-09-04T20:39:16.976+01:00Little Gull - Hornsea MereFirst of all I am sorry for the complete lack of activity since mid July.<br />
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I got completely absorbed by the Olympics, watched lots and lots and thought I will have a sabatical from blogging until after the closing ceremony.<br />
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On August 4 my better half broke her coxis and has been in lots of pain, now progressing very well but it has meant we haven't really been anywhere for the last four weeks.<br />
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I don't think I have had a barely decent shot since I got my 7D and need to get some practice in.<br />
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On Sunday we did get down to the Freeport at Hornsea, Pat managed a short walk around and then we went for the easy birding offered at the Mere. Luck was in as a small number of Little Gulls of various ages and plumages were on the end of one jetty.<br />
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It was nice to meet a fellow photographer taking shots of these birds. I only took 40 shots in a short period of time but its nice to get going again.<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-63179059230672899472012-07-16T21:18:00.000+01:002012-07-16T21:18:22.019+01:00Orange and Yellow and Brown and _ _ _We went to Messingham Sand Quarry LWT yesterday for once a glorious day, and whilst the skies blackened over for an hour it passed over and must have rained elsewhere.<br />
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Loads of Common Blue damselflies, butterflies doing what they do, flying! The only one I photographed was this Meadow Brown which I quite like on the yellow flowers. I did see a pair of Ringlets mating but too dark to photo.<br />
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There were lots of the caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth. Caterpillars are most evident when ragwort is in
full flower. The caterpillar stage lasts about 1 month during which time it
undergoes 5 moults.<br />
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When fully fed the caterpillars crawl away from the plants to
pupate in a dry sheltered spot such as among the debris at the base of the
plants or into crevices under logs, stones and lumps of earth.</div>
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<span class="goog_qs-tidbit-0">The pupal stage is prolonged
lasting about 9 months, and the moths do not emerge</span> again until the
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High losses can occur in winter if pupation sites are
waterlogged, as pupae cannot stand prolonged immersion in water, although they
can survive considerable desiccation.</div>
graph.<br />
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The foilage is being eaten voraciously!<br />
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Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-73999072023279087632012-07-09T20:16:00.003+01:002012-07-09T20:16:36.155+01:00Beautiful DemoiselleI was rather surprised and delighted to see this damselfly locally at the week-end, flying low over a ditch.<br />
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The pictures were taken at the long end of my telescopic lens, not great but I wanted to post to show the beauty of these damselfly's. It's in the name!<br />
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Male </div>
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Wings open</div>
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Female</div>Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-1122366278554149322012-07-03T16:25:00.003+01:002012-07-03T16:25:59.019+01:00Corn BuntingOn Sunday we went to Buckton Cliffs to see the Alpine Swift flying above the trig point a great bird to see. The walk from Bemprton RSPB was a little further than anticipated but about two thirds of the way I head the 'jangling keys' sound of a Corn Bunting and fortunately it was on a concrete fence post and allowed me to approach although I was shooting into the light.<br />
<br />The Corn Bunting has Red Status due to its dramatic population decline. It is our largest bunting a dull brown bird, paler underneath and streaky it is usually seen prominently on a fence post or wire strand singing its song. It nests in a large loose construction of coarse grasses, often in a scrape on the ground where it has 3 - 5 eggs. It eats seeds and invertebrates.<br />
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We briefly watched the very prominent Alpine Swift, never getting to the trig point as there was no need with it flying overhead, we beat a hasty retreat as the black clouds rolled in once more and made it back with only a few spots of rain falling on us.<br />
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Record shot of Alpine Swift</div>
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The gathering on trig point Buckton Cliffs</div>
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The gathering clouds above trig point!</div>Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-28616140532239275972012-06-26T18:48:00.001+01:002012-06-26T18:48:41.182+01:00Difficult subjects - Snake in the grassHighlight of Sunday's visit to Top Hill Low was three basking grass snakes. We were able to get right up to them presumably because we were on paving flags and they were on the adjacent grass bank. Great to get so close but very difficult to focus. One moved off it appeared under the flags beneath our very feet whilst I tried to get something decent of the remaining pair.<br />
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The other highlight was a first summer (or juvenile?) Little Gull. The mating Advocets have now had chicks, we saw three I believe this is a reserve first, who would have thought this a few years ago. I hope the chicks survive.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ogs62j6As2w/T-n1W7l2sWI/AAAAAAAAEVY/fEiwGMBcYkk/s1600/DPP_4244-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ogs62j6As2w/T-n1W7l2sWI/AAAAAAAAEVY/fEiwGMBcYkk/s640/DPP_4244-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-38516420833461277522012-06-19T19:30:00.002+01:002012-06-19T22:14:11.195+01:00Partridge FamilyI have never got many pictures of partridges even though we have lots of Red Legged around home. A few pictures as they run off, take flight, they are very skittish. I have seen few Grey's before but this year I have seen a few local close to home, this feels new the game keepers must be leaving them, introducing them I am not sure. On Sunday I got a half decent picture of a Grey Partridge in a tilled field near Fraisthorpe, Bridlington.<br />
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</div><em>Shot with Canon 7D, seemed quite a bright picture on a grey afternoon.</em><br />
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The following shots were shot a few weeks ago with my 40D, one of a couple of sessions photographing Red Legged Partridges this year, never quite close enough but things are looking up!<br />
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</div>Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826732416659662802.post-56870481320119429732012-06-06T20:19:00.001+01:002012-06-06T20:28:40.738+01:00Three S's, Stoat, Shrike & Sky LarkWhat a great week-end, yes I have to confess the t.v. coverage of the Diamond Jubilee was good and it was a really special event but wildlife wise I had a good time too.<br />
I have always wanted to photograph a Stoat, I once thought I had found a Stoat's residence (don't know the proper name) but a) I didn't follow this up enough and b) never saw a Stoat there again! I have seen a dash across a road or track a few times and the give away black tail tip but alas no photos. My luck finally changed on Saturday afternoon when on my travels I saw a Stoat dart across a lane. Swiftly pulling up I sat for a few moments and I could just see a little face on the top of a dry stone wall, yes a youngster. I sat and waited a few moments and yes the adult came back. What a beautie and it got interested in that lens sticking out a black car, looking and getting closer. The shots are hand held but what a treat. <br />
On Monday we went across to Flamborough for the reported Red Backed Shrike lovely bird, mostly low down on bushes or barbed wire strands. This is a stonking male bird, always distant and awkward for photography in my two hours there.<br />
Skylarks were in the gorse field that contained the shrike, I tried some flight shots as it hovered above and quite close. This is where I am seeing the benefit of my 7D. You will see many better shots but now with the auto focus options and speed of shooting I am getting shots!<br />
I hoped to type this next to the appropriate shots but Blogger is difficult to control at times!<br />
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One of the first birds we saw was a Spotted Flycatcher on the fence of the Priory and catching insects. Not a bad start in the first few minutes and a first this year. We do have some locally at Hilla Green and I hope to try my luck.<br />
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We had a smashing walk along the west bank of the river and I got a quick glimpse of a Pied Flycatcher with insects in its bill before it flew off. It was the only one we saw all day, I thought we might see one or two on the return leg along the east side but alas no.<br />
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We did see at lease two more Spotted Fly's maybe three catching insects in trees right on the river bank.<br />
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The definite highlight though was female Goosander with it's brood of 11 (yes, eleven) chicks. Tiny dots that moved fastly and two got at one point on mum's back. I read that the Goosander lays 8 -11 eggs, so this seems almost the maximum number, a brilliant sight. I wonder how many will survive. <br />
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Higher up the river we saw another Goosander with three older youngsters.<br />
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<br />Mike Randall Bird Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736382170799820125noreply@blogger.com21