Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Kensington Gardens, London.
© Fraser Simpson www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
London Herons in Breeding Plumage
Male Grey Herons are looking quite stunning at this time in late January - notice the blue lores and peachy-orange base to the beak.
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Knot at Brent Reservoir
Sunday 20 January 2012
A trip to Brent Reservoir produced 58 species including Bearded Tit, Pintail (3), Fieldfare (17), Water Rail (2), and Jackdaw (89). The big surprise was a Knot flying around briefly in the East Marsh before moving on. Other observers picked up Turnstone and Dunlin and many recorded various wader movements around the city this weekend, no doubt all weather-related.
A trip to Brent Reservoir produced 58 species including Bearded Tit, Pintail (3), Fieldfare (17), Water Rail (2), and Jackdaw (89). The big surprise was a Knot flying around briefly in the East Marsh before moving on. Other observers picked up Turnstone and Dunlin and many recorded various wader movements around the city this weekend, no doubt all weather-related.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Egyptian Geese in the snow
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus), Regent's Park, London.
© Fraser Simpson www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com
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No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Bearded Tits in Hyde Park
Surprising news surfaced via the Birdwatch office (read Dominic Mitchell's blog) and the London Birders yahoo email group on 11 January that two Bearded Tits (or Bearded Reedlings, Panurus biarmicus) had been seen in Hyde Park one month previous. Alan Gibson had reported them in a tiny reedbed on the Serpentine lake, right next to a busy path at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain (between the Isis statue and the Lido). Park regular Ralph Hancock was sure he had heard them the previous day so Des McKenzie was on site at dawn the next morning and quickly located them.
This was the first record for both Hyde Park and the Inner London recording area and throughout Friday many local birders nipped to the park in their lunch breaks to see them feeding away on the Phragmites, right beside the path, and just over one kilometre away from Oxford Street! I spent about 10 hours standing in the cold attempting to get some nice images over the weekend. Finally on Sunday afternoon the sun appeared and the birds performed very well. All previous images in the overcast and windy conditions of Saturday were forgotten. Hundreds of people stopped to glimpse them over the weekend - but most were not birders. Passing tourists and park regulars formed the bulk of the admirers, following their initial curiosity at the huddle of watchers and optics.
Both these females are ringed and some detective work by various London birders and photographers has enabled a complete numerical sequence to be read and then traced by the BTO. Details have now been published on the BTO ringing 'Demog Blog' revealing that they were ringed in November 2012 at Rye Meads in Hertfordshire.
One thing that struck me is how habitat creation of even the smallest reedbed really is worthwhile!
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| Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus), Hyde Park, London, 13/01/13 |
This was the first record for both Hyde Park and the Inner London recording area and throughout Friday many local birders nipped to the park in their lunch breaks to see them feeding away on the Phragmites, right beside the path, and just over one kilometre away from Oxford Street! I spent about 10 hours standing in the cold attempting to get some nice images over the weekend. Finally on Sunday afternoon the sun appeared and the birds performed very well. All previous images in the overcast and windy conditions of Saturday were forgotten. Hundreds of people stopped to glimpse them over the weekend - but most were not birders. Passing tourists and park regulars formed the bulk of the admirers, following their initial curiosity at the huddle of watchers and optics.
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| Photographing Inner London's first Bearded Tits (not posed by a model) |
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| This image shows just how close the birds were to a path used by hundreds |
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Friday, January 11, 2013
New Year Birding
Well its traditional to get out on the first day of the new year to kick off a new list. Lisa and I walked to Brent Reservoir in north London and saw 50 species (later 55 species on the 6th), including Ruddy Duck, Water Rail, Snipe and Siskin. The sun was out and many Great Tits and Song Thrushes were singing at dawn, and wildfowl displaying throughout the day. We failed to catch up with the Bearded Tits, but hopefully this weekend...
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| Mute Swans, Brent Reservoir, London, 01/01/13 |
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Australia: A Big Day of Birding
4 July 2012
I’m catching up with more posts from our honeymoon trip back in the summer...
For our second day in Melbourne we hired top bird guide Steve Davidson, aka The Melbourne Birder for a full day birding marathon around the Greater Melbourne area. Steve collected us at 06:30 and after an hour’s drive towards the Great Ocean Road we were in the scrubby heath around Point Addis cliffs searching for the endangered Rufous Bristlebird. Several were calling but only a few glimpses were obtained of this elusive species. As this was only my second day in Australia, every species was new and exciting! Offshore at least seven White-capped (Shy) Albatrosses drifted around with an Australasian Gannet in tow. Further out a dense feeding flock of 200+ Fluttering Shearwaters was picked out. While looking out for a regular Wedge-tailed Eagle I saw my first wild Kangaroos. Several White-browed Scrubwrens were seen and heard along with Super Fairy-Wren, White-naped Honeyeater, Crimson Rosella, Great Cormorant, Australian Magpie and Little Raven.
Heading north on the Point Addis Road, a brief pause turned into a much longer stop as the roadside scrub proved to very ‘birdy’. I didn’t take any photographs today, but then I could barely keep up with writing notes and species’ names! With so many good birds coming thick and fast I really wanted to spend as much times as possible watching them through the bins. Steve is amazing at picking up everything by sound or the briefest glimpse and we were treated to great close views of Eastern Spinebill, White-throated Treecreeper, Crescent Honeyeater, Scarlet Robin, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Striated Thornbill. Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-eared Honeyeater, Silver-eye and a vocalising Laughing Kookaburra.
Later, the wetlands at Kiraaf provided White-fronted Chat, White-fronted Heron, Welcome Swallow, Masked Lapwing, and we heard a familiar sound from back home – a displaying Eurasian Skylark. The next location was a superb little estuary at Point Impossible. While Steve set out some coffee and home-made cake, a Kelp Gull flew past, then we were out to find our target – the endangered Hooded Plover (or Hooded Dotterel). Steve found a pair of these smart waders along with two Red-capped Plovers and around 80 Double-banded Plovers. While the waders fed unobtrusively on the shoreline, the sky was filling up with incoming Little Black Cormorants with over 200 flying in to feed at the mouth of the estuary. Other species here included Australasian Gannet, Brown Thornbill, Singing Honeyeater, Welcome Swallow, Spotted Dove, Little Egret, Cattle Egret and another introduced species: Common or Eurasian Blackbird.
Time was pressing on so we headed on and approximately two kilometres inland we stopped to look for Blue-winged Parrot, Striated Fieldwren and Golden-headed Cisticola. Our first wild Black Swan was seen along with great views of a male Superb Fairy-Wren. Raptor action was provided by two Black-shouldered Kites, a female Nankeen Kestrel with prey and a Swamp Harrier, mobbed by Masked Lapwings. Other species observed here included White-faced Heron, Magpie-lark, Eurasian Starling and Skylark.
The next site was the main focus of the day – the Western Treatment Plant. I had read much about how outstanding this area is for wetland birds and it did not disappoint. There was so much to see that the notebook was abandoned for the checklist! En route we saw Whistling Kite, Eastern Rosella, Pied Currawong, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Little Raven, Black-shouldered Kite and a superb Brown Falcon. After locking the gate behind us on the private road in to the site, more good birds appeared building our excitement and anticipation. Another Brown Falcon was perched close to the track, along with three Crested Pigeons, over 20 Yellow-rumped Thornbills, a dozen Zebra Finches. The water birds then started to appear with 10 Australian Pelicans soaring in the distance, followed by 40 Straw-necked Ibises and a small flock of Australian Shelducks.
On reaching the wetlands the sheer number of birds on the lagoon, billabongs and marshes was amazing: waders, ducks, pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, grebes, and raptors. You could spend days at this site and it must make for a superb local patch for any locals lucky enough to have access to this special site. Some of the highlights here included Freckled Duck (5 of this endangered species), Red-necked Avocet, Cape Barren Goose, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Australian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Hardhead, Black Swan, Hoary-headed Grebe, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Straw-necked Ibis, White-faced Heron, and Australian White Ibis. Approaching the coast, we searched for Australian Spotted Crake (heard only) but we got nice views of a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Buff-banded Rail and the shoreline provided Fairy Tern, Great Crested Tern, Australian Pied Oystercatcher and Little Black Cormorant. Black-shouldered Kites were very common along with several Swamp Harrier, Whistling Kites, Nankeen Kestrels, and another Brown Falcon.
We had an itinerary to keep to so sadly we had to move on - but more good birds kept on coming as we stopped to watch nine Banded Lapwings at close range, along with a Flame Robin and four Galahs. We searched a stretch of gum trees for Red-rumped Parrots but I only managed to hear them. Moving on, we picked up another Little Eagle and Grey Currawong.
Thereafter it was a long drive, helped by a coffee stop, to the wet, hilly forests of Bunyip State Park on the eastern side of Melbourne for my most-wanted species of the day – the Superb Lyrebird! The first area we stopped at was Cannibal Creek and got great views of at least five Australian King-Parrots and six Red-browed Firetails on the ground. We added Grey Fantail and Little Wattlebird to our list while Laughing Kookaburras and Pied Currawongs provided some exotic-sounding vocalisations. A short drive then provided my first good views of two perched Laughing Kookaburras.
Once deep inside Bunyip State Park we tried unsuccessfully for Southern Emu-Wren but did see Bassian Thrush (with another singing), Eastern Whipbird, White-throated Treecreeper and Golden Whistler. The light started to fade but this only added to primeval feel of the wet forest, dripping heavily after a recent shower, and so setting the scene for the next species. We began to hear several Superb Lyrebirds and I was trying to make some ‘record’ sound samples. Then Lisa began tugging at me indicating in hushed tones that something was creeping through the trees just feet away. And then a male Superb Lyrebird emerged, walking along a fallen tree towards us. It hopped off and strutted along trail right in front of us. I’d never expected to get views like this – enchanting! Amazingly a second bird was walking on the trail further down the slope. Darkness soon closed in with an Eastern Yellow Robin calling after sunset. It had been a tremendous day but our attention then turned to spot-lighting the nocturnal species. Unfortunately it was a quiet evening but some nice mammals were seen including Brush-tailed Possum, Ring-tailed Possum, Wallaby, and Grey Kangaroo.
After a long night drive back to the city, Steve safely returned us to door of our hotel where the whirlwind trip had begun 14.5 hours earlier. Having done a similar 24 hour trip to Doñana (from Zahara) I know how tiring it can be so we offer a huge thanks to Steve for his enthusiasm and skill right to the end. A day to remember!
At least 107 species were logged (might have missed a few):
Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Freckled Duck, Black Swan, Cape Barren Goose, Australian Shelduck, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Fluttering Shearwater, Shy Albatross, Australasian Gannet, Little Pied Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Black-shouldered Kite, Whistling Kite, Swamp Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Eagle, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Buff-banded Rail, Australian Spotted Crake, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Banded Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Red-capped Plover, Double-banded Plover, Hooded Plover, Banded Lapwing, Pacific Gull, Silver Gull, Crested Tern, Fairy Tern, Rock Dove, Spotted Turtle-Dove, Crested Pigeon, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Galah, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Blue-winged Parrot, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Lyrebird, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-Wren, Rufous Bristlebird, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Red Wattlebird, Little Wattlerbird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, White-fronted Chat, Scarlet Robin, Flame Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Magpie-lark, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Currawong, Australian Raven, Skylark, House Sparrow, Zebra Finch, Red-browed Firetail, European Goldfinch, Welcome Swallow, Little Grassbird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Silvereye, Bassian Thrush, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna.
I’m catching up with more posts from our honeymoon trip back in the summer...
For our second day in Melbourne we hired top bird guide Steve Davidson, aka The Melbourne Birder for a full day birding marathon around the Greater Melbourne area. Steve collected us at 06:30 and after an hour’s drive towards the Great Ocean Road we were in the scrubby heath around Point Addis cliffs searching for the endangered Rufous Bristlebird. Several were calling but only a few glimpses were obtained of this elusive species. As this was only my second day in Australia, every species was new and exciting! Offshore at least seven White-capped (Shy) Albatrosses drifted around with an Australasian Gannet in tow. Further out a dense feeding flock of 200+ Fluttering Shearwaters was picked out. While looking out for a regular Wedge-tailed Eagle I saw my first wild Kangaroos. Several White-browed Scrubwrens were seen and heard along with Super Fairy-Wren, White-naped Honeyeater, Crimson Rosella, Great Cormorant, Australian Magpie and Little Raven.
Heading north on the Point Addis Road, a brief pause turned into a much longer stop as the roadside scrub proved to very ‘birdy’. I didn’t take any photographs today, but then I could barely keep up with writing notes and species’ names! With so many good birds coming thick and fast I really wanted to spend as much times as possible watching them through the bins. Steve is amazing at picking up everything by sound or the briefest glimpse and we were treated to great close views of Eastern Spinebill, White-throated Treecreeper, Crescent Honeyeater, Scarlet Robin, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Striated Thornbill. Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-eared Honeyeater, Silver-eye and a vocalising Laughing Kookaburra.
Later, the wetlands at Kiraaf provided White-fronted Chat, White-fronted Heron, Welcome Swallow, Masked Lapwing, and we heard a familiar sound from back home – a displaying Eurasian Skylark. The next location was a superb little estuary at Point Impossible. While Steve set out some coffee and home-made cake, a Kelp Gull flew past, then we were out to find our target – the endangered Hooded Plover (or Hooded Dotterel). Steve found a pair of these smart waders along with two Red-capped Plovers and around 80 Double-banded Plovers. While the waders fed unobtrusively on the shoreline, the sky was filling up with incoming Little Black Cormorants with over 200 flying in to feed at the mouth of the estuary. Other species here included Australasian Gannet, Brown Thornbill, Singing Honeyeater, Welcome Swallow, Spotted Dove, Little Egret, Cattle Egret and another introduced species: Common or Eurasian Blackbird.
Time was pressing on so we headed on and approximately two kilometres inland we stopped to look for Blue-winged Parrot, Striated Fieldwren and Golden-headed Cisticola. Our first wild Black Swan was seen along with great views of a male Superb Fairy-Wren. Raptor action was provided by two Black-shouldered Kites, a female Nankeen Kestrel with prey and a Swamp Harrier, mobbed by Masked Lapwings. Other species observed here included White-faced Heron, Magpie-lark, Eurasian Starling and Skylark.
The next site was the main focus of the day – the Western Treatment Plant. I had read much about how outstanding this area is for wetland birds and it did not disappoint. There was so much to see that the notebook was abandoned for the checklist! En route we saw Whistling Kite, Eastern Rosella, Pied Currawong, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Little Raven, Black-shouldered Kite and a superb Brown Falcon. After locking the gate behind us on the private road in to the site, more good birds appeared building our excitement and anticipation. Another Brown Falcon was perched close to the track, along with three Crested Pigeons, over 20 Yellow-rumped Thornbills, a dozen Zebra Finches. The water birds then started to appear with 10 Australian Pelicans soaring in the distance, followed by 40 Straw-necked Ibises and a small flock of Australian Shelducks.
On reaching the wetlands the sheer number of birds on the lagoon, billabongs and marshes was amazing: waders, ducks, pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, grebes, and raptors. You could spend days at this site and it must make for a superb local patch for any locals lucky enough to have access to this special site. Some of the highlights here included Freckled Duck (5 of this endangered species), Red-necked Avocet, Cape Barren Goose, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Australian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Hardhead, Black Swan, Hoary-headed Grebe, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Straw-necked Ibis, White-faced Heron, and Australian White Ibis. Approaching the coast, we searched for Australian Spotted Crake (heard only) but we got nice views of a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Buff-banded Rail and the shoreline provided Fairy Tern, Great Crested Tern, Australian Pied Oystercatcher and Little Black Cormorant. Black-shouldered Kites were very common along with several Swamp Harrier, Whistling Kites, Nankeen Kestrels, and another Brown Falcon.
We had an itinerary to keep to so sadly we had to move on - but more good birds kept on coming as we stopped to watch nine Banded Lapwings at close range, along with a Flame Robin and four Galahs. We searched a stretch of gum trees for Red-rumped Parrots but I only managed to hear them. Moving on, we picked up another Little Eagle and Grey Currawong.
Thereafter it was a long drive, helped by a coffee stop, to the wet, hilly forests of Bunyip State Park on the eastern side of Melbourne for my most-wanted species of the day – the Superb Lyrebird! The first area we stopped at was Cannibal Creek and got great views of at least five Australian King-Parrots and six Red-browed Firetails on the ground. We added Grey Fantail and Little Wattlebird to our list while Laughing Kookaburras and Pied Currawongs provided some exotic-sounding vocalisations. A short drive then provided my first good views of two perched Laughing Kookaburras.
Once deep inside Bunyip State Park we tried unsuccessfully for Southern Emu-Wren but did see Bassian Thrush (with another singing), Eastern Whipbird, White-throated Treecreeper and Golden Whistler. The light started to fade but this only added to primeval feel of the wet forest, dripping heavily after a recent shower, and so setting the scene for the next species. We began to hear several Superb Lyrebirds and I was trying to make some ‘record’ sound samples. Then Lisa began tugging at me indicating in hushed tones that something was creeping through the trees just feet away. And then a male Superb Lyrebird emerged, walking along a fallen tree towards us. It hopped off and strutted along trail right in front of us. I’d never expected to get views like this – enchanting! Amazingly a second bird was walking on the trail further down the slope. Darkness soon closed in with an Eastern Yellow Robin calling after sunset. It had been a tremendous day but our attention then turned to spot-lighting the nocturnal species. Unfortunately it was a quiet evening but some nice mammals were seen including Brush-tailed Possum, Ring-tailed Possum, Wallaby, and Grey Kangaroo.
After a long night drive back to the city, Steve safely returned us to door of our hotel where the whirlwind trip had begun 14.5 hours earlier. Having done a similar 24 hour trip to Doñana (from Zahara) I know how tiring it can be so we offer a huge thanks to Steve for his enthusiasm and skill right to the end. A day to remember!
At least 107 species were logged (might have missed a few):
Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Freckled Duck, Black Swan, Cape Barren Goose, Australian Shelduck, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Fluttering Shearwater, Shy Albatross, Australasian Gannet, Little Pied Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Black-shouldered Kite, Whistling Kite, Swamp Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Eagle, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Buff-banded Rail, Australian Spotted Crake, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Banded Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Red-capped Plover, Double-banded Plover, Hooded Plover, Banded Lapwing, Pacific Gull, Silver Gull, Crested Tern, Fairy Tern, Rock Dove, Spotted Turtle-Dove, Crested Pigeon, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Galah, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Blue-winged Parrot, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Lyrebird, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-Wren, Rufous Bristlebird, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Red Wattlebird, Little Wattlerbird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, White-fronted Chat, Scarlet Robin, Flame Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Magpie-lark, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Currawong, Australian Raven, Skylark, House Sparrow, Zebra Finch, Red-browed Firetail, European Goldfinch, Welcome Swallow, Little Grassbird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Silvereye, Bassian Thrush, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Berkshire Buff-bellied Pipit images
Here are some of the better images of the Buff-bellied Pipit (or American Pipit Anthus rubescens rubescens) at Queen Mother Reservoir in Berkshire on 16/12/12. It was a restless feeder, barely pausing to allow a sharp shot without increasing the ISO too much.
The images below highlight the perceived plumage colouration differences between direct sunshine and shade, and colour temperature due to automatic white balance
settings in the camera.
No other pipit species were present for direct comparison, though it was probably more Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) in size than Water Pipit.
Main features:
Pale lores and supercillium.
Fairly-thick, well-demarcated whitish eye-ring.
Whitish throat contrasting with buffy upper-breast.
Buffy underparts.
Sparsely dark-brown streaked sides, more rounded or spot/smudge-like on the upper-breast. Dark submalar, similar in tone to underpart streaking, forming a hint of a 'triangular' patch.
Dark brown retrices and primaries/secondaries with strongly contrasting whitish/buff edges.
Plain, almost uniform back/mantle with a hint of dark streaking in the centre.
Buffy wingbars: diffuse buff tips to greater and median coverts, less contrasting than on remiges.
Dark reddish-brown legs.
Dark-tipped, orangey, fine bill.
I heard it call twice when it flew up and sounded similar to Meadow Pipit though stronger and shorter - more clipped sounding.
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| Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens), Queen Mother Reservoir, Berkshire |
Main features:
Pale lores and supercillium.
Fairly-thick, well-demarcated whitish eye-ring.
Whitish throat contrasting with buffy upper-breast.
Buffy underparts.
Sparsely dark-brown streaked sides, more rounded or spot/smudge-like on the upper-breast. Dark submalar, similar in tone to underpart streaking, forming a hint of a 'triangular' patch.
Dark brown retrices and primaries/secondaries with strongly contrasting whitish/buff edges.
Plain, almost uniform back/mantle with a hint of dark streaking in the centre.
Buffy wingbars: diffuse buff tips to greater and median coverts, less contrasting than on remiges.
Dark reddish-brown legs.
Dark-tipped, orangey, fine bill.
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Queen Mother's Buff-bellied Pipit
Sunday 16 December 2012
This mega was a first for the London recording area and Sunday was the first day I could manage across to see it after it was found mid-week. After an hour on the train to Sunnymeads and a two mile walk to Queen Mother Reservoir, a large crowd huddled on the bank indicated the location of the pipit, obliviously feeding just feet away. As soon as I stripped down to a t-shirt (surprisingly mild for mid-December) and got the gear set up the bird flew up strongly and disappeared out of view to the south. It was soon relocated again near the pier, restlessly feeding along the water's edge, on the mossy shoreline, and at times almost out of view as it got right under the lip of the dam wall.
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| Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens), Queen Mother Reservoir, Berkshire. |
More:
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Friday, December 07, 2012
Four Swans-a-Feeding
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Kensington Gardens, London.
© Fraser Simpson www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com
More:
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Ayrshire Waxwing Influx 2012 - latest
Following three major influxes/invasions of Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) in Ayrshire since 2000 (2000/01, 2004, 2008/09, 2010), a further influx is underway. As previously (see here & here), this post will be updated regularly with reports. A full report of the autumn-winter period records will be published in the Ayrshire Bird Report 2012. Please email me with additional sightings of Waxwings for the blog and bird report at recorder@ayrshire-birding.org.uk or by adding a comment below.
Thanks to the following for records: Anna Basset, Liz Buchanan, Tom Cameron, John Candlish, Stevie Clarke, Anne Dick, Barry Fryer, Iain Hamlin, Angus Hogg, Mike Howes, Robin Ingram, Bruce Kerr, Gordon MacDonald, Peter McEwan, Marco McGinty, Alistair Murdoch, Colin Paton, Tony Scott, Rik van der Starre, Steven Torney, Jim Thompson, Dick Vernon, Ayrshire Birding Yahoo Group, Birdline Scotland, BirdGuides.
Waxwing, photographed in 2008 on the disused railway line at Bonnyton, Kilmarnock.
08/02/13
25, East Road, Prestwick
23/01/13
6, over Dobbies, Ayr
31/12/12
10, Glencairn Square, Kilmarnock
17/12/12
33, Heathfield Rd/Hunters Ave, Ayr
12, Montefode Court, Ardrossan
16/12/12
7, Shawfield Avenue/Maybole Rd, Ayr
07/12/12
20, Morrison's, Kilmarnock
03/12/12
12+, Saltcoats
27/11/12
38, Southannan roundabout, Hunterston
20, Ardrossan
5, Girvan
26/11/12
25, Dunskey Rd, Kilmarnock
25/11/12
80, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
52, Maybole Road, Ayr
30, Highfield Drive, Stevenston
24, Dunure Road, Ayr
50, Irvine rail station, Irvine
24/11/12
100, Bentink Drive, Troon
70, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
3, Dunure Road, Ayr
2, Holmston Road, Ayr
23/11/12
20, Alloway, Ayr
10, Henderson Road, Troon
22/11/12
46, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
20/11/12
50, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
10, Henderson Road, Troon
15, Briarhill Road, Prestwick
45, Midton Road, Ayr
20, Greenan Road, Ayr
19/11/12
50, Drongan
30, Rowallan Crescent, Prestwick
30, John Street, Ayr
18/11/12
150, Strathayr Place, Ayr
100, Monklands, Barassie
60, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
17/11/12
195, Irvine
16/11/12
300, High Road/Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
15/11/12
13, Lyle Gardens, Tarryholme, Irvine
220, Sharphill Road/High Road, Saltcoats
14/11/12
7, McGregor Avenue, Stevenston
13/11/12
50, John Street, Ayr
12/11/12
200, Irvine
200, Mill Brae, Ayr
50, John Street, Ayr
80, High Road, Saltcoats
3, Prestwick
11/11/12
100+, High Road, Saltcoats
19, Eglinton Park
30, Kennedy Road, Saltcoats
30, Mill Brae, Ayr
8, Hayley Gardens, Largs
10/11/12
200, Mill Brae, Ayr
150, High Road, Saltcoats
09/11/12
30+ High Road, Saltcoats
1, Alloway, Ayr
08/11/12
100+, Ayr railway station/Mill Brae/Dam Park
15, Southpark Avenue, Ayr
40, Saltcoats railway station
07/11/12
110, Russell Drive/Philip Square, Ayr
60, Ayr railway station
06/11/12
5, High Road, Saltcoats
52, King Street, Ayr
28, Noddsdale, Largs
05/11/12
10, in trees around Munnoch Crescent, Ardrossan
21, behind PC World, Heathfield Road, Ayr
4, Highfield Drive, Stevenston
Three high-pitched calls around 6 kHz (from group of 3 birds) uttered while perched followed by longer flight call.
Flight calls from three birds leaving hawthorn hedgerow feeding site.
Thanks to the following for records: Anna Basset, Liz Buchanan, Tom Cameron, John Candlish, Stevie Clarke, Anne Dick, Barry Fryer, Iain Hamlin, Angus Hogg, Mike Howes, Robin Ingram, Bruce Kerr, Gordon MacDonald, Peter McEwan, Marco McGinty, Alistair Murdoch, Colin Paton, Tony Scott, Rik van der Starre, Steven Torney, Jim Thompson, Dick Vernon, Ayrshire Birding Yahoo Group, Birdline Scotland, BirdGuides.
Waxwing, photographed in 2008 on the disused railway line at Bonnyton, Kilmarnock.
08/02/13
25, East Road, Prestwick
23/01/13
6, over Dobbies, Ayr
31/12/12
10, Glencairn Square, Kilmarnock
17/12/12
33, Heathfield Rd/Hunters Ave, Ayr
12, Montefode Court, Ardrossan
16/12/12
7, Shawfield Avenue/Maybole Rd, Ayr
07/12/12
20, Morrison's, Kilmarnock
03/12/12
12+, Saltcoats
27/11/12
38, Southannan roundabout, Hunterston
20, Ardrossan
5, Girvan
26/11/12
25, Dunskey Rd, Kilmarnock
25/11/12
80, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
52, Maybole Road, Ayr
30, Highfield Drive, Stevenston
24, Dunure Road, Ayr
50, Irvine rail station, Irvine
24/11/12
100, Bentink Drive, Troon
70, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
3, Dunure Road, Ayr
2, Holmston Road, Ayr
23/11/12
20, Alloway, Ayr
10, Henderson Road, Troon
22/11/12
46, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
20/11/12
50, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
10, Henderson Road, Troon
15, Briarhill Road, Prestwick
45, Midton Road, Ayr
20, Greenan Road, Ayr
19/11/12
50, Drongan
30, Rowallan Crescent, Prestwick
30, John Street, Ayr
18/11/12
150, Strathayr Place, Ayr
100, Monklands, Barassie
60, Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
17/11/12
195, Irvine
16/11/12
300, High Road/Sharphill Road, Saltcoats
15/11/12
13, Lyle Gardens, Tarryholme, Irvine
220, Sharphill Road/High Road, Saltcoats
14/11/12
7, McGregor Avenue, Stevenston
13/11/12
50, John Street, Ayr
12/11/12
200, Irvine
200, Mill Brae, Ayr
50, John Street, Ayr
80, High Road, Saltcoats
3, Prestwick
11/11/12
100+, High Road, Saltcoats
19, Eglinton Park
30, Kennedy Road, Saltcoats
30, Mill Brae, Ayr
8, Hayley Gardens, Largs
10/11/12
200, Mill Brae, Ayr
150, High Road, Saltcoats
09/11/12
30+ High Road, Saltcoats
1, Alloway, Ayr
08/11/12
100+, Ayr railway station/Mill Brae/Dam Park
15, Southpark Avenue, Ayr
40, Saltcoats railway station
07/11/12
110, Russell Drive/Philip Square, Ayr
60, Ayr railway station
06/11/12
5, High Road, Saltcoats
52, King Street, Ayr
28, Noddsdale, Largs
05/11/12
10, in trees around Munnoch Crescent, Ardrossan
21, behind PC World, Heathfield Road, Ayr
4, Highfield Drive, Stevenston
Three high-pitched calls around 6 kHz (from group of 3 birds) uttered while perched followed by longer flight call.
Flight calls from three birds leaving hawthorn hedgerow feeding site.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Heron Silhouettes
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Regent's Park, London.
© Fraser Simpson www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com
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No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Side-lit Heron
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Regent's Park, London.
© Fraser Simpson www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com
More:
No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Eyeballing
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Regent's Park, London.
© Fraser Simpson www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com
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No image on this blog or related sites may be used, copied, or re-posted without permission or payment.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Battersea Pigeon Station
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domest.) at Battersea Power Station, London.
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
City Gulls around The Shard
Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) feeding around London Bridge with The Shard in the background.
More: www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com/londonbirdsslide.htm
More: www.frasersimpson-birdphotography.com/londonbirdsslide.htm
Monday, November 12, 2012
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Glimpse of a heron
Shot through sunlit foliage in soft, early morning winter light.
 |
| Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
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