lmSA84 - Big Year 2017

[lmSA84]

300. Common Linnet, Rainham Marshes, 16/6

 

Maybe not the  most exciting bird for no. 300 but I think they're quite striking in their own little way.

 

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on reaching #300 - and that's a very attractive Linnet indeed!

[Tdgraves]

Well done on 300 - I have never seen a linnet....

[PeterHG]

Well done with reaching #300! An a striking bird, indeed!

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations! I hadn't even noticed the number, so entrhalled was I!

[TonyQ]

@ImSA84

More excellent photos - your visits to the Wetland Centre and Rainham marshes were very productive. And congratulations on a very impressive 300!

[xelas]

Congratulations, @ImSA84 ! That is an impressive number, so early in the year!

[lmSA84]

Thanks to all for your congrats! Glad your enjoying this thread as much as I'm enjoying all of yours

[lmSA84]

301.  Common Pochard, St James Park, London, 20/06

 

Male and Female

 

Edited July 2, 2017 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

302. Greylag Goose, St James Park, 20/6

 

[lmSA84]

303. Feral Pigeon, St James Park, 20/6

 

It's know it's cheating....but it's one of the only "wild" birds that I get in my garden!

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

304. Common Tern, London Wetland Centre, 21/6

 

Work owe me a bunch of lieu days from all the weekend and bank holiday work so I managed a trip to get back to the London Wetland Centre, Rainham Marshes and took my first trip to Otmoor to go Bitten hunting!

 

[lmSA84]

305. Lesser Black-backed Gull, London Wetland Centre, 21/6

 

[lmSA84]

306.  Little Grebe, Rainham Marshes, 23/6

 

I have really struggled in both SA and London Wetland Centre (where normally I get good views) to get a half decent photo of this bird.

 

[lmSA84]

307.  Little Ringed Plover, London Wetland Centre, 21/6

 

Taken a great distance

 

[lmSA84]

308. Chaffinch, London Wetland Centre, 21/6

 

[lmSA84]

309. Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow), London Wetland Centre, 21/6

 

 

[lmSA84]

310.  Goldfinch, 23/6, Rainham Marshes, 23/6

 

[lmSA84]

311. Common Cuckoo, Rainham Marshes, 23/6

 

I went to Rainham Marshes primarily to see Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits and if super lucky a Cuckoo. I struck out on the first one and whilst I saw the second the heavy wind made it simply impossible to photograph them.

 

I'm going to return in late July / August when the Tits turn from being primarily insect to seed eaters which should mean that they spend longer at the top of the reeds.

 

My efforts were rewarded though with these long range shots of a Cuckoo, which I heard but didn't see on my last trip. This is actually only the second that I've ever seen in the UK.

 

[lmSA84]

312. Great Spotted Woodpecker

 

Otmoor is a small RSPB reserve just outside of Oxford, UK which is well known for its waders, ducks, and in the summer warblers, Hobbies and Turtle Doves. Recently it's also become a reliable site for Marsh Harriers, Cranes and (most excitingly for me!) breeding Bittens. 

 

I managed my first trip to the reserve on my way to a work meeting and it was well worth it!

 

[lmSA84]

313. Bullfinch, Otmoor, 30/6

 

All EBC's but I just don't seem to see these birds regularly so I'll submit them in the hoping of getting better photos later in the year.

 

[lmSA84]

314. Chiffchaff, Otmoor, 30/6

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

315. European Turtle Dove, Otmoor, 30/6

 

One of the famous residents

 

[lmSA84]

316. Marsh Harrier, Otmoor, 30/6

 

These aren't gonna win Marsh Harrier photo of the year but this was one of my targets and having failed earlier at Rainham I'll take it.

 

[lmSA84]

317. Great Bittern, Otmoor, 30/6

 

Now photographing these shy birds is a bit tricky for such an average BIF photographer as myself. 

 

The setup is to perch at a small half covered hide and wait for the birds to either leave or return to the nest from a feeding trip. The nest is buried deep in the high reeds about 500m from the hide. I waited about 2.5hrs in total and in that time I saw two return trips. The routine is unpredictable but it appears to be that she leaves on a feeding trip flying towards the hide, eventually disappearing into the reeds feeding for an hour - 1.5hrs. She would then return to the nest for 10 minutes and then fly back out.

 

Do you see the bird leaving the nest? 

 

This shot is roughly about 10m from where she suddenly pops up from the nest on the way out to feed.

 

Edited July 2, 2017 by lmSA84