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B.Y. 2019. The Tortoise rules!

Dave Williams

By Dave Williams
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Dave Williams

Dave Williams

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280)Lapland Bunting

News that as many as four had been seen on the local headland came through whilst we were out on the moors of upland Wales on Saturday but I decided to wait until Sunday evening before going to look for myself. By then most "twitchers" would have gone home and with a bit of luck there might be some nice evening light to boot.The gamble paid off, just! There was only one bird left but I had it all to myself for the majority of the time I was there. You have to have patience to wait for a photo opportunity as it foraged for seeds in the uneven ground but occasionally it presented itself well.

Lapland Buntings are a rarity in the UK, only the second time I have seen one, the last being 6 years ago.

48701468078_71c8d3360e_b.jpgLapland Bunting  Calcarius lapponicus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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Dave Williams
Dave Williams

No ambitions other than to see if I can manage to stick with it for a whole big year in 2019. Would be nice to beat last years 375 though.   So to kick it off No 1. Northern Shoveller

Dave Williams
Dave Williams

266) Atlantic Puffin Here in the UK we sometimes we think we are short changed when it comes to the number of species that are resident compared to other places around the globe but we are also g

Dave Williams
Dave Williams

264) Razorbill Seeing a Razorbill with fish in it's bill is a bit special. Razorbill  Alca torda by Dave Williams, on Flickr Better still was seeing a chick being fed although to safe g

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PeterHG

PeterHG

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What a sighting, Dave and I agree: excellent photo as well!

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lmSA84

lmSA84

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Commiserations on the Merlin! It’s so frustrating. I saw my first one only a few weeks ago on the island of Yell in the Shetlands. They seem quite common there but they never stayed still for me either 

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Galana

Galana

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Great sighting and even better snap of it. Congratulations!

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TonyQ

TonyQ

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The Lapland Bunting is a great sighting, and an excellent photo of it.

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PeterHG

PeterHG

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Off to the Kruger now? Have a good time there and come back with a full load of BY additions, looking forward to those!

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Dave Williams

Dave Williams

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Thanks Peter, leaving within the hour! We, no I'll rephrase that, I am taking a ridiculous amount of gear with me including some things I never use but there's always a first time!

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Galana

Galana

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Too late to wish you both a great trip unless you log in sometime so if I have missed you "Welcome back!"

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Dave Williams

Dave Williams

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Sat waiting for our connection in Doha, it's past midnight and 35 degrees outside!

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Dave Williams

Dave Williams

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A quick update on Kruger.... it's very, very dry. Those worried about me catching them up need to relax!!!

My favourite sighting so far isn't a bird though, you'll have to wait to see it as the intent is too slow to upload it. All I'll say is you will fall in love when you see it!!

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Soukous

Soukous

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12 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

A quick update on Kruger.... it's very, very dry. Those worried about me catching them up need to relax!!!

My favourite sighting so far isn't a bird though, you'll have to wait to see it as the intent is too slow to upload it. All I'll say is you will fall in love when you see it!!

 

I think I'd prefer a dry Kruger to a wet UK.

 

Western Cape is experiencing significant rain right now. But then I don't like photographing in the rain very much.

India too has had record monsoons so I'm hoping the waters will have subsided a bit before I get there in November.

Even the Isle of Man is having floods - hope that @Galana has stocked up on essentials - in cans and bottles.

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Galana

Galana

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On 10/1/2019 at 1:19 PM, Soukous said:

Even the Isle of Man is having floods - hope that @Galana has stocked up on essentials

Nice of you to worry Martin.

Just got back last evening to lovely sunshine but the rear of the car did have two cases of Moselle as well as non essential luggage.

All well on the IOM at the moment.

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Soukous

Soukous

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6 hours ago, Galana said:

Nice of you to worry Martin.

Just got back last evening to lovely sunshine but the rear of the car did have two cases of Moselle as well as non essential luggage.

All well on the IOM at the moment.

 

Pleased to hear it. I guess you don't live on Laxey Road 

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Dave Williams

Dave Williams

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281) Southern Ground Hornbill

Why this was one of my priority birds to see in the Kruger I'm not sure.

48946048853_c7438bf396_b.jpgSouthern Ground Hornbill by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Ugly critters and you can't even say "Ah" when you see the youngster either!

48946049898_8eca6de2cc_b.jpgSouthern Ground Hornbill by Dave Williams, on Flickr

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xelas

xelas

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Wow, @Dave Williams, you have started your Kruger birds with a bang! I imagine there are at least 75 more in the bucket :D!

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Dave Williams

Dave Williams

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@xelas I can honestly say I haven't counted them yet Alex. I do know that to make my target of 500 for the year I had to find 7 or 8 new bird a day which I soon found to be impossible so I kind of lost interest in chasing EBC's or attempting to photograph things from impossible angles leaning across the car whilst in the drivers seat.Think I can manage 75 though!

 

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