lmsa84 4th B.Y.

[Kitsafari]

Lovely additions! What a charming bird the european Starling is. 

[Galana]

Coming good. Time yet!

[TonyQ]

Great additions from Shetland.

The first Whooper Swan photo deserves a prize 

[lmSA84]

141. European Shag, Shetlands, UK 51.

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

142. Common Ringed Plover, Shetlands, UK 52.

 

[lmSA84]

143. Pied Wagtail, Shetlands, UK 53.

 

[lmSA84]

144. Willow Warbler, Shetlands, UK 54.

 

[lmSA84]

145. Winter Wren, Shetlands, UK 55.

 

If I was a splitter - I would argue this is sub-species - the Shetland Wren Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus. 

 

 

That's it from Shetlands. Even though we very much didn't go there at the optimal time it still produced 9 lifers for me and the scenery alone is worth the trip. There are also one or two mammals to see.

 

 

 

and of course..

 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2019 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

Rainham Marshes is my local reserve but this year I have only managed the one trip  - On September 10th.

 

The reserve was as dry as I've ever seen it with almost no moisture in the marsh but still it was buzzing with big flocks of gulls, waders and some old friends

 

 

 

 

Including this very accommodating Willow Warbler

 

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

146. Common Swift, London, UK 56.

 

[lmSA84]

147. Herring Gull, Rainham Marshes, UK 57.

 

I've struggled over this one in terms of whether it's YLG or Herring but in this case I'm guessing Herring. 

 

[lmSA84]

148. Dunlin, Rainham Marshes, UK 58.

 

This is another one that I've struggled with so other suggestions are welcome

 

[lmSA84]

149. Pied Avocet, Rainham Marshes, UK 59.

 

[lmSA84]

150. Common Chaffinch, Rainham Marshes, UK 60.

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

151. European Reed Warbler, Rainham Marshes, UK 61.

 

[lmSA84]

152. Black-tailed Godwit, Rainham Marshes, UK 62.

 

 

[lmSA84]

153. Whinchat, Rainham Marshes, UK 63.

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

154. Eurasian Teal, Rainham Marshes, UK 64.

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

155. Little Egret, Rainham Marshes, UK 65.

 

[lmSA84]

156. Eurasian Collared Dove, Rainham Marshes, UK 66.

 

[lmSA84]

157. Eurasian Hobby, Rainham Marshes, UK 67.

 

I never seem to get a clear shot of these guys

 

[lmSA84]

158. Common Kestrel, Rainham Marshes, UK 68.

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

159. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rainham Marshes, UK 69.

 

This was incredibly frustrating! I have never been able to photograph a Sparrowhawk and one split second this juvenile settled on a post right in front of the hide but I was holding my son at the time and by the time I could get a shot off - it was going

 

[TonyQ]

A really good selection from Rainham Marshes!

[michael-ibk]

Really like the Shetland additions, and the three Whinchats from your local turf are especially cool.