Galana's fourth effort. "Never mind the quality feel the width".

[Galana]

33 minutes ago, Soukous said:

Boris has thrown everyone else under that particular bus

Not true! He would have broken lockdown rules on social distancing. There again.......is was from No.10.

[Dave Williams]

New sightings are getting tougher it seems Fred but you are still in touch with the leading riders. Keep it up!

[Galana]

The drought has broken and with no new COVID cases for 24 days I thought I would throw a small party for my Avian friends.

So I set off to my 'tree' and had such a cheerful morning that I am pleased to share it with you. (with Mats forebearance)

The Red Admiral was there as was

 

Dark Green Fritillary who looks as though she has just escaped being on the menu herself.

 

Mrs Thrush brought some nibbles...

 

And a Wren sang Auld Lang Syne...

 

The Dunnock family turned out and even brought their youngest...

 

I had problems with the Whitethroats who preferred to play Hide and Seek

 

 

Until the food was ready....

When they totally lost their meal time manners.

Kids eh?

 

Even the Magpies came at the end

368/IOM 68. I even got a point for my trouble.....

 

Coo!  Two actually.

369/69. Eurasian Collared Dove.

 

They do suggest being in lockdown too long can cause Mental Health problems but being Schizophrenic I am in two minds about it.

 

 

[PeterHG]

Quite a party! Don't worry about mental health problems. Being locked up cannot be much worse than being locked down.

[Galana]

Another day another Picnic. Not Teddy Bears!

Chewing the grass.

 

Parents allowed.

 

This chap was really curious and came very close.

 

Proud parent.

 

Altogether there were seven in the group.

I am still on the 'bird' setting as I don't think there is one for Wallabies.

 

And as this IS a bird thread here is my offering to keep the peace.

 

Not so Great Tit.

Now if I can only find a co-operative BlackCap or Sedge Warbler I can progress but the summer leave is now very lush.

[TonyQ]

Very cute wallabies. Perhaps you could contact the camera company and suggest they develop a "Wallaby setting".

Although the Bird setting copes very well!

[Galana]

A veritable hit to pass the #370 mark.

370/IOM70. Indian Peafowl. We have a feral free-winged population that are increasing. They started of course when a local 'big cheese' had a flock but on his death  his 'beneficiaries' wanted nothing to do with the birds so just let them wander. Lesser mortals would have incurred a large fine but such is life.

 

And a couple of product improvements.

Arctic Terns. The yellow rings are from their previous visits.

2nd chick behind mum. The shelters must work as dad and mum have flown 12,000 miles to get one.

The yellow string is to mark off the nesting area to hopefully keep off the 'tourons.'

[xelas]

Indian Peafowl on the IOM?! Seriously, @Galana ?! If so, time for me to look for that Indian Runner again .

Edited June 24, 2020 by xelas

[Galana]

37 minutes ago, xelas said:

Indian Peafowl on the IOM?!

True. Honest.

They figured in my 2018BY at #36. Totally different location.

[Galana]

Reverting to the Terns.

I have got the details of the ringed ones:-

The one used on my set is DH who was ringed as an adult on IOM on 25/06/2015 and has been back at least twice since so he is at least five years old and has made the long trip to Southern poles at least five times.

Top scorer in my bunch was JT.

• ringed as an adult at Rue Point (IOM) on 4/7/12 so has done the trip at least nine times.  I wonder if they get Airmiles?

 

Edited June 24, 2020 by Galana

[Kitsafari]

wow great back story to the terns - and may I say such brilliant shots of the terns will not earn you any nomination for EBCs? 

[Galana]

On 6/25/2020 at 10:46 AM, Kitsafari said:

and may I say such brilliant shots of the terns will not earn you any nomination for EBCs? 

Thanks.  I know. Take your eye off the ball and look what happens. That camera is just so unreliable at times. I think it is similar to the story of the chimp and the typewriter.

[Galana]

Painstakingly slow progress.

Went half way round the island looking for Hen Harrier and drew a total blank. Something is wrong here as  I rarely fail and I have only seen 3 this year.

However on my return home there in the harbour entrance was a 50+ flock of another 'common' bird that had eluded me to date this year. I am afraid I don't regard them highly as they have arrived in British Isles within my lifetime and one of my regrets is that in my misspent youth I was partly responsible for 'encouraging' them to increase.

 

No matter.

A point is a point in this game.

371/71IOM Canada Goose.

 

And a British version of 174.Making 72/IOM.

Greater Cormorant.

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

@Galana you are older than I thought. Canada Geese were first introduced to the UK about 300 years ago 

However I do believe they spread across the country in the 1940s and 50s

[Galana]

4 hours ago, TonyQ said:

@Galana you are older than I thought. Canada Geese were first introduced to the UK about 300 years ago 

Old but not that old. There were indeed some in 'collections' for some time and no doubt some did and still do find their own way to these shores but it was the mid fifties upsurge in numbers from maybe 3000 to 80,000 in forty years that made them a pest. All I can say in defence is Thank Heavens we did not do  the same with Ostrich farming.

[elefromoz]

@Galana, nice to see where you live, makes more sense when you talk about driving/walking around your local area. You got nice and close to the Gannetts, they are always waaayy out to sea for me. Hope you are seeing a bit of Summer your way.

[Galana]

Thanks @elefromoz

We are fortunate in living here. Weather had been beautiful for the lockdown weeks but contrarily now we are 'free' it has turned a bit stormy again. So rough the boat did not go yesterday. A downside is that the place is so small that you can cover the whole place in a day which whilst never boring can be a tad repetitive.

 

Today is our National Day and the sun has come out for it.

[Galana]

With the sun still out I ventured forth today with limited success but every little helps. My target birds did not show but at the last minute a few birds flew over as I drove off.

Grabbed shot but a tick is a tick.

372/ IOM73 Red-billed (we call em, Cornish) Chough. Our National Bird which had eluded me all this year.

 

Then I went after bigger game.

Common Lizard. They bask on the stobs/stumps put in to deter vehicles. Used to be truly common but these were the first I have seen for two years when severe flooding in the area would no doubt drown a few.

 

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by Galana

[Galana]

This whole thread is going quiet and especially mine so it is time for drastic action.

 

Peregrine and Raven.

I already have Raven but sadly can't count this Peregrine.

Our Coat of Arms.

There is no truth in the rumour that the Triskelles represents the English being kicked off the Island as it dates from 13th Century Scotland. Hmm! Makes sense now!

 

[Galana]

How much do you spend per tick?

OK a nice birding trip to Africa might cost £4000 but last time we got 400+ species so I suppose £10 per tick is OK.

But today I suffered a Budgetary infarction.

I had occasion to drive to one of my favourite places for Hen Harriers. I had tried several times already this year but today I felt lucky (and you have to keep trying). The Lady G came along for the ride in the sunshine.

We parked up and very shortly along came two Hen Harriers. The male was shyer but the Ringtail came close enough for records shots.

Thus.

373/IOM74. Hen Harrier. Up a grade from EBC so worth posting.

Feeling pleased I dropped my guard when the good lady suggested a stop at an Electric shop 'for a look round'.

Well the 'look round' ended with me staggering out with a nice new Induction Hob. Kerching. And of course we needed a new set of Pans. Kerching Kerching! It does not stop there as I now need a Gas man to disconnect the pipe to the old Gas Hob. Kerching, kerching, kerching.

That was one expensive Hen Harrier tick.

 

But looking on the bright side I have saved a few baubies on two cancelled holidays so far this year due to lockdown. The new Camera will have to wait!

I have amended my target.

Edited July 18, 2020 by Galana

[Soukous]

21 hours ago, Galana said:

Well the 'look round' ended with me staggering out with a nice new Induction Hob. Kerching. And of course we needed a new set of Pans. Kerching Kerching! It does not stop there as I now need a Gas man to disconnect the pipe to the old Gas Hob. Kerching, kerching, kerching.

 

You may also need to check the capacity of your electricity wiring as induction hobs need a lot of juice.

I feel that i am also due a treat to make up for cancelled trips, but will have to wait until the refund actually materialises into something more substantial than an email confirmation.

[Galana]

22 minutes ago, Soukous said:

You may also need to check the capacity of your electricity wiring as induction hobs need a lot of juice.

Some will run on a UK13Amp plug. There IS a limit on what my Yorkshire genes will spend.

 

24 minutes ago, Soukous said:

but will have to wait until the refund actually materialises into something more substantial than an email confirmation.

Tell me about it. I have been fighting since March 26th for some from the cancelled Hebridean trip. Some I got straight back such as Ferries, some I had not paid for but some had deposits. I have had Agent, Credit Card and Insurance playing pass the parcel on this.  Guess what? They all said they were busy because of something they called Covid 19. Who would have thought? Last week I had both Credit Card and Insurers on the ropes and guess what? I got a mail from the Agent, named in the press, admitting my claim and cash within 30 days.

Fortunately I have l not laid out any cash on September,  December and March trips so the cash is in the Teapot on the mantlepiece.

[Soukous]

15 hours ago, Galana said:

Fortunately I have l not laid out any cash on September,  December and March trips so the cash is in the Teapot on the mantlepiece.

 

Let me know when you're leaving the house. 

[TonyQ]

An excellent sighting of the Hen Harrier - jealous!

[Galana]

Today brought an EBC for your joy as well as a few "Product improvements".

First there were some swifts hawking round a local lighthouse that I tried to catch. Heck, they were VERY swift and this is the only usable product but it is a while since I did an ECB.

374/IOM76. Common Swift.  Now they are more visible here I surely will do better!

 

The Choughs were more cooperative as they enjoyed the July sun.

(372 duplicated)

A better shot at a Magpie too.

 

(368)

And remember those early Sand Martins? It seems ages ago now.

Lots of Pipits, Linnets and Stonechats around as well as Starling families too but Sedge Warblers still eluded me..