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

[Dave Williams]

On 6/20/2020 at 2:36 PM, TonyQ said:

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

Although the Bird setting copes very well!

 

They'd tell you to hop it Fred.

[Dave Williams]

The total build steadily towards the big 400 ! 

Good to hear you are making progress on getting your money back too.

My complaint to easyJet which has gone on for months was finally resolved last week. I decided to get the credit card company involved and miraculously I got an email from easyJet within 24 hours to tell me that they had noticed a miscalculation in the awarded voucher amount and this had now been rectified. I got an email from Barclaycard the next day to say that as they had over 18,000 similar complaints it would be some time before they could investigate thoroughly but in the meantime they were holding back the amount in question which was actually the full £370, not the £85 I was complaining about. They must send a notification to the retailer, in this case easyJet, and that makes them jump and take notice as they are desperate for cash flow.

As it happens I rebooked the same day now I had the refunded voucher so hopefully I'm off to Spain next May all being well and easyJet have £5 more in their account than they did last week!!

[Galana]

On 7/22/2020 at 11:49 AM, Dave Williams said:

Good to hear you are making progress on getting your money back too.

I totally missed this last two posts. So quiet I may have nodded off.

The good news is that I got my £373 last week.So that's the new Hob paid for and I never felt the pain at all.

 

I am back on today as I hit a target bird on my favourite tree. I knew the little bleeders were in their somewhere.

This is my tree:-

Not my target of course but an improvement for 369. First time I have seen them here so another added to my Patch list. 60 species for a 100 yard square patch ain't bad.

 

And so to #375/IOM377.

At last. A Blackcap. Albeit a youngster and an EBC to warm my heart.

 

But eventually Mum and Dad could not resist a Sugar rush from the ripening Blackberries.

Mum.

 

Dad.

Blackcap overload. Like buses. You wait ages and three come along at once.

 

I finished the morning with Miss Tiggywinkle out for a stroll in the sun.

I know they do their best to wipe out our Terns but they do look cute. This must be one our traps missed.

 

[pedro maia]

377 is an impressive number, especially for such a small ccountry, congrats, the home country run is over.

[Galana]

6 hours ago, Galana said:

And so to #375/IOM377.

Thanks @pedro maia!

I missstroked by 300.  77 for IOM and hoping I get close to 100 but increasingly unlikely. I know about 10 I can get as the winter migrants arrive but will struggle from there.

[Galana]

I do like to get out and about the island from time to time and wildlife pops up in the most unlikely places.

Yesterday I came across another lifer. I had heard rumours of this but had never managed to photo one for previous Big Years.. Evidently they prefer wet conditions when flying  inland to feed and it has been very dry this year so far but yesterday's heavy showers must have brought in  a few. They prefer fruit trees as their large parrotbill is well designed to cut slices of apple.

 

I have not included it in my count yet as I cannot find it's proper name. Puffinus puffinus has already been claimed by the Manx Shearwater so that won't do. Fratercula artica ellanvannin perhaps?

 

Stay safe, stay sane!

[Soukous]

8 minutes ago, Galana said:

I have not included it in my count yet as I cannot find it's proper name. Puffinus puffinus has already been claimed by the Manx Shearwater so that won't do.

Puffinus plasticus or Puffinus artificialis

[Peter Connan]

Not sure why it needs to be tied down by the ankles?

 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Peter Connan said:

Not sure why it needs to be tied down by the ankles?

It's not tied down. Those rings are for messages to Ireland as it is a carrier Puffin.

Edited July 31, 2020 by Galana
amended text.

[Peter Connan]

I see, said the blind man.

 

So who carries the carrier?

 

[Galana]

Surely you have heard of Carrier Waves?

[shazdwn]

On 7/30/2020 at 1:57 AM, Galana said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good to see you taking your EBC practice seriously @Galana

Edited August 4, 2020 by shazdwn

[Soukous]

2 hours ago, shazdwn said:

Good to see you taking your EBC practice seriously @Galana

 

Absolutely. Like any skill it needs constant practice.

[Galana]

3 hours ago, shazdwn said:

Good to see you taking your EBC practice seriously @Galana

It just seems to come naturally to me. Thanks for the compliment.

[Dave Williams]

You had me for a moment there Fred! 

How can you get a razor sharp Dove followed by some EBC Blackcaps then back to a really enviable and superb shot of a Hedgehog? I just don't understand it!!!!

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

I just don't understand it!!!!

Like I said. It seems to be  a skill I was born with!

[Galana]

Inspired by @PeterHG's excellent photo today I give you the official Manx Formation Aerobatic team during rehearsals. They do need to tighten it up a bit if they want to take on The Red Arrows..

 

[xelas]

Looking nice, just a tad art(ificial)  ?!

[Galana]

15 minutes ago, xelas said:

Looking nice, just a tad art(ificial)  ?

Agreed. I should have taken longer on the perspective.

[Galana]

Another day another Dollar.

A trip to Sunset  City for a walk and light lunch.#

All I had to show for it, waistline apart, was a late pair of Sandwich Terns.

Ah well it's marginally better than my first submission.

354 again. Sandwich Terns.

 

[Soukous]

11 hours ago, Galana said:

A trip to Sunset  City for a walk and light lunch.#

All I had to show for it, waistline apart, was a late pair of Sandwich Terns.

 

For a moment I misread and thought you said Tern Sandwiches; which I have yet to try. 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Soukous said:

Tern Sandwiches; which I have yet to try.

Me neither. The buggers are too quick for me to catch in the bun.

Edited August 14, 2020 by Galana

[Galana]

Still really quiet.

We were in the lounge having a Sandwich when three birds turned up on the beach outside.

Is that what @Soukous meant as a Sandwich Turn?

Already listed on both my 'Garden list' and BY but I have withdrawal symptoms. That 'bird' setting really does work. This must have been >200 metres . ISO160. 1/500 f.6.5.

They don't breed here but on fledging in Strangford Lough Northern Ireland they come here to pinch our Sandeels.

[Galana]

A bit of a blow today but at least the view from the Lounge was nice when the Gannets showed up.

[elefromoz]

@Galana, that's a view alright!