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

[PeterHG]

Beautiful Redstart photos, @Galana!

[Galana]

3 hours ago, PeterHG said:

Beautiful Redstart photos, @Galana!

Thanks @PeterHG

I am almost ashamed of them as I know I can do much worse.

[Soukous]

Lovely Redstart piccies. The challenge now is to maintain that standard. 

[Galana]

7 hours ago, Soukous said:

The challenge now is to maintain that standard. 

Kind of you to say so but I can't let my fans down.

 

[Soukous]

18 hours ago, Galana said:

I can't let my fans down

 

Wow! those stones are in really sharp focus. Maybe if you focused on the stones the bird would be sharp. 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

Wow! those stones are in really sharp focus.

Thanks for the tip. Maybe I should go for the Sea Holly too?

Or stick to bigger birds?

 

Went out in the sunshine today and was pleased to find some Whoopers (14) have returned/ A bit miffed as their normal field has standing Maize in it so they were lurking over the hedge waiting for it to be cut.

 

[Galana]

On 11/19/2020 at 2:24 PM, Galana said:

Rock Pipit dressed for display.

Update on the bejeweled Pipit above.

Manx Ringing Group tell me this bird was ringed at the same spot on 1st November 2016 and had not been heard of since then. So was he hiding or touring for those four years?

My suggestion that he would perhaps have had problems getting airborne with all those rings weighing him down fell of stoney ground!

[xelas]

On 11/21/2020 at 8:59 PM, Galana said:

Kind of you to say so but I can't let my fans down.

 

Tack sharp .... stones !

[Galana]

A wild day but sunny tempted me to head for the rocks. The sea was even wilder than I thought so scanning was pointless and photos even less so.

Then on the point of heading to the Pub to get warm I saw a bird in among gulls and waves and actually got a shot or two.

See the wave heights??

 

387BY/93 IOM. Common Scoter. Good for both lists and for me too.

 

[Soukous]

13 hours ago, Galana said:

on the point of heading to the Pub

are you allowed inside?

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Soukous said:

are you allowed inside?

Why not? Life here is normal for residents. All I need is a note from Lady Galana and I can do what I like.

[Galana]

The only fine day was to be today so I went off to seek a Water Rail but only saw a Redpoll and missed the shot.

However whilst refreshing a few waterfowl the conditions deteriorated and the only usable photo was this.

However whilst it does nothing for my total score I noted it DOES move along my Island total so well done the Grey Heron for posing nicely.

94-IOM.

 

[Galana]

EBC Alert.

Well you have had it too easy for a while and I do need the practice..

Thanks in advance to the friendly motorist who didn't rear end me and waited patiently behind on the single track road whilst I banged off a couple of shots after this bird whizzed across and actually Perched briefly almost in full view.

Through a dirty windscreen, I really must up Lady G's housekeeping to get this done, but better than nothing.

 

So, the hot topic.

 

First a quick Grab without waiting for the zoom to wake up.

Actually the better quality of the trio.

 

It even took cropping well. Just photo shop those bloody twigs hiding the head and all would be well.

 

Once the zoom woke up I could close in but only had time for two before the birdie flew and I did feel for the nice man waiting behind.

But....Beggars can't be choosers.

AND it hit both scores.

388 BY/ and 95 IOM.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk.  EBC. Every Bu**er counts.

 

[PeterHG]

I should think 95 is a very good number for your home patch!

[Galana]

3 hours ago, PeterHG said:

I should think 95 is a very good number for your home patch!

I agree. I have never done the local count before but 'Covid confinement' inspired me to give it a try. It would be nice to get a round figure by the year end for this rock in the Irish Sea.

48km x 16km and 572sq km.

 

[Galana]

EBC Alert.

I went west this morning looking for the elusive Divers but apart from a fly by I failed.

But I did get a new species which I thought I had lost for the year as they should have gone by now.

However whilst I was a bit slow on the draw I got an image and in this desert of additions I have no shame in claiming it.

So.

389/96IOM  Northern Fulmar.

 

As compensation it was a clear day so anybody with a romantic Irish streak may enjoy a long shot (70 miles or more) of

where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

 

A couple of other species were more cooperative ...

But don't add to the Count.

Razorbill in winter dress....

and..

387 Common Scoter was more approachable in the calmer waters. It's a young male.

 

[PeterHG]

It's good to bag this one at what must be the last possible moment. Readily recognisable as a Northern Fulmar flying south :). And lovely shots of the Razorbill and Scoter!

[Galana]

1 hour ago, PeterHG said:

Readily recognisable as a Northern Fulmar flying south :).

It must have been better than I thought  then because it was flying south. With maybe a few degrees of west too.

[Galana]

Bags packed so that's me done for a while.

Lesh yeearreeyn share son y Nollick as y vlein noa!

[Peter Connan]

Happy and safe travels, a merry Christmas and a very much happier new year!

Edited December 23, 2020 by Peter Connan

[Kitsafari]

Shee as Boggey erriu

Peace and Joy to you and your loved ones too. 

 

 

Edited December 25, 2020 by Kitsafari

[Galana]

Thanks. It is that time. 15.00 GMT on Christmas Day. So raise glasses to everyone with thanks to Matt @Game Wardenfor his patience

My day has been fun, the Duck is in the Oven (not a quack or a tick, photo not for the squeemish.

Slainte.

[elefromoz]

@GalanaI too enjoyed your festive stone collection, too bad the pesky Bird photobombed your shot. Poor Little Rock Pipit, could they possibly squeeze on another ring? I imagine 95 is a very good total for your little island paradise.

[Galana]

9 hours ago, elefromoz said:

I imagine 95 is a very good total for your little island paradise.

True. Maybe 97 would be better....EBC alert. Condition red.

[Galana]

On 12/25/2020 at 2:19 AM, Kitsafari said:

Shee as Boggey erriu

Peace and Joy to you and your loved ones too. 

 

Thank you for that @Kitsafari

Very thoughtful.

 

I am back from my Christmas break and already in harness.

As fortold in my post to @elefromoztis the season to be jolly (forgiving as I strain to reach a benchmark figure.) so please forgive me and re-read the title I gave for this year's run..  No surrender!

A few days spent down with the wild Wallabies did give me one target bird. A bit blurred as I was hurried by a mad jogger (it was 0C and he was in shorts!) shouting a warning as I was in his way... but here is the clear result.

390/97(IOM) Long-tailed Tit.

 

Some of our wild Wallies posed nicely too.

Large Male.

Cute little female.

 

And a Mistle Thrush proving what the early bird does best even at Christmas.