Tdgraves big year 2020 (my 7th!!)

[michael-ibk]

On 5/6/2020 at 5:11 PM, Tdgraves said:

is this any better?

 

Yes, pictures load very quickly now.

 

Agree with Sharon, really like the Swan photo.

[Tdgraves]

For some reason, I missed out a walk around Ouse fen in April, probably as it was windy and I didn't see much...

 

RSPB Ouse Fen, Cambrdigeshire, 21/4/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/2000

 

7T4A3972 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/1250

 

7T4A4009 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

141) Greylag goose

[Tdgraves]

I've tried a couple of new spots recently, for a bit of variety. Lots of people and at different times of the year, probably would be better

 

Hinchingbrooke country park, Cambridgeshire, 19/5/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/3200

 

7T4A4526a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

142) Barn swallow

[Tdgraves]

Paxton pits, Cambridgeshire, 22/5/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/2000

 

7T4A4543a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

143) Common house martin

[Tdgraves]

A couple from the garden....this one it pretty rare, hence the feeder shot, we only see them every few years or so

 

My garden, Cambridgeshire, 6/5/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/500

 

7T4A4213a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

144) Coal tit

[Tdgraves]

My garden, Cambridgeshire, 8/5/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/400

 

7T4A4268a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

145) Stock dove

[Tdgraves]

A garden duplicate, as the original was verging on an EBC. A pair have moved in and are getting much bolder (and quite loud)...

 

J19A5198a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A5250a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A5277a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

and a lovely crow who posed beautifully as I was leaving Fen Drayton

 

7T4A4507a by tdgraves, on Flickr

Edited June 1, 2020 by Tdgraves
better photo

[TonyQ]

Nice additions, getting a Stock Dove in your garden is very impressive 

[Tdgraves]

thanks @TonyQ they are very shy though

[Tdgraves]

I was looking for somewhere different to go for a walk yesterday and as luck would have it, it was the day that Grafham water had reopened. This had its' downsides though, a couple of trails were very overgrown and I had to abandon visiting onehide due to fear of being stug to death by nettles! Not the best time of year to visit, but I did get this elusive bird. Annoyingly, in my haste to get to the right window in the hide, I didn't realise that my lens was not fully extended, so these are all at about 370mm. This sighting as I litterally sat down on arriving, was the best that I had, the rest was just low level rustling and song!

 

Grafham water, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1250

 

7T4A4690a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A4693a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f6.3, 1/1000

 

7T4A4696a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

146) Eurasian reed warbler

[Tdgraves]

The book calls this an "active bird" it is not joking. Finding it amongst the leaves was a nightmare despite the frequent calls and then trying to focus....

 

Grafham water, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/800, EV +2/3

 

7T4A4641a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2500, f5.6, 1/1250, EV +1/3

 

7T4A4651a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

147) Willow warbler

[Tdgraves]

Grafham water, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/2000

 

7T4A4726a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

148) Common chaffinch

[Tdgraves]

Grafham water, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/1600

 

7T4A4722 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

149)  Gadwall

[Tdgraves]

and a couple of duplicates

 

7T4A4675a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A4731a by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Tdgraves]

I popped into Fen Drayton on the way home from work, hoping to get any of the warblers I had missed, but this was my target and I was very pleased to get it as I drove out, although it was almost directly into the light! My first photographic opportunity of the year, but I have had a few sightings

 

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 9/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1250, EV +1 2/3

 

7T4A4799 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

150) Yellowhammer

[Tdgraves]

I did see some lesser whitethroat, but I was too slow to catch them and I had a group of people behind me to scare them off, so here are a couple of duplicates

 

7T4A4763 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A4754 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A4775 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[PeterHG]

Lovely Yellowhammer and a shame about the missed Lesser Whitethroat. I hope you'll get another chance later on.

[Tdgraves]

These are around every day, but are a bit more reticent, now that my male cat has worked out how to catch them (2 so far this year). Taken though my (open) downstairs toilet window

 

My garden, Cambridgeshire, 13/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/200

 

7T4A4806a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

151) Common woodpigeon

Edited June 16, 2020 by Tdgraves

[Tdgraves]

I went to a new reserve today, mainly for a bit of variety. It was a long drive and the scenery (a long straight raised path) and weather were not very convincing, but I saw a few things...

 

RSPB Nene washes, Cambridgeshire, UK, 16/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/2500

 

7T4A4846a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

152) Sedge warbler

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Nene washes, Cambridgeshire, UK, 16/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/3200 (a severe crop)

 

7T4A4822 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

153) Great spotted woodpecker (first of the year)

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Nene washes, Cambridgeshire, UK, 16/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/6400 

 

7T4A4882a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/4000 

 

7T4A4887a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

154) Eurasian skylark (another first of the year)

[Tdgraves]

 

RSPB Nene washes, Cambridgeshire, UK, 16/6/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/2500 

 

7T4A4867a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

155) Great black-backed gull

[Tdgraves]

I have one very far EBC in the bank, which may or may not be a grey wagtail. Otherwise I saw marsh harriers, herons, swans etc. but none of the fabled cranes. Plenty of these though...

 

7T4A4908a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A4915a by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Galana]

Good to see you pushing the boundaries.

[Soukous]

I'm surprised that you just saw your first Skylark on 16 June. We are not that far away from your location and we've had the pleasure of seeing loads of them for several months.