tdgraves 8th big year 2021

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @PeterHG

[Peter Connan]

It's a good thing somebody is, because I'm not...

 

Great job!

[Tdgraves]

40 minutes ago, Peter Connan said:

It's a good thing somebody is, because I'm not...

 

Great job!

I think you are!

[elefromoz]

A great "warbler" collection, and 3 in a day. I didn't know there was a "Garden" warbler, obviously I haven't been paying attention over the years. Still sounds pretty wet your way.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @elefromoz neither did I, until I started doing the BY. More rain forecast this week...

[Galana]

3 hours ago, elefromoz said:

I didn't know there was a "Garden" warbler,

The book describes it as a "plain brown warbler with no obvious features." Hardly surprising few folks know of it even though it does its best to get your attention by singing " a stream of sweet musical phrases".

[Dave Williams]

The Garden Warbler is a particularly good shot too! Nice one.

 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Dave Williams made up for the lack of walk or other sightings

[Tdgraves]

The back road to Ouse Fen is rather treacherous with crater-like potholes and steep concrete edges which are disguised by puddles, so I thought I'd go before getting rid of my old car. I am not brave enough to go in my new, but still quite old car as yet. Perhaps when the novelty wears off....Again, my judgement of the weather was lacking. It appeared to be clearing, but of course, was very cloudy when I got there. I have been there several times and have never seen a bearded tit/reedling. Someone in the bird club posts photos of them there on an almost weekly basis, so I spent much more effort scanning the reeds this time. However, the mowing team were not keen on my presence, so I could not search in all areas where I had planned to. This bunch kept creeping up on me every time my back was turned....

 

00000191a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

And this one actively chased me  (the sun did eventually emerge from the clouds)

 

00000192a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

However, I emerged unscathed and my technique paid off, with a distant and brief sighting. But a lifer is a lifer...

 

RSPB Ouse, Fen, Cambridgeshire, 25/5/21

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 2000, f7.1, 1/320

 

00000185a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 4000, f6.6, 1/250

 

00000186a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

82) Bearded reedling

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Ouse, Fen, Cambridgeshire, 25/5/21

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/3200

 

00000188a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/4000

 

00000190a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

83) Common house martin (very hard to catch in flight)

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Ouse, Fen, Cambridgeshire, 25/5/21

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/3200

 

7T4A9884 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

84) Common tern

[Tdgraves]

I also heard my first ever booming bittern (very reminiscent of a lion I thought, but perhaps it was just yearning for the bush)....

 

plenty of these guys around too

 

00000187a by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Tdgraves]

More spectacular misinterpretation of the weather was to follow. I finished early for the Bank Holiday weekend, which was forecast dry and hot, so thought nothing of it as I drove of into partial cloud cover. Whilst I was walking in jeans and a T-shirt, I did notice it was very humid, but I was surprised when it started raining. I took shelter under a tree and it kept stopping and starting, so I thought that I would wait it out, reassured that my weather app said it would pass in a few minutes. Well, the minutes passed and the rain got very hard (and it got very dark). Now the weather radar showed no let up in the rain for at least the next hour, so I had to eventually make a run for it back to the car and I got drenched. During this rain, I had my best ever cuckoo sighting, but of course, the photos aren't up to much given the light conditions.

 

Paxton Pits, Cambridgeshire, 28/5/21

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/2500, EV +2/3

 

00000193a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 5000, f5.6, 1/800

 

00000194a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

85) Common cuckoo

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on the Bearded Reedling lifer, it’s such a cool bird!

[PeterHG]

Your bravery paid off with a lifer, and a good one, too!

[xelas]

A cuckoo sighting is a cuckoo sighting, and if drenched by rain, it counts even more!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @michael-ibk @PeterHG and @xelas

[Soukous]

Neat cuckoo sighting, and photos. Better than I have managed - ever.

[Galana]

Worth getting wet for. Well maybe!

Good results. Pleased the patience with the Lawn Mowers paid off with the Reedling and a wet cuckoo..

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Soukous and @Galana better than the last time I got wet I guess, 1 shot of a sedge warbler that time….

[Kitsafari]

great sighting of the bearded reedling, and i can just about make out its reflection on the water. a good cuckoo reward despite the rains! 

[Tdgraves]

I went out with two target birds today and got them both, although neither was very cooperative and I saw very little else. At least I got the weather right today and I didn't get wet for a change!

 

RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes, Cambridgeshire, 8/6/21

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 1000, f7.1, 1/500

 

00000201a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

86) Blackcap

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes, Cambridgeshire, 8/6/21

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/1250

 

7T4A0038 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark iv, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/1000

 

00000202a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

87) Common whitethroat

[Tdgraves]

I also found a tawny owl feather on the drive this week, but still have never seen one....

[elefromoz]

On 6/2/2021 at 12:42 AM, Tdgraves said:

And this one actively chased me  (the sun did eventually emerge from the clouds)

 

On 6/2/2021 at 12:42 AM, Tdgraves said:

However, I emerged unscathed and my technique paid off, with a distant and brief sighting. But a lifer is a lifer...

 

So it was worth putting your life on the line! I too am fearful of herds of Cows...If there's a Tawny feather around, the owner has to be nearby surely