BY 2022 - Soukous (even if there are no birds, you can still enjoy the music)

[Soukous]

46 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

My attempt yesterday failed with a total no show although in fairness I was a bit early in the day and didn't hang around very long as I had Claire with me .

 

Sadly, bird photography is more often than not a solitary passtime.

I think my patience is reasonable but has limits, there was one chap who I passed at 10:15 in the morning and he stayed in the same spot until 14:15 when the Owls started hunting. He said he wouldn't leave until he'd seen them.

[Zim Girl]

Great start with some really lovely pictures.  I particularly like the RB Merganser, and the SE Owl pictures were a bit more than just useable - cracking shots!!

[PeterHG]

Excellent set of photos from your outing and it must have been very special to see the owls hunting!

[shazdwn]

10 hours ago, Soukous said:

 

Me too! 

The problem with trying to get decent shots of birds in flight is that I don't really have time to appreciate fully the beauty of what I am witnessing, I'm too wrapped up in trying to keep the bird in focus. 

It’s a toss up, but I can never resist going for the shot

[Soukous]

11 hours ago, shazdwn said:

It’s a toss up, but I can never resist going for the shot

 

me too, and therein lies the problem 

[shazdwn]

38 minutes ago, Soukous said:

 

me too, and therein lies the problem 

There is a problem in that statement, I don’t see it 🤣🤣🤣📷📷📷

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Owl shots 

[michael-ibk]

Awesome sighting of the Owls and great shots!

[Peter Connan]

Lovely shots Martin!

[Soukous]

Family duties have taken me out of the UK for a few weeks and although the chance to explore new areas is appealing, the weather has been, to put it politely, dismal. Heavy overcast skies and intermittent drizzle. 

Even so, when the opportunity presents itself we must seize it.

 

#16 - Barnacle Goose - Weisswangengans - Branta leucopsis

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

My first sighting was of them flying overhead

 

but a couple of days later I got a closer view from the car window

Edited January 28, 2022 by Soukous

[Soukous]

and as they were in the same field I grabbed these as well

 

#17 Canada Goose - - Kanadagans - Branta canadensis

Schleswig Holstein, Germany - Jan 2022

 

[Soukous]

#18 - Coot - Blasshuhn - Fulica atra

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

[Soukous]

The coastline here (Baltic Sea / Ostsee) is plentiful in Eiders at this time of year, and the lack of people means they come quite close to the shore.

 

#19 - Eider - Eiderente - Somateria mollissima

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

We came across a flock of about 100 Fieldfare in a roadside field and I thought it would be easy to get good shots. Ha! They were very nervous and every time a car went passed they flew up, moving further away each time.

 

#20 - Fieldfare - Wacholderdrossel - Turdus pilaris

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

[Soukous]

Lots of these little ducks sheltering in the bays too. 

 

#21 Goldeneye - Schellente - Bucephala clangula

Schleswig Holstein, Germany - Jan 2022

 

 

 

[Soukous]

Plenty of Whooper Swans here as well, both on land and on the water. I'm always impressed how they manage to locate themselves right in the centre of a large field, so that whichever side you are on you can't get close to them.

 

#22 - Whooper Swan - Singschwan - Cygnus cygnus

Schleswig Holstein, Germany - Jan 2022

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

Not much to say about this one except that if had not been making so much noise I wouldn't have seen it at all.

 

#23 - House Sparrow - Haussperling - Passer domesticus

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

[Soukous]

# 24 - Tufted Duck - Reiherente - Aythya fuligula

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

Mr

 

Mrs

 

[Soukous]

25 - Black-headed Gull - Lachmowe - chroicocephalus ridibundus

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

[Soukous]

I saw just one of these, in among the Tufted Ducks and Coots

 

#26 - Great Crested Grebe - Haubentaucher - Podiceps cristatus

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

 

[Soukous]

Yesterday, the clouds finally broke and the sun appeared. Along with the sun came a fierce biting wind and most of the birds sought shelter.

 

A group of Goosanders were using the harbour at Schleswig to shelter.

 

#27 - Goosander - Gansesager - Mergus merganser

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Jan 2022

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Love the Eider duck pictures.

[PeterHG]

Some good species and photographs there, Martin! Love your Eiders and Goosanders.

[Galana]

Make that three of us.

[Peter Connan]

Lovely shots again!