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Galana's sixth. Building on what was started.


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Dave Williams

Impressive Fred! I'm struggling to keep pace with both your score and your postings!

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Hold tight for a trip to EEBC. ExtremeEBC.

Today I ventured to a small Trust reserve (where the Wallabies mostly live) and was shocked/disappointed at some landscape "improvements" to the eco system that we have entrusted to their 'care'.

Anyway it did lead to a couple of new ticks for the year and the island scores.

First a one shot wonder. First of the many no doubt.

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231 (065 IOM) Chiff chaff. I am going for that due to the fine bill, pumping tail  and browner look. Close Sartfield, IOM.

From a single shot to ten minutes of lens waving as I tried to nail at least one decent shot, and failed. Welcome to the EEBC. I will include several just so you can get a feel for the effort expended.

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Sit STILL you little beggars.....

 

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Turn round dammit.

 

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Better....

 

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Phew!  You should see the ones that got away.

231 (066 IOM) Goldcrest. Close Sartfield. IOM.

 

And then it was over to the coast to add one for the IOM list and to improve on the effort already counted in Namibia.

A bit of mixed bathing whilst deciding whether to stay and breed.

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103 (067 IOM) Little Tern. Smeale beach, Rue Point, IOM.

 

And finally the first of many.

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BIF. Bug in Flight.

233 (68 IOM) Common Whitethroat. Smeale Ayres, IOM. The Bug is as yet unknown but very common at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

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That is a wonderful shot of the Whitethroat with the bug!

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Today as foretold in another thread I made two trips.

The first had a specific target of Auks and the destination is visible from Galana Towers although the actual birds are not.

It also involves a bit of a walk cliff to the top of cliffs. The walk is easy going down but a bit stiff regaining the car park.

Success. 1-DSCN5208.JPG.cd4cbaf836c74fe45b0f3a42b7471e60.JPG

Well they were back.

So on to a spot I knew that gave a decent view without breaking one's neck  and they were home.

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234. (IOM 69) Razorbill. Maughold Broughs.

 

Anf a bonus bird.1-DSCN5227.JPG.e8eb8a9f69c458af9a538193d5275cb7.JPG

Kissing cousins??

I had taken some long shots as the Gillies prefer some out of sight on sheer ledges .

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So this was a bonus.

235. (IOM 70) Common Guillemot. Maughold Broughs. (pronounced Mackall Brooks.) Maughold after the nearby village named after Saint Maughold.

So that is two of our five Auks ticked off. I have yet to see let alone photograph a Little Auk which does visit in winter and I am not counting on a Puffin but the fifth I should pick up tomorrow weather permitting. We shall see.

 

Finally for the morning outing I managed to bring my IOM count up one more to record a bird seen briefly in Namibia..

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209. But 71 for IOM. Willow Warbler.

Back home for domestic engagements. Total time 65 minutes.

 

And so to a quick trip in the afternoon so as not to waste the sunshine...

Nothing new on the Ayres, Gannets, Eiders, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and a lone common Gull that seemed to be nesting in the area roped off for Arctic Terns who were nowhere to be seen.

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Already counted as 44/44.

 

On the way home I stopped by to see what the activity was with Sand Martins so I may as well put them up now.

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They may nest in holes but a little extra comfort never goes a miss. An activity I was not aware of.

 

And a couple of flying shots to up my game,1-DSCN5316.JPG.94cd8b3b8539b791323f670af6c799af.JPG

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236. (IOM 072.) Sand Martin. Shellagh point.

 

Now for those Tysties.

Edited by Galana
delete superflous photo
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great additions! the sand martins are cute. 

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43 minutes ago, Kitsafari said:

the sand martins are cute. 

I like all the Hirondene family. I think the gape gives them a smiley face so they always look happy.

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Friday 13th may not be the most auspicious date and the weather was a little dull but I had decided today was the day for Auk#3. So we set off for the far west and the island's only City where I knew the harbour was the annual summer home to several pairs that would provide subjects for consideration.

And so it proved. Even before reaching my usual parking spot I was enjoying these lovely little birds. Indeed I just pulled over and got out with camera in hand and they did the rest.

They used to be in the old harbour but since the river was fitted with a 'gate' to create a marina they have indicated their approval of the calmer, non tidal, waters by moving in en masse. As the harbour is busy they are quite habituated to people and are happy to pose for the camera on boats or just the stonework.

So here are a few of the 192 frames I took of this delightful bird...

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237 (IOM 073) Black Guillemot. Peel harbour/marina. Love those red feet and claws.

 

And as we were in a harbour I was minded of a recent post by @Zim Girl, and snapped off a couple of  frames. They nest here too.

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already counted at #45 but worth another viewing.

Eiders a.k.a.s St.Cuthbert's Duck from Northumberland legend and the source of the name Eiderdown for what modern folks call a Quilt or Duvet as they were traditionally stuffed with the soft down of the female duck harvested from their nest.

Edited by Galana
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192 frames and not a single EBC shot?! You are dropping your standards! @Galana :P. Now on a serious note, what a splendid portrayal of a magnificent bird, and the Eider is right there, shoulder to shoulder.

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23 minutes ago, xelas said:

not a single EBC shot?!

Well if you are getting withdrawal symptoms here are  a couple just for you.:lol:1-DSCN5444.JPG.1a282d09abfb2a903c9743ddf206a86a.JPG1-DSCN5531.JPG.baa5c67e9aa4b6648cb07ea011b1650a.JPG

But thanks for your kind remarks. I am rather pleased with the results posted. With the Tysties it was not so much the lack of my EBC filter but keeping them outside the minimal focal length. They are almost as precocious as the Puffins on Lunga.

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oooh i say, lovely portraits of the guillemot and eider!

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Fantastic Black Guillemot pictures and you are just rubbing it in with those gorgeous Eiders!

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3 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

you are just rubbing it in with those gorgeous Eiders!

Not my intention I assure you. Just supplying other locations where you may find them.

Are they not seen around St.Bees or even closer to you? The Tysties are.

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Great shots of the Guillemots and Eiders!

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Dave Williams

The first Goldcrest shot was instantly recognisable and failed to hit the charts as an EBC!

Some enviable birds in the list Fred. My concern is I'm missing out on my UK list by going away too often during a critical month or two!

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2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

My concern is I'm missing out on my UK list by going away too often during a critical month or two!

I always like to grab a foreign trip south to start the year (and dodge the weather) but love to be local for the summer influx before the leaf cover makes life even harder than it is. There is a Snowy Owl on Uist, almost in sight of my cottage, as I write so the next four weeks are going to be stressful enough.:o

Enjoy Bulgaria. Take Dark glasses and stay off the beach.

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13 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

My concern is I'm missing out on my UK list by going away too often during a critical month or two!

 

No sympathy from me Dave. You made the decisions. B)

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11 hours ago, Galana said:

There is a Snowy Owl on Uist, almost in sight of my cottage, as I write

That sounds great! My wife and I were thinking briefly of going to those western parts of Scotland next month, but the time is really too short to find out about places we should visit and finding and booking available accommodation. Uist was already on the list, though...

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3 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

That sounds great! My wife and I were thinking briefly of going to those western parts of Scotland next month, but the time is really too short to find out about places we should visit and finding and booking available accommodation. Uist was already on the list, though...

 

Getting accommodation will be the challenge Peter. I know Fred booked his last July, and even then it was one of the only weeks available. Accommodation in the UK has been in extreme demand for the past couple of years; I can't wait for everyone to start going overseas again.

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Dave Williams
1 hour ago, Soukous said:

 

Getting accommodation will be the challenge Peter. I know Fred booked his last July, and even then it was one of the only weeks available. Accommodation in the UK has been in extreme demand for the past couple of years; I can't wait for everyone to start going overseas again.

 

Martin, I'm doing my best but getting no sympathy from you it seems:D

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@Galanabeautiful additions here. The Black Guillemot are stunning birds, and helpfully remaining close to your camera

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13 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Martin, I'm doing my best but getting no sympathy from you it seems

 

:D maybe we need a couple more emojis - 'sympathy wanted' and 'no sympathy needed'.

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8 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

@Galanabeautiful additions here. The Black Guillemot are stunning birds, and helpfully remaining close to your camera

 

with Fred's camera that could be half a mile away :P

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2 hours ago, Soukous said:

maybe we need a couple more emojis - 'sympathy wanted' and 'no sympathy needed'.

:D:wub:  This works for me. Delete as required.

 

Those Tysties could be to close. I sometimes had to back out the zoom to get it focussed.

 

Edited by Galana
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4 hours ago, PeterHG said:

booking available accommodation. Uist was already on the list, though...

Often available if you don't mind a short drive off the epicentre.

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