Tdgraves smaller big year 2023

[Galana]

20 hours ago, xelas said:

Everything named Big came from the States

Yup. They even have the biggest Dwarfs.

[PeterHG]

I was going to postpone my stay at the cemetery for a bit, but after seeing your bird collection the prospect seems much more attractive

[Galana]

4 hours ago, PeterHG said:

the prospect seems much more attractive

Sounds familiar? "I'm not dead if I'm still twitching. "

[Tdgraves]

I will keep up to date with my UK list before I get around to the Caribbean birds. This was my first visit to this reserve for a few years. It was closed for remedial works to the embankments. They have updated the hides (and removed a couple ) as well as putting in new stairs etc. The weather was not as advertised and I saw no waders at all, so it was a bit of a disappointment all in all.

 

RSPB Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, 16/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 1.4x extender, ISO 320, f5.6, 1/1250

 

D14I8966 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

177) Yellow wagtail

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, 16/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 1.4x extender, ISO 500, f5.6, 1/640

 

D14I9071 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

178) Sedge warbler

[Tdgraves]

I did see my first hobby of the year, but the shots are firmly in the EBC folder for now. I also heard my first cuckoo of the year. Barely worth posting the duplicates...

 

D14I8948 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9063 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9114 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9121 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Tdgraves]

The water levels had receded (just) enough to manage a meaningful walk and I circumnavigated one of the lakes for the first time in ages. Again, the weather didn't get the memo! But the first few are from the car on the way in...

 

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/2500, EV +1

 

D14I9147 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

179) Yellowhammer (first of the year when walking)

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/2500, EV +1

 

D14I9151 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

180) Garden warbler

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 1000, f7.1, 1/5000

 

D14I9225 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

181) Common tern

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/1250

 

D14I9257 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

182) Reed warbler

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/2500, EV -1

 

D14I9300 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9306 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

182) Canada goose

Edited May 21, 2023 by Tdgraves

[Tdgraves]

This one gave me the run around. I saw it several times at close quarters, flying off, so no chance to even lift my camera. Towards the end of my visit, another one flew over

 

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/8000

 

D14I9386 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

183) Common cuckoo

[Tdgraves]

This one was a complete surprise. A UK lifer and if I had not been in the Bahamas a couple of weeks ago, it would have been a lifer lifer. And I saw TWO of them. Unfortunately far away shots only....

 

RSPB Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 18/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/5000, EV -1

 

D14I9349 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

184) Grey plover

[Tdgraves]

And a couple of duplicates

 

D14I9136 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9277 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9286 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9334 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

These were right next to the car, but a vehicle arriving flushed them

 

D14I9438 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Tdgraves]

I also saw these guys as I drove out - another UK first for me!!

 

D14I9415 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9428 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

and another mammal

 

D14I9434 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[TonyQ]

Good to see a Grey Plover in breeding plumage.

[PeterHG]

Agree on the plover nd the fox was a special sighting, too!

[Tdgraves]

the sun finally came out late on Friday afternoon and for a while, I had the whole reserve to myself

 

RSPB Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire, 19/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/3200

 

D14I9446 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

185) Common shelduck

[Tdgraves]

Some extreme crops to show the "kill"

 

RSPB Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire, 19/5/23. 

 

D14I9658 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9659 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9660 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/4000, EV +2/3

 

D14I9668-2 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

185) Sand martin

Edited May 22, 2023 by Tdgraves
better photo

[Tdgraves]

I was really pleased to get some half decent swifts in flight but have already posted a c**p one from KTP, so here are some duplicates...

 

D14I9583-2 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9584-2 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9603 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9617 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9642 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9683-2 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9690 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9532 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9707 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I9721 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Tdgraves]

Oops, found another one not yet posted

 

RSPB Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire, 19/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/2500, EV +1

 

D14I9698 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

186) Gadwall

[Galana]

Great Kill and Swift sequence.

[xelas]

Fine selection of local birds!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Galana and @xelas

[Peter Connan]

Wonderful photos! Love the catch sequence.