Tdgraves smaller big year 2023

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on the 200.  I am really enjoying the birds from the Bahamas.

Also impressed with the flying GC Grebe!

 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Zim Girl

[Tdgraves]

So, onto the old ones, starting with our birding trip and especially for @michael-ibk

 

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

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

 

7T4A8154 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A8443 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

210) Grey kingbird

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

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

 

7T4A8155 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

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

 

7T4A8569 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

211) Laughing gull

[Tdgraves]

Apologies for the photo overload of this one - there was a small flock and they were very close...

 

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/2000

 

7T4A8160 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A8211 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A8216 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

7T4A8294-2 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

212) Green heron

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/400

 

7T4A8277 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

213) Yellow-crowned night-heron

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/3200

 

7T4A8204 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

214) Little blue heron

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/2000

 

7T4A8187 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/1250

 

7T4A8271 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

215) Ruddy turnstone

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/1250

 

7T4A8263 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

216) Black-necked stilt

[Tdgraves]

Filling the same niche as the hadeda in Johannesburg...

 

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/2000

 

7T4A8396 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

217) Glossy ibis (none since in the UK as yet...)

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2000, f7.1, 1/1600

 

7T4A8179 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1600

 

7T4A8647 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

218) Spotted sandpiper (with spots!)

[Tdgraves]

New Providence, Bahamas, 30/4/23

 

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

 

7T4A8649 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

219) Semi-palmated plover

[Tdgraves]

Back to the UK then. A couple of weeks ago I thought I'd go somewhere different for a change and so I went to Wicken Fen, where I made the mistake of paying the entrance fee to the National Trust section, as they have a summer walk around the perimeter. Unfortunately this was closed until the following week, meaning my walk cost me nearly £10 for less than an hour. There is a hide looking out over a small empty pond and another looking out over reedbeds, but the path is right next to it, so if there were anything there (there wasn't) it would be flushed by walkers. Oh well, lesson learnt. I then went on a longer (free walk) where I saw a few things, but mostly repeats and far away. As I came back to the visitor centre, there were swallows drinking. As I was on my way for a much deserved coffee and cake, I elected to come back to them, but of course, when my appetite was sated, the action was over.

 

Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, 26/5/23. 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 1.4x extender, ISO 800, f5.6, 1/1250, EV +1

 

58a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

59a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

220) Barn swallow

 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Tdgraves
Typo

[Tdgraves]

45a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

52a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

54a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

56a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

55a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

60a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

62a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

64a by tdgraves, on Flickr

Edited June 8, 2023 by Tdgraves
extra photo

[Tdgraves]

At the start of the month, I had an epic day birding, with 2 UK firsts and another rare bird, all within a few miles from home. Apologies in advance for this severe EBC, but it was far away and is a rare UK bird. It was also doing it's best to blend in by hanging around with mute swans and little/great egrets! I did go back on Thursday via a different path, as another rare bird (black-crowned night heron) had also been around the same area, but both had left the area.

 

Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400, ISO 1000, f9.0, 1/1600

 

D14I0335 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0349 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0354 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

221) White stork

Edited June 12, 2023 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

Nothing else new for the BY from that site, so onwards...and whilst searching to see if I had already counted, I found that I had two sand martins, so -1 to the score

 

Berry Fen, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/8000

 

D14I0516 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

221) House martin

Edited June 12, 2023 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

Berry Fen, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/1600

 

D14I0693-2 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

222) Eurasian hobby

Edited June 12, 2023 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

The rare bird here was a grey plover, but it was far (further than the shot I posted previously). There were also common ringed plovers, but as they are even smaller, I am hoping for a better chance before the year is out. A couple of duplicates

 

D14I0505 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0513 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0715 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0462 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

and some flowers

 

D14I0489 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0698 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[Tdgraves]

RSPB Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/5000

 

D14I0805 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

and one from the same place this week

 

D14I1279 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

223) Eurasian oystercatcher

Edited June 12, 2023 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

The sun had vanished behind some clouds on it's way to setting when I met a man at the end of the reserve who had just seen a crane. He took me back to the sight and despite seeing it himself a couple of times, I could not locate it. He left me to it and I thought I'd stand on the bench to see if the extra height helped me, which it did. Within seconds, I saw it's head briefly, before going behind some reeds. I swear it then ducked down to cross a more open area, where I then relocated it. To help with photography, it then flew over to the other side of the reeds. I was even able to let the helpful birder know that I had seen it the following week.

 

RSPB Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire, 2/6/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400, ISO 2000, f7.1, 1/2000

 

D14I0913 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2000, f7.1, 1/6400

 

D14I0921 (2) by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

224) Common crane

 

My first UK sighting and only my second ever, the first being a high fly over in Spain 

Edited June 12, 2023 by Tdgraves
typo

[Tdgraves]

To top off my epic day, the sun even returned for some nice photos

 

D14I0863 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0960 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0790 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0836 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0981 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I1019 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I1044 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I1048 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I1065 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

D14I0965 by tdgraves, on Flickr

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Crane and the Hobby in flight 

[Galana]

3 hours ago, TonyQ said:

ell done with the Crane and the Hobby in flight 

Absolutely. The Hobby is a stunner.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @TonyQand @Galanait flew over my head and I just about had time to catch it.

[Zim Girl]

Great sighting of the Crane!