Bluebird...

Found myself heading to Gloucestershire on 30th December for an unanticipated look for a male Blue Rock Thrush that had been found feeding in Stow-on-the-Wold. A bit further than I would have liked, but holidays permitted a bit of extra effort. 

2 hours had passed before the bird was located, feeding in a back-garden and breaking between feeds on nearby roof tops. Just like they do...

Winter mist did not help, but the occasional break of sunshine brought out the colours.

Swan & Gooses

From dusk till

Beeley...

Arrived just after midday on Sunday after earlier news had confirmed that the Dusky Thrush was still present at the rather quaint setting of Beeley in Derbyshire. However, it wasn't as straight forward as I had hoped - still a large crowd viewing from a restrictive area obscured with tangled hawthorn - so opted with a few others to view from an alternative corner. Two plus hours passed before the Thrush returned and it was a bit of a scramble to the other viewing area to grab an obscured view.

A few record shots with the lens pointing through a table of hedging, and in very dull cloudy winter light (it was approaching 3pm), a high ISO and ridiculously low exposure of 1/60 - 1/40... grainy images obtained...

Who's a?

Pottering around Hyde Park on Saturday morning provided some views of the elusive Ring-Necked Parakeets.

Diminishing Berries

Seasonal

...decent haul this morning on the Horton Burn -

36-38 Waxwing
5 Little Egret
1 (possibly 2) Kingfisher
1 Pink-footed Goose
1 Chiffchaff

Morn'wings

The weekend that was...

Busy, busy, busy... a county tick (327) - it's taken a third county bird to catch up, but what a belter. Thanks to CB for use of the 600/1.4...  The first day of "Winter" - I'll take more like this.

Not forgetting the Saturday shrike... a few more from yesterday evening...

Last day of summer... late afternoon Shrike

Once bittern

Tales of the unexpected continue, with nightshift and tides preventing the opportunity to head to Holy Island for the UKs' 5th Siberian Accentor (!) and Isabelline Shrike, a Brucie-bonus in the form of a Bittern at St Mary's Wetland - paraded itself remarkably well, just wish I'd had the bigger lens!

From Dusk till...

"Made do" with a Dusky Warbler at Tynemouth this morning, albeit in heavy rain - no images, so some more from yesterday... the bizarre "influx" continues, with another, yet another closer to home!

Northumberland must have one too?

A 'Centor of attention...

The problem with digital photography is that you can just snap away - until the amount of images to review / edit becomes an unfavourable task... more images here later...

Thrush rush

iPhone- scoped

Nice venture to Holy Island on a sunny Sunday - after a week of work prevented any catch up with goodies, dividends in the form of a full UK tick - Thrush Nightingale. Great views upon arrival- surprising to find it feeding on the beach edge!

Later I was at the "half moon slack" near the Snook - enjoying yellow-browed warbler and red-breasted flycatcher... happy days!

Purple patch

Messed up with Minsmere plans last month, so a bit of luck with a second chance twitch - so sandwiched between a family party and an impending night shift, Lincs was on the agenda for this morning - and success.

Few bearded tit on the walk round the reeds and then some fine wader watching between swamphen appearances from the reeds. Managed to avoid the "one show" film crew too, so good all round.

Swamphen still looked a big brute despite being on the far Reedbed edge, so iPhone images only...

Perils of birding

Back to Amble late morning on news of a potential county tick - Yellow-legged Gull. Alas no sign, but a catch up with the Caspian - third year in a row for me now. Departed with a slight delay resultant from the car park taking a dislike to my car, one bumper now to replace...

Need of a Black Tern at QEII came just as I was approaching the car park, so a quick pull in ... Would have been rude not too.

Back home and more bird news from Amble with a WR Sand... Might be back sooner than I'd ordinarily like.

Waders...

After lasts weeks Spotted Sand, waders continued to feature today in Druridge Bay, with several Little Stint, loads of Ruff, Curlew Sand, Greenshank, Wood Sand etc pottering in front of the optics. Amble didn't produce the Caspian Gull, but the consumption of chips continued to be reliable.

Dot more apt than Spot

Nice to catch up with a spotty Spotted Sandpiper at Hauxley today. Bit distant for the camera, one for digi-scopers.