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...

From the archive: January 2004

American Robin, Grimsby, 10th January 2004

I'm not getting out as much as I'd like this week ~ a new central heating installation and some overtime being worked is limiting free time. Mid-week I dipped the Blyth Harbour red-necked grebe and snow buntings, while the Morpeth hawfinches remain out of reach...

The image above was digi-scoped with a 4 mega-pixel nikon coolpix 4500 ~ much photoshop work has been done to reduce noise from the low light conditions that prevailed on my visit, and the un-edited jpeg file was very soft and washed-out ~ here's a thumbnail of the original:

One of those "wishIhadhadmycurrentcameraequipentthen" moments - the slow response of the coolpix focus and shutter response was a real pain, especially when the robin was feeding.

Desert Wheatear

Conveniently near to the SGS at Saltfleet. Feeding activley in front of a small admiring crowd on 9th November.

Steppe Grey Shrike

1st Winter at Grainthorpe on 9th November. A very showing individual indeed!