Show Us Your Bird & Wildlife Photos

[Peter99]

martyn pitt, on 22 Sept 2014 - 11:46 AM, said:

I do not consider it unwieldy Russell ... just a case of clicking on the last page.

 

Why not open another thread for general photography, to run in tandem with it 

 

 

Winsford Soul, on 22 Sept 2014 - 12:28 PM, said:

Russell. I'm with Martyn on this one. There's so much more than picture's shared on this thread. The informative comments. The questions that arise from the photographs etc etc.

Still a fantastic thread after all this time and posts.

Steve

I agree. I haven't posted and photographs which I have taken personally but enjoy looking at other peoples pics and taking part in the discussion.

 

Peter

[Guest]

Saw this wee fella this morning in a right state, wobble-walking across the lawn, he was freezing cold. Looks like hypothermia had set in. He`s now de-frosting in the wash basket wrapped in a cardigan with a hot water bottle underneath. 

 

Doesn`t he look toastie

Edited September 22, 2014 by Guest

[Amsterdam Russ]

keep it going Russell "with nearly 1150 posts" it's a popular thread.

 

 

I do not consider it unwieldy Russell ... just a case of clicking on the last page.

 

Why not open another thread for general photography, to run in tandem with it 

 

 

Russell. I'm with Martyn on this one. There's so much more than picture's shared on this thread. The informative comments. The questions that arise from the photographs etc etc.

Still a fantastic thread after all this time and posts.

Steve

 

 

I agree. I haven't posted and photographs which I have taken personally but enjoy looking at other peoples pics and taking part in the discussion.

 

Peter

 

Pretty unequivocal then. The thread continues and perhaps I'll start up a more general photography thread as well.

 

Thanks, guys. 

[Martyn Pitt]

I would have just started Part 2 Russell 

 

Anyway here is a blue and orange exorcet from Sunday, a bit far out across the reservoir even with the big lens, but at the speed they travel always a bonus to get it in focus and in the frame.

 

 

 

I saw 5 of them on Sunday, including a pair zooming across the reservoir.

 

We had joked that they were heading for the ringing groups nets, when we got around by them it appeared one had.

 

I should point out that these guys are licensed to carry the ringing and recording.To see how small these birds are in the hand is always an eye opener. 

 

The ringer took this Kingfisher and laid it on it's back in his open palm, it just lay there for a minute then flew off.

 

 

[Guest]

Update on Mr Tiggy-winkle.

We got him back to something like normal and took him to a local hedgehog rescue centre.

[Amsterdam Russ]

I would have just started Part 2 Russell 

 

Anyway here is a blue and orange exorcet from Sunday, a bit far out across the reservoir even with the big lens, but at the speed they travel always a bonus to get it in focus and in the frame.

 

424_030.jpg

 

 

I saw 5 of them on Sunday, including a pair zooming across the reservoir.

 

We had joked that they were heading for the ringing groups nets, when we got around by them it appeared one had.

 

I should point out that these guys are licensed to carry the ringing and recording.To see how small these birds are in the hand is always an eye opener. 

 

The ringer took this Kingfisher and laid it on it's back in his open palm, it just lay there for a minute then flew off.

 

424_042.jpg

 

424_045.jpg

 

Yes, 'part 2' was and is an option. Perhaps a new one for each season is an idea.

 

Kingfishers - known as Ijsvogels here (literally - ice birds)  are marvellous things to see. They seem to generally announce their impending travels with that high-pitched, single note whistle. Hear the whistle and you're almost guaranteed to see a flash of blue lightning streak low across the water.

 

In the summer we were having a waterside picnic in the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam woods). A kingfisher was darting back and forth on the other bank quite frequently and, much to my surprise, seemed to have a preferred spot high in the trees. Certainly that's where it kept returning. By high, I mean perhaps 10m or more off the ground. I'd always associated them with having burrows in the sandy banks of rivers and waterways.

 

Having said that, reeds cover most banks, so perhaps a more woodpecker-like approach was the only practical option for this particular bird.

[Guest Dirk Tiggler]

well not sure if this will work at all...I'm in Barbados right now and the wildlife is pretty special. From the hotel decking right on the beach we see this nature group come at night to collect turtles that are hatching out. During the day there are albatrosses swooping high in the sky and looking through binoculars they look magnificent. On the other end of the scale in that bush (if loaded correctly, looked upside down on the preview) there's a huming bird right of the puddle, below the sign. Sorry if it can't be made out. Ade

[Amsterdam Russ]

20140922_164100.jpg well not sure if this will work at all...I'm in Barbados right now and the wildlife is pretty special. From the hotel decking right on the beach we see this nature group come at night to collect turtles that are hatching out. During the day there are albatrosses swooping high in the sky and looking through binoculars they look magnificent. On the other end of the scale in that bush (if loaded correctly, looked upside down on the preview) there's a huming bird right of the puddle, below the sign. Sorry if it can't be made out. Ade

Can just about make something out if I tilt my head over to the left! Having been to that part of the world, I can testify in full accord that the wildlife is something else - especially the lobster on the beach 

[Guest]

Is it a slug?

[Guest Dirk Tiggler]

Is it a slug?

No no it's a huming bird really! haven't seen any slugs but seen snails the size of a ice cream cornet. Ade

[Winsford Soul]

upstream view

downstream view

Pontcysyllte Viaduct. World heritage site

Steve

Edited September 23, 2014 by Winsford Soul

[Winsford Soul]

underside view

The view across the viaduct which is 126ft above the river dee

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

The two dragonflies taken yesterday with the image stabilisation turned off on my lens (gutted )

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

The last Swallows of summer ? Taken today flying high over the horseshoe pass above Llangollen

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

20140922_164100.jpg well not sure if this will work at all...I'm in Barbados right now and the wildlife is pretty special. From the hotel decking right on the beach we see this nature group come at night to collect turtles that are hatching out. During the day there are albatrosses swooping high in the sky and looking through binoculars they look magnificent. On the other end of the scale in that bush (if loaded correctly, looked upside down on the preview) there's a huming bird right of the puddle, below the sign. Sorry if it can't be made out. Ade

Ade. I can make it out if I enlarge the picture. nice one

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

Spider picture taken this morning to make sure all the setting where ok before I set of on my travels after yesterdays fiasco with image stabilisation

Steve

Edited September 23, 2014 by Winsford Soul

[Guest Dirk Tiggler]

Glad you can make it out! It's body was about the size of a thumb with a narrow tail about 4 inches. It took nectar from about 10 to 15 flowers giving me time to take a snap. If I was more adept with phones I.e. using magnification it might have been a decent picture. Ade

[Martyn Pitt]

The two dragonflies taken yesterday with the image stabilisation turned off on my lens (gutted )

Steve

The first one looks like a Southern Hawker, and the second one a Common Darter (which was what I thought from your description before)

[Winsford Soul]

The first one looks like a Southern Hawker, and the second one a Common Darter (which was what I thought from your description before)

Thank you kind sir.

Steve

[Orotava]

Is it just me or is there a veritable plague of leatherjackets/ daddy long legs about at the moment - I can`t remember ever seeing the quantity that are around??

[Peter99]

Is it just me or is there a veritable plague of leatherjackets/ daddy long legs about at the moment - I can`t remember ever seeing the quantity that are around??

Evening my mate. 

 

I don't think I've seen a daddy long legs all year.

 

 

Peter

[Orotava]

Evening my mate. 

 

I don't think I've seen a daddy long legs all year.

 

 

Peter

 

Evening Peter - trust the world is treating you well?  You should come to Cheltenham then -we`ve dozens of the rascals!!

[Winsford Soul]

Is it just me or is there a veritable plague of leatherjackets/ daddy long legs about at the moment - I can`t remember ever seeing the quantity that are around??

September's the month for daddy long legs. Get a few early Aug then they tend to peak this month before the first frosts kill them off. Fish especially trout love them and can be caught quiet readily on a imitation daddy long legs fly. In Ireland they use the live adults in a method called dapping which basically involves hooking the fly gently so it's still alive then lowering it onto the waters surface so that it looks like it's landed naturally to fool the trout into taking the bait.

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

Seen three Swallows today flying in a southerly direction. Can't see there being many more sighting from the Manchester/ Cheshire area's

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

Seen House Martin's today in the Heywood Area.

Steve

[Martyn Pitt]

Three Swallows flew south over Belvide yesterday morning, here is a photo of one of them

 

 

 

We also had a couple of Curlew Sandpipers drop in, shame they would not come closer for a better shot

 

[Winsford Soul]

Heard a chiffchaff singing this morning. And I heard but couldn't see what sounded like a flock of parakeets flyover. Apparently there's quite a few in the Manchester area

Steve

[Martyn Pitt]

Heard a chiffchaff singing this morning. And I heard but couldn't see what sounded like a flock of parakeets flyover. Apparently there's quite a few in the Manchester area

Steve

They are plagued with them down south, whilst something rather colourful to photograph I would imagine they could have a detrimental effect on the native birds once they colonise an area.

[Middleman]

They are plagued with them down south, whilst something rather colourful to photograph I would imagine they could have a detrimental effect on the native birds once they colonise an area.

 

Bloody noisy as well!

[Martyn Pitt]

A cute Willow Tit

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Amsterdam Russ]

Heard a chiffchaff singing this morning. And I heard but couldn't see what sounded like a flock of parakeets flyover. Apparently there's quite a few in the Manchester area

Steve

Loads over here as well, especially in Amsterdam's parks. We even have them out here in Aalsmeer. They roost nearby, so if we're on the balcony in the evening we can't help but hear them.

[Amsterdam Russ]

I cycled to the woods of Amsterdam today — armed with camera — on what was a very grey and quite damp afternoon. My destination was a little place in the woods called Vogeleiland (Bird island), which is a small nature reserve. There are no signposts to tell you where it is, so if you don't already know, you're unlikely to find it. 

 

Here's a few pics from the trip...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm useless at id'ing flowers, so if anyone feels inclined to tell me what they are, I'd be delighted. 

[Tattoodave]

I cycled to the woods of Amsterdam today — armed with camera — on what was a very grey and quite damp afternoon. My destination was a little place in the woods called Vogeleiland (Bird island), which is a small nature reserve. There are no signposts to tell you where it is, so if you don't already know, you're unlikely to find it. 

 

Here's a few pics from the trip...

 

_DSC1337-web.jpg

 

_DSC1306-web.jpg

 

_DSC1305-web.jpg

 

_DSC1268-web.jpg

 

_DSC1269-web.jpg

 

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I'm useless at id'ing flowers, so if anyone feels inclined to tell me what they are, I'd be delighted. 

The first one is a geranium, but impossible to tell without better foliage photo,

Second is Euonymous europaeus, or common Spindle, very brittle wood but great autumn colour,

Third is a snail, but I guess you knew that?

Fourth I have no idea without seeing more of the plant

Fifth is a Campion/ Catchfly, but I'm not sure which

Sixth is a cornflower of some sort.  I know more about Spanish flora!

[Winsford Soul]

I cycled to the woods of Amsterdam today — armed with camera — on what was a very grey and quite damp afternoon. My destination was a little place in the woods called Vogeleiland (Bird island), which is a small nature reserve. There are no signposts to tell you where it is, so if you don't already know, you're unlikely to find it. 

 

Here's a few pics from the trip...

 

_DSC1337-web.jpg

 

_DSC1306-web.jpg

 

_DSC1305-web.jpg

 

_DSC1268-web.jpg

 

_DSC1269-web.jpg

 

_DSC1277-web.jpg

 

I'm useless at id'ing flowers, so if anyone feels inclined to tell me what they are, I'd be delighted. 

Russell. Dave the man for the flowers mate. Nice pictures by the way

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

Dave it looks like we posted at exactly the same time.

Steve

[Tattoodave]

Russell. Dave the man for the flowers mate. Nice pictures by the way

Steve

Just beat you to it Steve.

[Tattoodave]

Saw a crested tit this morning, we had heavy rain Saturday and Sunday, first real rain since February, not ideal, but at least it'll do some good for the flowers to come. Found these from Monkey World on a flash drive, lovely little chaps, reminded me of my brother

[Amsterdam Russ]

The first one is a geranium, but impossible to tell without better foliage photo,

Second is Euonymous europaeus, or common Spindle, very brittle wood but great autumn colour,

Third is a snail, but I guess you knew that?

Fourth I have no idea without seeing more of the plant

Fifth is a Campion/ Catchfly, but I'm not sure which

Sixth is a cornflower of some sort.  I know more about Spanish flora!

Great stuff, Dave. Much appreciated. 

 

Didn't connect that the second pic was of Spindle as I've seen them elsewhere in the woods, but with more of a luminescent magenta colour. And now I know what a snail looks like...   

[Tattoodave]

Great stuff, Dave. Much appreciated. 

 

Didn't connect that the second pic was of Spindle as I've seen them elsewhere in the woods, but with more of a luminescent magenta colour. And now I know what a snail looks like...   

The Euonymous family are marvellous, deciduous and evergreens, variegated foliage on some, different coloured seeds and seed cases, some with outstanding autumn colour, great for bonsai, and believe it or not they used to make spindles out of them for lace making.

[Tattoodave]

It's a Brown Lipped Snail though Russ

[Amsterdam Russ]

It's a Brown Lipped Snail though Russ

I didn't get that close.

[Tattoodave]

I didn't get that close.

You can actually see the brown lip on it, it's the base of the shell where his head would come out

[Tattoodave]

Saw this little chap in Berlin a couple of years ago, never realised the city was so green, would like to go back sometime, especially if there's soul involved

[Amsterdam Russ]

You can actually see the brown lip on it, it's the base of the shell where his head would come out

Wikipedia told me that straight after you'd named what type of snail it was! And now I know. 

[Tattoodave]

Wikipedia told me that straight after you'd named what type of snail it was! And now I know. 

It was the Collins Complete Mediterranean Wildlife Photoguide that did it for me

[Winsford Soul]

Dave. Could you ID this tree/shrub for me please. its self seeded and has grown to approx. two metres

Thanks mate

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

Seen House Martins in the Heywood area again today

Steve

[Peter99]

Dave. Could you ID this tree/shrub for me please. its self seeded and has grown to approx. two metres

IMG_9884.JPG

IMG_9891.JPG

Thanks mate

Steve

Looks like a Bay to me Steve. But I know nowt!

 

[Tattoodave]

Dave. Could you ID this tree/shrub for me please. its self seeded and has grown to approx. two metres

IMG_9884.JPG

IMG_9891.JPG

Thanks mate

Steve

What's the colour of the underside of the leaf?  Looks like it could be an eleagnus, if so it'll be silvery.  Makes a good bonsai if you want to give it a try.

[Tattoodave]

Looks like a Bay to me Steve. But I know nowt!

 

Could well be Pete, though doubtful as a self sown seedling, good call though