The birds they mock me

[Master Of Puppets]

Some truly stunning shots again guys.

jingars said:

I am informed that these lovely things are Long-billed dowitchers.

These are actually Black Tailed Godwits, the long black legs being one of the main identifiers, LBD have shorter yellow legs and are quite a
bit smaller than BTG, they are also very rare in the UK. Nice picture all the same.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_godwit

[jingars]

Master Of Puppets said:

Some truly stunning shots again guys.

jingars said:

I am informed that these lovely things are Long-billed dowitchers.

These are actually Black Tailed Godwits, the long black legs being one of the main identifiers, LBD have shorter yellow legs and are quite a
bit smaller than BTG, they are also very rare in the UK. Nice picture all the same.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_godwit

Thank you very much for the clarification, MoP; appreciated.

I must now decide whether I am sufficiently brave/foolhardy to advise my mother-in-law that she is in error.

Maybe tomorrow.

[speedking31]

[lancslad58]

Was that taken here in the UK? I haven't seen many swallows recently despite all the open countryside around where I live, I thought that perhaps they had made an early start on their migration this year. I have heard reports of the first Canada Geese setting off on their journey..

[Dogsey]

lancslad58 said:

Was that taken here in the UK? I haven't seen many swallows recently despite all the open countryside around where I live, I thought that perhaps they had made an early start on their migration this year. I have heard reports of the first Canada Geese setting off on their journey..

British Canada geese tend to be sedentary, they stay here all year round.

Edited by Dogsey on Sunday 3rd September 01:23

[speedking31]

lancslad58 said:

Was that taken here in the UK? I haven't seen many swallows recently ..

Dumfries House.

[Smollet]

Little Grebes. Warnham NR

[Tony1963]

I was almost mobbed by three hobbies on Monday evening. Amazing experience, just on the outskirts of our village. Low light just before sunset, and boy oh boy are they fast and agile!

[dr_gn]

Can anyone identify these birds please? Taken on holiday last month in Shetland. I'm making a photo book, so would like to confirm so I can caption them. Thanks.

1) Eider Duck?


2) Ringed Plover?


3) Ringed Plover?


4) Ringed Plover?


5) Meadow Pipit?

[Dogsey]

Yes to 1, 3, 4 & 5, although they are Common Ringed Plovers (rather than Little Ringed). 2 I would guess is a juvenile of something but not sure what.

[Master Of Puppets]

Picture 2 is most likely an Arctic Tern, although they can be hard to distinguish from Common Terns at that age, but more likely it's an Arctic given it was
taken in Shetland where the Arctics are more 'common'.

[dr_gn]

Thanks both.

The juvenile Arctic Tern was very difficult to get a good photograph of. It was pretty close, but the camera had real difficulty focussing on it; the camoflauge is amazing - very low contrast with the beach.

[Tony1963]

Common tern, just after sunrise this morning, river Alde just downstream of Orford

[Allegro_Snapon]

[quote=Fullook]Lots of gulls, oystercatchers, wagtails etc on the shore here, but I don't often see a curlew, so I was pleased to see this one...



I don't think that is a Curlew, looks more like a Whimbrel.........see the bottom right bird here (top left Curlew, bottom right Whimbrel); the beak has a longer straight section in a Curlew, is more Decurved in a Whimbrel and in you photos the head pattern looks more like Whimbrel and it is the right time of year for seeing them on migration.



But nice bird and great photos!

[Fullook]

That's a great shout - never heard of a Whimbrel before, but looking at 'my' bird (especially the relative shortness of the beak) compared to your photo, I think you're spot on. Thanks!

[jingars]

Hopefully not considered a thread diversion.

BBC: Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award

Stunning stuff on display there.

[Smollet]

jingars said:

Hopefully not considered a thread diversion.

BBC: Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award

Stunning stuff on display there.

Impressive shot

[CooperD]

jingars said:

Hopefully not considered a thread diversion.

BBC: Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award

Stunning stuff on display there.

Some excellent photos in the link.

[Smollet]

[MesoForm]

Apologies for the gear question but I've got the opportunity to spend a few days in the Sierra Espuña park/reserve in Southern Spain next Spring and hopefully see some Golden Eagles which have always been something I've wanted to see in the wild.
My current set-up is a Fuji X-T20 with the cheap(er) Fuji 50-230 which is fine for what I do at the moment (garden birds out of my home office window mainly!) but probably not for the eagles and vultures that will probably be a fair way away.
My choices seem to be:
Fuji 70-300 at £750 and 500g, can't see one in stock at Wex or second hand at MPB though
Sigma 100-400 at £900 and 1100g, pre-order at the moment

I'm not sure if lugging the extra 600g around is worth it? And the £150 difference could go a long way to adding the 1.4x teleconverter to the 70-300.

I'm a bit undecided and could do with some help!