Salinas Again

Salinas de San Pedro - 30.4.19

The best time for tern flight shots I've found is early evening in a cloudless blue sky but this evening isn't one of those occasions. Having got some ok shots yesterday I'm keen to try again and improve on the images of yesterday maybe even get that shot where the tern torpedos itself into the water, but thats for another day as its a cloudy evening I'm going to have to make do with some static shots.

As I've said perviously Little Terns breed along some of the mud walls of the pools that divide the salinas, Sandwich and Gull Billed Terns also breed in area but are not accessible to photograph as far as I can see. In order to get any shots its a case of first getting as close possible to a restricted access metal gate without disturbing the terns, positioning the camera lens right up to the bars as the lens is bigger than the gap, which is possible with a "cropper" as the camera sensor only uses the central area of the lens and wait....job done !

With breeding territories already established the occasional squabbles takes place chasing off interlopers that get to close on occasion closer my way which is a bonus. The constant chatter of the females calling encouraging the male tern to bring fish is relentless and one of the shots I'm after but never manage, so rather than the same old static pose to make it a little more interesting I concentrate on some behavioural gymnastics instated.

Periodically the terns take off on mass chasing each other to the other side of the salinas, with the sun now low in the evening sky and increased cloud time to call time.

Click image to view, more to follow...

Little Tern

A Very Long Drive

Bonete Steppe - 29.4.19

Today I've been offered a trip by a fellow Brit Birder Don (thank you very much Don) up to the vast open plains around Bonete and Petrola, it's a long drive but the birds encountered are quite different that those down near the coast. Benete with it's vast agricultural area are most notable for Great and Little Bustard our target species for the day, also we're on the look out for Rock Sparrow, Lesser Kestral and what ever else we can dig out.

As we near our destination still on the motorway we see a large bird ahead, at first we think it's a large bird of prey but the wing beat is a little too quick for a "Bop", as we get closer its a...Great Bustard, it's not surprising it has to beat that quick as it a massive bird. Now quite close and flying parallel with the motorway it clearly shows that unmistakable white wing flash finally veering off into the distance. What an unbelievable sight and a first for me, a good start to the day and hopefully more of the same to come.

Heading north out of Benete's onto the vast agricultural areas we scan for our first target species the Great Bustard, we soon pick out four maybe five but a long way out on the plain. Other spices noted include Quail with it's..."bu-ut"....call, a group of about ten Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Sone Curlew, Rock Sparrow and Corn Bunting which seem to be on every bush.

In order to get a closer view of the Bustard we decide to drive along one of the many tracks getting no further than a farm circled by some fir trees, soon a Golden Oriel can be heard another scares visitor in the UK, rounding the farm building another great spot of seven Lesser Kestrels that had set up home in a turreted tower take to the air calling all the while as they float off over the plain, never managing to get near as they were way to wary.

Next we move on a short distance maybe five miles to a small wooded area, as we get out of the car a Nightingale is in full song of which I haven't heard a long time back in the UK, silver fronted Bonelli's warblers are everywhere which I spend the next hour unsussessfully trying to get some images. 

We move on in the direction of Petrola all the while keeping an eye on the sky for birds of prey that were reported a few days/weeks earlier with no luck. Next spot on our trip is the Laguna Salada, Gull-billed Terns are searching the fields, a pair of Kentish Plover are noted on the approach to the hide. On the lake itself its disappointing with the only new species being about thirty Black Terns a new bird for the trip, we move on.

Now heading back through Corral-Rubio we head for La Higuera passing several Lagunas along the way, Marsh Harriers male and female are seen quartering the reed beds other than that the usual with the odd White-headed Duck is all that's worth noting

Great Bustard - female

I'm afraid these two images can only be described at best, you've guessed it...."record shots"

The Terns Are Back

El Hondo / San Felipe - 27.4.19

Having arrived late on Friday night its the usual meet up at the North Gate at El Hondo Saturday morning, I'm not expecting much with the camera as per usual the birds tend to be all at long range. One thing of note, the reserve has now decided that vehicles are not allowed beyond the entrance gate carpark so anyone contemplating visiting the bottom viewing platform can expect a couple mile walk...hey ho !!

After a lot of walking I'm a little knackered never the less next its San Felipe next to try my luck. No sign of the Little Ringed Plover that's bred in the area of the carpark for the last couple of years that gave me some great images, so onwards. The reserve water levels are high, and I mean really high after last weeks torrential rain so much so that any waders are now all on the surrounding flooded filed miles away, without that aid of a scope I can make out up to fifty Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage, Dunlin, Ringed/Little Ringed Plover.....time to move on.

Now on the main pools there's not a lot of "action"...ha...I'm beginning to sound like resident GC. A few Whiskered Terns flit about about pick food of the water with acrobatics skills a jet pilot would die for, the usual Red Knobbed Coot lacking those horrendous neck id bands, chattering Great Reed Warblers that always tell me spring has well and truly arrived and some very vocal honking and  squeaking Purple Gallinule.

The last couple of days have finally caught up with me, time to call it a day and head back.

Salinas de San Pedro - 28.4.19

After the last four days of five am starts I've opted to have the morning off instead I'm spending the evening down at the salinas as it doesn't get dark until 9.0 pm and the light two hour before dusk is always pretty good for photography. The plan for this evening is too photograph Little Terns that breed on the mud walls between the salinas with some patience hopefully get some shots as they fish near the cycle path.

A quick scan I can see the Little Terns have arrive from their wintering areas off the west coast of Africa and are busily dive bombing for fish which is offered as part of the pair bonding. I'm sat on the cycle track one eye on the terns and the other making sure I don't get clattered by a bike. My first attempt are hopeless the terns being quicker that I can react, a change of plan is required.......

Work in progress.....

Little Tern

Quick Trip Before The Sun

Great Orme, Llandudno - 25.4.19

I've seen some great images over the last couple of days, the Spotted Crake on Teeside, various BOP's and suff at Blacktoffed/Far Ings and three Dotterel on the The Great Orme in Llandudno. As I'm off to Murcia at the end of the week I'd like one more "local" trip before the off......so I'm off to Wales !

Buzzz...buzzz......the alarms sounds, it's 5.30am I'm off to The Great Orme at Llandudno to try and photograph 3 Dotterel that have been present for the last couple of days on the lime stone pavement on the end of the rocky outcrop. Why so early?..well two fold, one to beat the inevitable Manchester traffic congestion, the other I'm not sure these three "mountain waders" are going to hang around much longer before they continue heading north to their breeding grounds.

Work progress....text and more images to follow

These are just some of the many images taken over a two hour period many with just me present, I may change or add more images in the future as I'm going through the thousands finding the next best image.

Dotterel - female

Looking at the right leg of the female Dotterel you can just make out a leg ring the serial number on the ring giving all relevant data at the time of "ringing". Having enlarged and reviewed a number of images I believe the serial number to be....SVI0931 which I've sent to the BTO for further information.

Just received an email from the BTO regarding the ringed female Dotterel....

Ringing Scheme: London Ring Number: SV10931 Species of bird: Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)

This bird was ringed by K Jones as age 2nd year, sex female on 23-Apr-2019 22:00:00 at Great Orme, Conwy, UK

OS Map reference SH7583 accuracy 0, - co-ordinates 53deg 20min N -3deg -52min W accuracy -.

It was found on 25-Apr-2019 time unknown at Great Orme, Conwy, UK

OS Map reference SH7583 accuracy 0, - co-ordinates 53deg 19min N -3deg -52min W accuracy 0.

Finding condition: Sight record by non-ringer

Finding circumstances: Metal Ring Read In Field

Extra Information: Reported as SVI0931

It was found 2 days after it was ringed, 2 km from the ringing site, direction W.

The ring is clearly visible in this image.

Dotterel - male

In this image the male Dotterel just got to close for the 700mm lens I was shooting, all I've done to image is to adjust the aspect ratio and "pop" the image, just goes to show how close these fearless "mountain waders" will approach. 

A Forest Morning

Cannop, Forest of Dean - 21.4.19

This week bird migration seems to have finally be getting up to speed unfortunately I've been travelling back and forth to the Forest of Dean missing out on a lot of the action and to add I've only managed to get out in the forest for a few hours on each occasion today being no exception.

It's 5.30am, as my mother has the temperature like a hot house where you could grow bananas I tend to sleep with the window open, the "dawn chorus" has just started and to kick it all off is a solo by a Mistle Thrush...just magical, the Blackbirds join and its all over in maybe thirty minuets. Now wide awake can't go back to sleep, time to get up and get out.

I'm in the Cannop valley mainly due too it's easy photography which is a benefit to this mornings limited time. The sun's just poking over the tree tops the low light creating a richness in colour that will soon disappears later in the day so I hopeful for some nice images of the resident Mandarin Ducks.

Sat on one of the fishing platforms it's a case of waiting for the right photo opportunity rather than casing birds which never seem to work, in any case I have a great angle for the sun which is sure to be a little harsh later on in a cloudless blue sky.

The lowish sun angle is creating some nice colour with yellow and green of the surroundings reflected in the water but change your angle slightly and it all disappears to grey-white. Now 10.0 am I've exhausted the photo ops on offer so one last try for the Grey Wagtails and I call time and head for home.

Mandarin Duck - male

Mandarin Duck - female

Little Grebe

There's always several Little Grebe's on the top pond constantly chattering with that high pitch shrill occasional after a dive surfacing where you least expect right in front of you, this chap surfaced tussling with what appears to be a Roach far bigger than I would normally expect, a case of bigger the better I suppose.

Gadwall - male

Cruising around was a paired up male and female Gadwall, the grey and black bottom male looking a little scruffy in its mottled plumage.

Gawall - male & female

Mallard - male

Not so often I get to photograph these pretty common ducks but in some great light why not !

One Last Local

Watergrove, Rochdale - 8.4.19

After Saturday's curtailed session due to being mega busy with a Parkrun I'm hoping for a quieter morning. It's a little cloudy which is exactly how I like, sunny conditions doesn't really work for this location as the sun angle is from the side so hopefully I'll get a couple of hours before the dreaded sun comes out.

Lesser Redpolls and Brambling as my previous visit are busily taking advantage of the free food on offer but I can't see the Mealy Redpoll, looks like waiting is the order. I'm in the same position as my previous two visits as it's the only location where I can get down low to try and loose the background, minus one stool which I've forgot again its sit on the ground time !

Now well over two hour have passed and the Mealy hasn't appeared which is the main reason for my return visit, but I must say I'm more than happy to keep snapping away at the very wary Brambling which are always the furthest away at the back of the wood.

Other birds noted out of interest include, M/F Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, L Redpoll, Brambling, Reed Bunting, G/B/LT/C Tit amongst others.  

It seems like I'm just repeating the same shots over and over so I'm being more selective before I hit the shutter. Now very quiet with very little activity I decide to call it a day.

And that's it another new venue locally and only five miles from home, happy I made the effort with some worth while images. Until the next time.

Brambling

Lesser Redpoll