Saturday, August 10, 2013

Green For Go

Conder Green and Glasson were the venues this morning, where after a slow start I eventually found a good selection of birds. Following a few blank days with the camera there are new pictures for blog readers, so as ever dear friends,  'click the pics' to enjoy. 

I finally got good views of the somewhat elusive Little Ringed Plovers, two siblings running around the pool margins close together but not near enough to get the two in the same frame properly. A little patience paid off when one came closer. 

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

The Spotted Redshank here since mid-June is now in almost complete grey winter plumage and I found it feeding alone again, not mixing with the 40+ Redshanks in the tidal channel. A single Greenshank today, 5 Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Oystercatcher and 45 Lapwing completed the wader count. Wildfowl and herons - 1 Goldeneye, 2 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret and 1 Grey Heron. 

Little Egrets are indeed little and here’s a picture of one in the company of Mallards today. 

Little Egret and Mallards

Passerines - 10 Goldfinch, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Greenfinch and 3 Pied Wagtail. 

A Kingfisher treated me to a fishing display, plunge diving or then barely breaking the surface of the water to grab a tiny fish before flying back to sit at the sluice wall. 

Kingfisher
 
Kingfisher

Good numbers of waders at Glasson where against the bright morning light I managed an approximate count of 700 Dunlin, 250 Redshank, 350 Lapwing, 15 Curlew and 1 Little Egret. 

A look at Glasson yacht basin revealed 40+ Coot and 15 Tufted Duck, with a single Willow Warbler in the roadside trees. 

A very enjoyable couple of hours were had by all.  

Linking today to  Camera Critters,  Paying-Ready-Attention-gallery and  I'd Rather Be Birdin' - Well who wouldn't sooner be out birding?

25 comments:

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi Who wouldn't be out birding. Yes I agree. You had good mornign's birding. Lovely shots of the Little Ringed Plovers. We don't get thee in N.Ireland perhaps some day. great getting a shot of the Kingfiher with a fish in its beak.

Unknown said...

Lovely shots of the plovers and the kingfisher. Sounds like you had a successful outing.

photodoug said...

Nice capture of the Kingfisher.

Snap said...

Oh, my. Great shot of the beautiful kingfisher and the fun plovers.

Rajesh said...

Great shots of the bird. Kingfisher looks great.

carol l mckenna said...

Beautiful photography of gorgeous birds ~ thanks, carol, xo

Unknown said...

Love all your photos. The Lapwing photo is amazing!

Joanne Olivieri said...

Those plovers are so cute and the coloring on the kingfisher is beautiful. Great shots.

Sandy Kessler said...

great friends of mine the plovers and Kingfishers

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wonderful birds ...I'm glad you had a successful day and even gladder that you got such great pictures. the Kingfisher is such a colorful beauty (We see them both here and in Florida, but not as colorful... and I can never get a picture).

That egret really is little..I'm glad you showed him with the mallards as a point of comparison.


Thanks for all.

eileeninmd said...

I love the adorable plover and the cool Kingfisher. Awesome birds and photos, Phil!

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Love Kingfisher. Great shots. Congrats..

Unknown said...

Nice shot of the Kingfisher. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Russell Jenkins said...

Stunning views of the plovers and kingfisher, Phil. You more than made up for a couple of quiet camera days.

Stewart M said...

Looks like a good day! Love the shots of the Kingfisher - esp the jaunty tail in the second shot.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Carole M. said...

wow Phil, the little ringed plover AND a kingfisher right out there just waiting for a photo shoot; well done

EG CameraGirl said...

I'd say you had a very good morning! I love the shots of the ringed plovers and kingfisher! Nicely done!

TexWisGirl said...

the plover is adorable, but WOW, that kingfisher is fantastic!!!

Stuart Price said...

I once got drunk in the pub next to Glasson Dock.

Nice kingfisher pics........

Anni said...

...that kingfisher is fabulous in color. And the Ringed Plovers are so adorable. Great images.

Thanks for linking up this weekend at the Bird D'Pot!! Have a great week ahead.

HansHB said...

Great serie of photos, lovely Kingfisher!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

JEALOUS, jealous, jeal...ous!
I guess that you know by now that I am so envious of the wonderful images you get of the Kingfisher. I see them from time to time and can get no closer than a lake crossing away, before they spy me and off they go. Your captures are grand as usual...
Hohum...maybe one day, yet until then, I shall enjoy your shares of these and other beauties along the way. Happy week Phil~

Maude Lynn said...

Lovely pictures of the Kingfisher!

mick said...

Great photos of the Little Ringed Plover and the kingfisher with the fish in its beak is perfect!

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

That kingfisher is splendid, and the plovers are beauties!

Related Posts with Thumbnails