Look Back - March

Spring was in the air, by the end of the month the first visitors had arrived, I saw Chiffchaff on the 14^th in the local park.

Also of note was the change in behaviour of our resident birds, increased song in the mornings and tip top plumage.  Early breeders had started (Geese and Ducks).

                           

East Anglia Year Count: 146

Life bird count: 403. Year bird count: 210. Month bird count: 46.

Photo: Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Look Back - February

This is when we started to notice the change, more light in the sky, winter visitors getting restless.

We found a large number of Whooper Swans on the Ouse Washes, they made for some excellent photographic opportunities.  The conditions were so good that I was able to use my two times converter for some of the work.

                           

East Anglia Year Count: 146

Life bird count: 403. Year bird count: 210. Month bird count: 46.

Photo: Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Look Back - January

Very short days, low light, winter visitors and all wrapped up on Mistley Key front watching Goldeneye remonstrating with each other.

Mount on a tripod, but keep it low get the best POV, use a high ISO, bit of noise reduction when processing and bingo!

                           

East Anglia Year Count: 146

Life bird count: 403. Year bird count: 210. Month bird count: 43.

Photo: Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Mid Year Update

With the breeding season all but over and some summer visitors starting to return to their out of season areas (Cuckoos have already been tracked through Italy and back across to Africa). It may be a good time to take stock of the year so far.

I’ve not done as well as anticipated on the East Anglia bird count, there will be a second chance for the wintering birds and some of the migrants, on their way back, but I’ve not been to see Nightjars, Golden Orioles or Honey Buzzards.  Also Nightingale, Yellow Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher have eluded me.

On the positive side we had a record count in Spain this year including four life time first species,  I’ve had some great results with the wild flower photography (despite completely missing the Orchid bloom in our local wood, save that for next year) and had two Waxwings outside our house.

So onwards and upwards but whilst we wait for the autumn movements to get underway I’ll try and post a few photographic highlights that didn’t make the first cut.  Thank you all for reading.

                           

East Anglia Year Count: 146

Life bird count: 403. Year bird count: 210. Month bird count: 43.

Photo: Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Seasonal Wild Flowers 8 – Southern Marsh Orchid

It is now a very quiet time of the year birding wise, with a lot of species taking time out to recover from their breeding and the late summer or autum movement not started, so I resort to a another season flower.

I photographed these beautiful examples at Minsmere a few weeks ago now.

                           

East Anglia Year Count: 146

Life bird count: 403. Year bird count: 210. Month bird count: 39.

Photo: Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa)