Just been playing around... its either that or watching Coronation Street
here is the original image
Comments both good or bad are most welcome on this please
He is a beauty!
last week on the feeder branch
and this evening he took a Greenfinch
this is a stunning bird to have around the place
not too long after he had fed a very large female flew over.... obviously weighing up tomorrows menu.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
The last day in Malaysia back in March. To be honest it was nothing more than a day of travel back to the airport. We had seen a few sightings of this species on our travels but usually in flight and distant so when Paul shouted stop (in the fast lane of a dual carriageway) we knew it must be worth stopping for.
We pulled off the carriageway and turned around back towards the bird where it was showing at the back of a small cafe in a banana plantation.
The last day in Malaysia back in March. To be honest it was nothing more than a day of travel back to the airport. We had seen a few sightings of this species on our travels but usually in flight and distant so when Paul shouted stop (in the fast lane of a dual carriageway) we knew it must be worth stopping for.
We pulled off the carriageway and turned around back towards the bird where it was showing at the back of a small cafe in a banana plantation.
With a little stealth we were able to inch closer (much to the amazement of the people dinning who obviously thought we were a little crazy creeping up on a bird that they had probably spent days and days ignoring)
it turned around and for a moment it looked like it was going to fly off
however it weight us up and decided that he could afford us a little more exposure
full frontal! an unuasual angle
sitting pretty
up close and personal
Field craft? or just a stroke of luck?
I think the latter on this occasion
Ok its getting frustrating:
I can now post to Adams blog, I think becuse he has a pop up comments box, this is the same problem JM is having ?
However I cant even post a comment on my own blog to answer JMs statement. Really dont know what is going on.
Adam can you put us on the right track?
Cheers
Dave
I can now post to Adams blog, I think becuse he has a pop up comments box, this is the same problem JM is having ?
However I cant even post a comment on my own blog to answer JMs statement. Really dont know what is going on.
Adam can you put us on the right track?
Cheers
Dave
I am struggling to leave comments on some blogs, while others are ok.....For example I have been trying to comment on Adam Tilts blog for ages and keep getting thrown out when it asks me for my Google account info, currently cant leave comments on Springmans either????? What is going on????
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Its always a trade off when anticipating the eagerly awaited Shearwater and Skua cruise off the East coast in late autumn..... A nice North Westerly wind could always push in a few exciting migrants, however its a long drive across country to have the sailing cancelled due to poor weather..... so a calm North Sea awaited Chris E and myself when we arrive into Bridlington Harbour.
This first cruise was in early Septemeber, and as I had lost my camera to a down pour a few weeks prior, I had no option but to just take the binoculars and enjoy the seabirds. Undoubtedly the highlight of the trip was the Sabines Gull that gave astonishing views, not only flying around the boat but also sat on the sea..... most certainly a life bird in the bag. Arctic Skuas showed well, and put on brilliant displays of aggression while chasing the Terns..... and I was lucky enough to bag another life bird when we passed a Grey Phalarope sat on the sea while we chased down yet another Arctic Skua...... plenty of people missed this one, but we got excellent close up views.
Overall the trip gave me 3 life birds (although the Red Throated Divers were very distant... however this would be rectified a few weeks later with far better and nearer views)..... of course there are no images this time but plenty of lasting memories, especially that Sabines.... STUNNING
Sometimes the camera gets in the way of really enjoying the birdwatching, and this was a cracking birdwatching trip.......
......... New Camera to hand and and a new cruise in October.
I prayed for another view of the Sabines Gull. This turned out to be a trip of no lifers but some great action with Shearwaters and Skuas.... As we left the harbour we had our first flocks of Shags, smaller than the Cormorant, they nest at the base of the cliffs... it certainly seems to have been a good breeding season for this species.
As we ticked off the more common species such as Herring, Black Headed, Greater Black Backed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls we started to pick up large numbers of Little Gulls... our smallest breeding Gull, the juveniles showing stunning plumage.
This first cruise was in early Septemeber, and as I had lost my camera to a down pour a few weeks prior, I had no option but to just take the binoculars and enjoy the seabirds. Undoubtedly the highlight of the trip was the Sabines Gull that gave astonishing views, not only flying around the boat but also sat on the sea..... most certainly a life bird in the bag. Arctic Skuas showed well, and put on brilliant displays of aggression while chasing the Terns..... and I was lucky enough to bag another life bird when we passed a Grey Phalarope sat on the sea while we chased down yet another Arctic Skua...... plenty of people missed this one, but we got excellent close up views.
Overall the trip gave me 3 life birds (although the Red Throated Divers were very distant... however this would be rectified a few weeks later with far better and nearer views)..... of course there are no images this time but plenty of lasting memories, especially that Sabines.... STUNNING
Sometimes the camera gets in the way of really enjoying the birdwatching, and this was a cracking birdwatching trip.......
......... New Camera to hand and and a new cruise in October.
I prayed for another view of the Sabines Gull. This turned out to be a trip of no lifers but some great action with Shearwaters and Skuas.... As we left the harbour we had our first flocks of Shags, smaller than the Cormorant, they nest at the base of the cliffs... it certainly seems to have been a good breeding season for this species.
We also started to attract Common Terns and Common Gulls (which suprisingy are not that common)
...... Gannets
and plenty of Razorbills and Guillemots which are currently flightless due to being a recent fledgling or because the adults are taking on a full flight feather moult
As the cruise progressed so did the sightings of Manx Shearwater, one of which caused a stir as it was initially identified as a balearic, but due to the wonders of digital photography was soon brought back down to earth as a Manx.... still a stunning bird and a wanted bird on any trip.
however the highlight of the trip for me was seeing the daddy of them all.... the Great Skuas. These birds send everything into a panic when they arrive on scene, a few individual birds were seen, this one came right at the boat giving stunning views.
I have mulled over whether to post this due to the sensitive nature but have decided to go ahead. This blog is here to chronical parts of my outdoor experiences in life.
In October 2009 on an otherwise normal day that I should drive the hour or two to visit my parents in North Wales litle did I expect to witness something incredibly sad. I always make the short walk to the beach to catch up with some sea and shore birds while mum cooks tea. When I got to the beach I scanned up and down the large flat sandy expanse and noticed what I though at first was a small boat tilted on the sand.... it was around half a mile away. I looked again and realised it wasnt a boat. The shape and size made my initial thoughts of a Dolphin but as I hurried towards it I soon realised this was indeed alot larger.
A northern bottlenose whale was washed up dead on a beach in Prestatyn, North Wales, on Saturday morning, the tenth of the species to become trapped or stranded on British shores this year.
Scientists are blaming not just military sonar, but a large range of man-made noises that they fear are driving the normally deep-water animals to shore."
In October 2009 on an otherwise normal day that I should drive the hour or two to visit my parents in North Wales litle did I expect to witness something incredibly sad. I always make the short walk to the beach to catch up with some sea and shore birds while mum cooks tea. When I got to the beach I scanned up and down the large flat sandy expanse and noticed what I though at first was a small boat tilted on the sand.... it was around half a mile away. I looked again and realised it wasnt a boat. The shape and size made my initial thoughts of a Dolphin but as I hurried towards it I soon realised this was indeed alot larger.
I was the only person in the area and was confronted with this:
I rang the police who put me through to the Coast Guard
The tide was coming in so the Whale must have been beached for a few hours, she still felt warm and soft to the touch. No visible signs of injury, only a few marks where birds had started to feed.
I spent a few further minutes completely on my own and in abit of shock.... I took images just to ensure it was real... someone in the world maybe glad of this information and images
A passing fishing boat stopped to check it out, this image gives an idea of the tail size.
I had been here for an hour and notice how the tide had come right up to the stranded whale. I knew the tide wouldnt shift it but it would make work difficult for the arriving Coast Gaurd.
Indeed the Coast Guard (with an entourage of local kids) arrived just as the tide lapped up to the Whale.
A post mortem was eventualy carried out and the following information released:
The northern bottlenose whale was a sub-adult female, 2-3 tonnes, 6.21 metres long and died from dehydration and Liver failure designated SW2009/330.
Location of stranding was Grid Ref: SJ 093 850 Gronant Sands, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, North Wales.
The carcass was dragged inshore across the sands to SJ 093 840 which took it into the next county, Flintshire where the post-mortem examination took place.
Location of stranding was Grid Ref: SJ 093 850 Gronant Sands, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, North Wales.
The carcass was dragged inshore across the sands to SJ 093 840 which took it into the next county, Flintshire where the post-mortem examination took place.
Following this, further corresponce took place between myself and Cestation scientists in Sri Lanka who keep records and investigations of all Cestation Stranding throughout the world
Media information regarding the stranded
from The Sunday Times:
"Scientists say man-made noise equipment, including anti-seal sonar devices used in fish farms, is driving deep-water animals such as whales to shore, where they die. A northern bottlenose whale was washed up dead on a beach in Prestatyn, North Wales, on Saturday morning, the tenth of the species to become trapped or stranded on British shores this year.
Scientists are blaming not just military sonar, but a large range of man-made noises that they fear are driving the normally deep-water animals to shore."
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