Psilos
Bird Journal |
Saturday December
16th 2006 |
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"Avian
airways " |
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Just as the airports around
the world are busy for the Christmas holidays so the skies in the area
around Martinmere are crowded too. There are always lots of birds coming
and going. Throw a few raptors into the scene and the organised chaos
is evident for all to see. |
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Three species of raptor around
today. As we arrived we saw the Lapwings were flying high in the sky.
A tell tale sign that a Peregrine was around. Sure enough less than
five minutes in the hide and one flashed on by driving all the teal
for cover. A single Marsh harrier was circling over the back marshes
but never came close enough for a decent view. The only obliging bird
of the day was a female Sparrowhawk. She flew across the front of the
hide and landed with wings and tail fanned out on a post in front of
the hide. Exactly why she adopted this posture I do not know but it
isnt often you get one stopping so close by. A few shots with a very
slow autofocus in a cold wind is all I managed and sadly I never really
did her justice. Still a very nice sighting. |
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Water levels are very high
after all the rain we have had in recent weeks and the drainage ditch
water is clearly visible. This has its advantages as now we can see
the Little grebe that live there. I was hoping to see the Kingfisher
too but he did not put in an appearance. |
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The Cormorant was
also taking advantage and fishing in the ditch. Several birds flew low
passed us and looked good in the stormy sunlight. |
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Todays weather
was sunshine and showers with the promise of heavier rain later so although
we had good light we had some pretty colourful and dramatic clouds to
use as a backdrop. Large flocks of Pink footed geese that were flying
out to feeding grounds looking particularly effective. The photo below
shows only a small part of the whole skein. |
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Large numbers of
Greylag geese around too. |
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Eventually it grew
very cold in the Ron Barker hide and so it was time to move on..... |
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