Psilos Bird Journal
Saturday September 1st 2007
     
"Spots before the eyes"
 
     
After the summer we have had in the UK this year seeing the sun shining, no matter how hard it tries to hide behind the persistent rain clouds is a wonderful thing. For my photography the sun may always be in the wrong position but I have promised myself that I will try to keep my complaining to a minimum and for some of the time learn to put up with images that are just not meant to be perfect.
     

     
Marshside in the morning is always wrong for the sun. I should really go in the afternoon but I am more of an early riser and anyway overexposed arty photos are much more fun!


     
I usually pride myself on being able to identify most bird calls but today I was well and truely stumped when a wader flew in calling then promptly disappeared. I didnt have a clue what it was and had just accepted the fact that I probably never would when it appeared. It was a spotted redshank, a bird that I have only ever seen once before. Naturally it was miles away and facing straight into the sun so I have severaly enhanced the photo above so you can see the bird better. (front of photo above)

Spotted redshanks can be distinguished from the common redshank by their slightly bigger size, longer legs, longer bill, no white in the wings and if you know, their distinctive call.

Numbers of ducks are starting to rise now that autumn is almost here. Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler and Teal were present today. Something spooked them all into flight at one stage and as the arty, blurry flight shot seems to be in vogue at the moment, especially amongst the proffessionals I thought I would keep this one. I do actually quite like the light through the wings.
Two other birds that put in very brief appearances were a juvenile ringed plover and this rather shy Snipe who after one photo decided he wasnt going to stick around. Still getting s close view of these birds is always a treat.
 


 
The high tide early afternoon brought no waders up the beach today so decided to try my luck at Martinmere. From the Ron barker hide there were good views of a marsh harrier (above) hunting juvenile shelduck and at least 3 Common Buzzard.(below)
 
Apart from the raptors however there was nothing else of interest around. Once again the rain clouds were gathering so thought I would take a quick look round the park to see what was happening. There were a few very young moorhen chicks but it was quiet there too.
 
 
Alot of juvenile birds have been transferred out of the nursery. I liked this composition of Mandarins and Woodducks.
 
 
Even the Cape barren Geese looked docile today and they are never quiet. In the past they always came charging up to you honking and creating a scene but for the last two visits they have barely looked up. Maybe they are putting something in the water or maybe like us they miss the sun, who knows? but these grumpy but majestic looking birds should be able to scream from the rooftops and I really wouldnt mind a bit.