[Misc] The Official NSC Bird Spotting Thread.

Zeberdi · Dec 27, 2022

Beautiful shot - very envious you’ve spent Boxing Day at Rye NR - Spoonbill are quite regular up here at Cley NWT especially- and it’s always good to see them.
Great image of Grey Wagtail too - gorgeous birds - regularly see one on the way to work. You’ve inspired me to get out over New Year and do some birding!

Bodian · Dec 27, 2022

Quite pleased with this - still trying to perfect my 'birds-in-flight' technique.

And this is a new one for me - Stonechat?

Couldn't Be Hyypia · Dec 27, 2022

We've had a fieldfare in that garden (in Dorset) for the last couple of weeks. Not very rare but normally found in flocks. And surprisingly beautiful. Not my photo.

Zeberdi · Dec 27, 2022

Cracking shot of the Little Egret - and yes, Stonechat.

Love the Fieldfare too

1066familyman · Dec 27, 2022

Zeberdi said:
Beautiful shot - very envious you’ve spent Boxing Day at Rye NR - Spoonbill are quite regular up here at Cley NWT especially- and it’s always good to see them.
Great image of Grey Wagtail too - gorgeous birds - regularly see one on the way to work. You’ve inspired me to get out over New Year and do some birding!

Was a lovely day yesterday when the sun appeared. Chillier today in the wind but at least it stayed dry in the afternoon.

Enjoy it when you get out. Do you the world of good! :thumbsup:

Bird watching for me has been a bit of a life saver over the past two years.

1066familyman · Dec 27, 2022

Bodian said:
Quite pleased with this - still trying to perfect my 'birds-in-flight' technique.

View attachment 155098

And this is a new one for me - Stonechat?
View attachment 155100

Absolute stunners!

Great shots! :thumbsup:

Bodian · Dec 27, 2022

1066familyman said:
Absolute stunners!

Great shots!

Cheers.

Trying to persuade myself that a 100-400 lens would be worth the expense - as I only have a reach of 200mm at the moment. Would love a 600mm, but I don't just do birding, so an all-rounder maybe better.

1066familyman · Dec 27, 2022

Couldn't Be Hyypia said:
We've had a fieldfare in that garden (in Dorset) for the last couple of weeks. Not very rare but normally found in flocks. And surprisingly beautiful. Not my photo.

View attachment 155101

It never ceases to amaze me just how stunning even so called plain and common birds are. Starlings are a particular favourite of mine.

At work we have a Robin visit our compost heaps while we we're working at them. Of course the red breast is gorgeous, but when you're close up the Olive green on them is really beautiful.

Eric the meek · Dec 27, 2022

Saw a lesser spotted woodpecker in an old dying tree in the woods beside Burton Mill pond. I didn't know they existed until my mate got his book out and identified it.

Not so rare is a pied wagtail. There's a tame one beside the Pollinator Cafe at Shoreham Fort car park. He comes and perches on your wing mirror, and then jumps on your bonnet and taps on your windscreen for food. Irresistible.

1066familyman · Dec 27, 2022

Bodian said:
Cheers.

Trying to persuade myself that a 100-400 lens would be worth the expense - as I only have a reach of 200mm at the moment. Would love a 600mm, but I don't just do birding, so an all-rounder maybe better.

It's easy to see how this thread can overlap with the photography thread, so I'll keep it brief.

I eventually went for a Nikon p950, purely for the reach really as I'm only really into wildlife photography. I accept I'm never going to match a full DSLR set up for image quality, but I'm very happy with what I've got for my purposes and my level of photography ability. Sort of makes my binoculars a bit redundant too :lol:

1066familyman · Dec 27, 2022

Eric the meek said:
Saw a lesser spotted woodpecker in an old dying tree in the woods beside Burton Mill pond. I didn't know they existed until my mate got his book out and identified it.

Not so rare is a pied wagtail. There's a tame one beside the Pollinator Cafe at Shoreham Fort car park. He comes and perches on your wing mirror, and then jumps on your bonnet and taps on your windscreen for food. Irresistible.

Always amazes me how busy Pied Wagtails are in freezing cold weather flitting around tarmac roads and paths picking out tiny insects. I can even imagine there's any food there for them, but there must be.

Bodian · Dec 27, 2022

1066familyman said:
It's easy to see how this thread can overlap with the photography thread, so I'll keep it brief.

I eventually went for a Nikon p950, purely for the reach really as I'm only really into wildlife photography. I accept I'm never going to match a full DSLR set up for image quality, but I'm very happy with what I've got for my purposes and my level of photography ability. Sort of makes my binoculars a bit redundant too

Hoping to get to Leighton Moss in the next few months to see the Starling murmurations (if the trains are running), and a friend has the Nikon, so I'll see if I can post some comparisons (in one or other of the threads!).

BrightonCottager · Dec 27, 2022

If you can stomach sometimes over the top Americans, the Dirty Bird podcast is usually worth a listen. Each episode lasts about an hour and they present all the info about one specific species. Not always yank birds either.

1066familyman · Dec 27, 2022

Bodian said:
Hoping to get to Leighton Moss in the next few months to see the Starling murmurations (if the trains are running), and a friend has the Nikon, so I'll see if I can post some comparisons (in one or other of the threads!).

I see you're up in Cumbria. Not quite so far up, but I was in The Peak District in late Summer. Managed to get a pic of a Wheatear, which I don't think I've seen down here before (I'm a bit of a newbie for getting more into birdwatching).

Apologies, as think I may have posted it on the other thread at the time, but here it is

Vin · Dec 28, 2022

What’s this guys. Probably obvious but I have no idea. Picture taken in Dominican Republic.

1066familyman · Dec 28, 2022

Vin said:
What’s this guys. Probably obvious but I have no idea. Picture taken in Dominican Republic.

Great Egret.

Publius Ovidius · Dec 28, 2022

There is the most magnificent pair of Kites living on the golf course at Brighton and Hove. To see them swooping down the 7th fairway is a sight to behold.
I will try and get a picture of them tomorrow.

BrightonCottager · Dec 28, 2022

A well camouflaged turnstone, I think. It was one of a pair, foraging on Hove beach (Medina Terrace area) on Christmas Eve.

Kneon Light · Dec 28, 2022

1066familyman said:
I see you're up in Cumbria. Not quite so far up, but I was in The Peak District in late Summer. Managed to get a pic of a Wheatear, which I don't think I've seen down here before (I'm a bit of a newbie for getting more into birdwatching).

Apologies, as think I may have posted it on the other thread at the time, but here it isView attachment 155103

Nice shot. Rye Harbour beach is great for Wheatear in the summer.

Eric the meek · Dec 28, 2022

I've never been, ahem, a fully fledged bird enthusiast, but this thread is a real education for me. I've already learned about three types of bird I never knew existed - great egret, fieldfare and turnstone.

Keep 'em coming!

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