Bird of the day!

[matt_xyz]

a great shot Barbara, you're really making me jealous now Bullfinches are a bird I can never seem to find, I had a very brief glimpse of one a couple of weeks ago, but other than that I've never seen one! The idea of getting one in my garden....

The other bird I've always struggled to see (let alone photograph) is the nuthatch. But on Friday I had the good fortune to see one and managed a couple of photos. So the nuthatch is me belated bird of the day for Friday

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Top shot Barbara, a real beauty.

My bird of the day today was some Grey Herons, at a new site for me:

Thanks Graham.

And WOW, WHAT A SHOT you got today, a competion winner I reckon, a pleasure to view, well done sir Stunning

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

a great shot Barbara, you're really making me jealous now Bullfinches are a bird I can never seem to find, I had a very brief glimpse of one a couple of weeks ago, but other than that I've never seen one! The idea of getting one in my garden....

The other bird I've always struggled to see (let alone photograph) is the nuthatch. But on Friday I had the good fortune to see one and managed a couple of photos. So the nuthatch is me belated bird of the day for Friday

Thanks Matt, I don't know where they came from, but they are more than welcome to return.

Your nuthatch images are superb, lucky you, I have only ever seen them a couple of times and they are so quick. Well done

[badgerwatcher]

Fabulous photos, everyone. I've never seen a bullfinch, except in a 'Oh look, a bullfinch! Was it?' sort of way!

[smartie]

Yes, great photos everyone. Barbara, I particularly love your bullfinch - I've not seen one even in passing this year.

[John]

There are some great photos coming through on this thread. I particularly like the Bullfinch one as I have as yet never got close to getting a decent image of one.

Where do I start with my bird of the day. I had an awesome day in Cornwall yesterday starting at just after 6am when I came across my very first Gyr Falcon (I have two very, very bad record shots as it was still relatively dark at that time). This was followed 30 minutes later by a Glaucose Gull flying over my head (still too dark to try for a photo). Next was a White Billed Diver (about to load a photo up of it). This was followed by a Franklin's Gull (got a record digiscoped shot). After that the Spotted Sandpiper came into view nearby (about to upload a photo). Then followed a rare sub species of a Lesser Whitethroat (from Asia). After that followed threee more crackers with Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and finally Yellow-browed Warbler. (unfortunately no photos of the last four).

We ended the day stopping by Evesham about 11pm watching the amazing total eclipse of the Moon.

Possibly one of the best days I have had in Britain for a very long time.

John

[glsammy]

Good to hear you had a good day John, it was a shame you couldn't make it with us yesterday, your bullfinch quest would have been well and truly over!
Here's one of many we took:

[John]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Good to hear you had a good day John, it was a shame you couldn't make it with us yesterday, your bullfinch quest would have been well and truly over!
Here's one of many we took:

That's a cracking image Graham. Don't worry, I have time to meet up with you and go for one of these images.

I was invited by Andrew to join you guys but (if I am to be honest) I wouldn't have exchanged yesterday's adventure. I just had a feeling it was going to be a bit special and I wasn't dissapointed.

John

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by John

That's a cracking image Graham. Don't worry, I have time to meet up with you and go for one of these images.

I was invited by Andrew to join you guys but (if I am to be honest) I wouldn't have exchanged yesterday's adventure. I just had a feeling it was going to be a bit special and I wasn't dissapointed.

John

Excellent John. You can't beat it when you see more than you expected.
That's how we felt yesterday, it was one of those rare almost perfect days, with the weather the company and the wildlife.

[aeshna5]

We were talking on the forum yesterday about the demise of London House Sparrows + today I was in Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens, where they they are sadly no more! Starlings are doing well here still- c80 near the Round Pond, singing in their inimatable way, though they may have competition soon for housing from the new kids on the block-Ring-necked Parakeets which have only been here about 5 years.

Stock doves seem to be new native colonists here, but my bird of the day which I was eventually able to photograph was a stunning 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull. A few years back I'd never have dreamt of seeing these birds in London, but they are becoming more regular; infact I found one (a 1st W) last week in Richmond Park doing my counts. Most of the time the Med Gull was being a pirate, attempting to rob the Black headed Gulls of bread, just as the Common Gulls were also doing.

Egyptian Geese also seem to be here regularly now- guess with London being so cosmopolitan we are getting both new native birds colonising as well as a range of exotics making themselves at home- there was also an immature Black Swan on the Serpentine amongst the many Mute Swans.