Quest 2007

[Wild-Woman]

I'm making written and mental notes about the species I want to see and photograph next year.
Top of my list is the Heath Fritillary. I also want to get more mammals and reptiles, preferrably the more tricky ones like the Water Vole and Sand Lizard.
I'd also like to get a comprehensive collection of dragon and damselfly shots.
Raptors and owls would be great, but my photography will have to be cranked up for those I think.
I know you shouldn't wish your life away but there is so much I've not seen so I'm really looking forward to 2007 and to all that great wildlife.
What about you? What do you want to see and capture? Julie

[John]

To be honest Julie I try not to target species just photograph anything that is photographable. My quest is to better the last shot of whichever species I already have plus anything new that comes along.

John

[Wild-Woman]

Trouble with me John, I need to write down and plan because I've missed so many opportunities this year purely because I haven't realised that with some species, the window for opportunity is so small.
This year Chris and I have visited so many reserves and got greeted with,'Ah you should have been here last week' or 'No they peaked last week and you'll be lucky to see one now' that I must plan.
Totally agree with trying to get a better shot. That will always be a top consideration.
Julie

[Imaginos]

For the last few years I've been telling myself I must 'clean up' those British Birds I've not seen-the Grouses, Quail, Marsh Warbler, Scottish Crossbill, Corncrake, Cirl Bunting & Crested Tit. (I don't count vagrants as British birds-but I'm torn by Spotted Sandpiper as they bred in the Scottish Islands a few years ago). Next year I will make a special effort to at least catch up with the southern species, although I'll probably have to get lucky with the Quail. And a trip to Scotland should sort me out with most of the rest if I'm lucky...

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

For the last few years I've been telling myself I must 'clean up' those British Birds I've not seen-the Grouses, Quail, Marsh Warbler, Scottish Crossbill, Corncrake, Cirl Bunting & Crested Tit. (I don't count vagrants as British birds-but I'm torn by Spotted Sandpiper as they bred in the Scottish Islands a few years ago). Next year I will make a special effort to at least catch up with the southern species, although I'll probably have to get lucky with the Quail. And a trip to Scotland should sort me out with most of the rest if I'm lucky...

yes there's quite a few British birds I have never seen but I have my whole life to see them and as it's such lovely experiance to find a new bird I sort of want to spread it out!!
Saw black grouse up in Cumbria this year such a handsome bird - I'd love to see lekking though!
I have little or no interest in vagrants, I'd rather see such species on their home territories and all the other new species alongside them.

Personally this year I want to get better at my invertebrates both generally and more specifically grasshoppers and I want to be more fluent in butterflies (able to leave the book on the shelf) and also I want to get better at plants esp daisy family and vegetative forms of most common species.

[cannylad]

I am hoping to see a larger range of butterflies next year and brush up on flowers particually orchids, pretty much got birds in my county covered over the course of a year.

Mammals i have seen only a small range, i have not seen Water Vole for decades, and would love to see a Dormouse. Helped do a nest box survey at a site for Dormice, the trust had lost the map so spent several hours wandering around just trying to find the tubes sadly none had been occupied

So much to see and learn.

brian

[Kev Lewis]

This was my 2006 list
1. Kingfisher as it enters the water.
2. Wild Owls in flight.
3. Bittern in flight.
4. Wild Badgers.
5. Dippers.
6. Sparrowhawk.
7. Goshawk.

and I managed 2,5 and 6 so the list remains active into 2007 plus a few more that I will find to challenge me along the way

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

This was my 2006 list
1. Kingfisher as it enters the water.
2. Wild Owls in flight.
3. Bittern in flight.
4. Wild Badgers.
5. Dippers.
6. Sparrowhawk.
7. Goshawk.

and I managed 2,5 and 6 so the list remains active into 2007 plus a few more that I will find to challenge me along the way

Lots of Goshawk in the Forest of Dean. They will be displaying again above the canopy next Feb/ March perhaps too far away to get a good picture but maybe worth a try?
Apologies If I'm pointing out to you what you already know

[Kev Lewis]

np Gillian. I spend a bit of time in the Forest so I have seen them but my list is for close up images, which is just a bit harder lol

[Wild-Woman]

Going to add Large Blue to my list as I've joined Butterfly Conservation.Julie

[Fourwings]

Target number 1 - Norfolk Hawker ( one that I have missed on numerous occasions over the last 15 years or so!!)

Target number 2 - Purple Emperor

Target number 3 - to see a nice new 100 - 400 L series IS zoom lens fixed onto my 20D!!!!!

[Ollie]

No real targets in terms of species of birds insects etc, just to try and improve on my photography technique as a whole, and my fieldcraft skills in getting close enough to birds in particular to get that special shot before they take flight.
Roger

[jennyb]

As you probably all know, I am photographing (or trying to) and cataloguing everything I find in my garden. I have had a bumper year for wild flowers with over 70 identified and photographed already - yes, I know my garden is full of weeds! I have also had a good year for moths, butterflies and currently fungus.

Next year I hope to concentrate more on insects, which I mostly know nothing about.

However, various things remain very elusive which I hope I can capture in 2007. I know they are there - Badgers, snakes and foxes.

The most frustrating thing in 2006 - dragonflies. I saw so many but only managed to photograph 2 of them. I could never find them at rest and could not even begin to identify them when they were flying

Finally, I will spend some time trying to identify and possibly photograph the bats. I left it too late this year.

Jenny

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I don't really like trying to see certain species as i just like being out there watching anything but this winter i'm going to try and make an effort to see a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I know of a couple of spots that i'm sure will hold some, its just a case of finding them as they are such big woods

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly

I don't really like trying to see certain species as i just like being out there watching anything but this winter i'm going to try and make an effort to see a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I know of a couple of spots that i'm sure will hold some, its just a case of finding them as they are such big woods

And pretty small birds to find in big woods. Never managed to see one myself yet.
Roger

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by Ollie

And pretty small birds to find in big woods. Never managed to see one myself yet.
Roger

Exactly Roger winter/spring has got to be the best time