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#Post#: 439--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds.R.L.Buzzard.. today..
By: George Date: January 22, 2011, 12:03 pm
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I spent five hours waiting for the beautiful bird. Well the
first four hours..
Then I spotted it. It was on its favourit roosting post.. first
it was'nt there, then it appeared, great news, I thought to
myself, well it was worth the wait..
Although its roost is about at least a quarter mile away, I
watched it with my scope..
Then I thought, why not risk a few pics with my humble 400mm
lens.. so I did.. eighty two pics to be exact.. I kept ten of
them..
In one of the pics, you'll see a small car, there were two
birders in it, unfortunatly they did'nt see it, then later, when
I told them the Buzzard was at your back, they were gutted..
I left them at the lower cattle grid.. so I hope they see this
extraordinary bird..
Now.. the pics.. bearing in mind, they were a quarter mile
away..
Flying off the roost.
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-3_filtered.jpg[/img]
Flying off the roost..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-4_filtered-1.jpg[/img]
The roosting post..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-5_filtered.jpg[/img]
This one is the car under the Buzzard..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-9_filtered-1.jpg[/img]
Hovering..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-8_filtered-1.jpg[/img]
I'll be back again tomorrow, I hope I spot it, I'll phone Hugh,
if I do..
george..
#Post#: 441--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds.todays sighting.R.L.Buzzard.
By: George Date: January 23, 2011, 10:52 am
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It is a truely magnificent bird, it was on the ground when i
seen it, then it flapped its 5 foot wings and soared over the
fence.. I then got a good look at its upper back, it was black &
white plumage almost like a juvenile golden eagle. looking
forward to night-time to dream about what I saw. lol ..
unfortunatly it was about a mile from me, so no photos this
time.
It did'nt go near its favourite fence post, it was more
norther'ly than usual, and its upper plumage showed black &
white instead of the brown plumage in my last pics. but maybe it
was the light conditions, I could see the yellow at the top of
its beak and its whitish head, it walked about a metre before it
flew off..
george..
PS. I should have told you, I was watching it with my scope..
#Post#: 442--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds
By: benjiesmum Date: January 23, 2011, 1:39 pm
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Brilliant! Such dedication to bird watching there George! But
keep warm won't you. ;)
#Post#: 443--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds..
By: George Date: January 24, 2011, 8:46 am
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I do my best to keep warm Lynne, but after many hours, the cold
creeps up on you..
Todays birdwatching..
Well first, it was a miserable day, with many rain showers..
I scanned to the north with my binoculars, but did'nt see the
buzzard at all..
then I went up to the cattle grid, and had a good look there.
still no sign of it..
So, I had my breakfast [a mars bar and a wee drink o vimto]
thats why i'm so thin.. lol ..
Then I decided to open the gate at the cattle grid, got in my
car and very slowly drove along the track..
I had only travelled about 200 hundred feet, when the Rough
legged rose from the heather on the left hand side of the
track.. drifted across the track, and started to hover.. I
grabbed my camera and tried to get some close-up shots of it..
but the camera was'nt on auto-focus.. drat ..
But it did land on a fence post further along the track, it
posed quite nicely for me, then it flew north and crossed to the
west side of the track, thats when I lost sight of it..
So I travelled further on the track, then did a t.point turn..
and started to travel back along the track, suddenly, I spotted
it again, it was on a fence post, then it flew north, and landed
on the moor..
I phoned my mate Mark to report it to him, and told him what
i've just told you, all the time I was on the mobile to Mark,
but I was still watching the buzzard, then it took to its wings
again, and was suddenly mobbed by a raven, see one o the
photos..
Then it disappeared northward..
This is five of the 42 pics I took..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-b_filtered.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-c_filtered.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-d_filtered.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-e_filtered.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-g_filtered.jpg[/img]
So despite the rain, it turned out to be an exciting day for
me.. First a flock of Snow buntings, then the Rough Legged
Buzzard..
George..
#Post#: 444--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds. Todays birding..
By: George Date: January 25, 2011, 9:24 am
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The R.L.Buzzard is still at Toft today..
I first seen it at 1207pm. it was being mobbed by four ravens,
it then drifted down to the furthest ruin past John Laurensons
house, it sat on the ruin for about five minutes, then it flew
to the next ruin, then perched on the top of the gable end..
Jim & Roger then left me to go onto the Brough rd.. I stayed at
the radar mast and watched it for ages..
Then the mist closed in on me, so I made my way to meet with Jim
& Roger..
They told me where it was. on the fence beyond Johns house, they
watched it kill a rabbit and had part eaten it, then the ravens
arrived..
Jim showed me one of his images, it was stunning, so it will
probably go into the Shetland times this week.. I'm so glad he
got his photos, as, its a long drive from Cunningsburgh to
here.. in north Delting..
So, well done Jim..
One of Jims stunning images click here
HTML http://tinyurl.com/yhd6hu8
george..
#Post#: 445--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds. todays watching..
By: George Date: January 26, 2011, 11:18 am
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I went to the ruins past the last house, set up my tripod with
camera mounted, then attached my camo. kagoul to the auld wall..
Then it started to rain, and it was a very chilly wind..
Then my attention was raised by ravens up on the moor, they were
mobbing the buzzard..
I watched them for a while, hopeing it would fly closer to me,
but it did'nt, it settled down on the moor..
Then a car pulled in, I thought it must be birders, but it
was'nt, it was two tourists who were up to see up helly aa..
Then the crofter arrived with his trailer, unloaded his quad
bike, loaded up a small trailer with fence posts and his two
dogs who were quite boisterous..
The tourists moved their car to let him by, and promptly bogged
the car in the mud..
Because of all the noise and people moving about, I knew I had
no chance of the buzzard getting close to me..
So I put my gear together, and made my way back to my car..
The following pics were taken a long way off..
For the people that know the area, I was at the ruins on brough
rd. the buzzard was beyond the track to the radar mast..
Images..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-6_filtered.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-3_filtered-1.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-2_filtered.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/buzzard-1_filtered.jpg[/img]
george..
#Post#: 446--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds.. 27-01-11
By: George Date: January 27, 2011, 9:47 am
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I was going out to my car this morning, and the first bird i saw
was a Sparrowhawk flying overhead..
Then I drove to Toft, it was such a nice day, but nippy..
When I got there [at the auld ruins] I set up my camera &
tripod..
I scanned the hills looking for the R.L.Buzzard, but no sign of
it anywhere..
Later..
I spotted it, it was sitting on a large rock, it was a magical
sight..
Then Jim & Roger showed up, I asked if they had seen it, they
had'nt seen it..
So I showed it to them, roger got his scope out, we all had a
good look at it, it was sitting upright on the rock..
Jim had a road killed rabbit with him for bait, but as he was
going to place it in the field, it flew north..
We scanned the hills for it, but it did'nt show itself..
I then went looking for Otters, but did'nt see any, so I went
home..
george..
#Post#: 448--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds
By: Aitch Date: January 28, 2011, 10:19 am
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Hello George, it is good to read your reports on your outings
and the Rough Legged Buzzard seems to be giving you plenty to
think about, enjoy it mate.
#Post#: 449--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds. 28-01-11
By: George Date: January 28, 2011, 11:22 am
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Thanks Aitch.. I have been watching it nearly every day since it
was reported, never getting close enough for a good sharp
photo...
Well today was the first day i've not spotted it..
I met with Mark the county recorder, but he said he did'nt see
it either, so Mark stayed by the cattle grid, and I made my way
to the radar mast..
I did'nt really expected to see it, as Mark had told me that a
van with workmen had just been at the mast, they were there for
maintenance on the radar..
But I did wait about an hour with no sightings..
The Sparrowhawk i spotted yesterday was photographed by Jim
Nicolson its a amazing picture. You can see it here
HTML http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestbirds.htm
All I got today was a couple of Greylag geese..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/Greylag-1_filtered-1.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/Greylag-2_filtered.jpg[/img]
George..
#Post#: 450--------------------------------------------------
Re: Recent birds
By: Aitch Date: January 28, 2011, 1:20 pm
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Talking of Grey-lag Geese George, your photos posted today and
the ones from January 21st are brilliant, a study in wing
movement, well done.
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