A Red Fox at mosquito infested Onuma this afternoon.
Most of the day was spent at Yakumo where I got only my second lifer of the year.
A heavy crop (it was well offshore) of a Long Tailed Skua. A juvenile I think. Thanks to Sean and the others at birdforum for confirming the ID.
It was harrassing a group of Common Terns offshore. Again, these are all heavy crops.
On looking at some of the shots on my PC screen I could just about see the terns dropping their fish and the skua catching it in midair.
Those shots were too blurry to post though.
It was pursuing them in a most single minded way....................
The terns didn't come much closer even when they weren't being mugged.
Oh if only my 500 f4 had arrived (still 2 more weeks to wait).
There were 5 species of gull. The first Vega of the 'winter' as well as a lone adult Black Legged Kittiwake.
I'd seen a Black Necked Grebe there last week, today there were 3 of them.
Not much else around. 2 Great Egret, a Greenshank calling on the other side of the river, a couple of Ospreys fishing offshore and a few common migrants flitting around.
On the river near my house the last week there were Siberian Stonechat, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Night Heron and Grey Wagtail. Last weekend was very quiet, on the 20th I went up to Yakumo and Oshamanbe and got Greenshank, Red Necked Stint, Dunlin, Sanderling and Eastern Marsh Harrier.
So a quiet September this year, not helped by the weather and my own lethargy (although by my own low standards I have been pretty busy with work). The wader passage was very disappointing (but perhaps I just missed them). I was pretty excited by the skua today though, maybe we're in for a good autumn this year.
I watched the Premier League games last night and laughed out loud at the 2 Manc teams losing. I haven't watched that much footy so far this season. To be honest I'm a little tired of football, if England flop out of the World Cup at the qualification stage it may permanently knock out whatever enthusiasm currently remains.
Thanks for clicking this link.......
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Hi Stewart! Have been having internet problems for weeks. Have now installed a Range Extender, which helps. Your fox photo is fantastic. The long Tailed Skua seems like a bit of a bully! Congrats on your lifer!
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Thanks for the comment, the foxes are super tame round here........
DeleteI think you captured the essence of a skua there Stuart. All the better for being a long-tailed. 500 F4 - did you win the lottery?
ReplyDeletePhil-I'm 45 but have no major debts, no mortgage, no kids and I don't drive. I don't gamble and I quit smoking several years ago. I just though 'f**k it, why not eh?".
DeleteCongrats. on the new lifer! Some nice shots there. I like the fox shot as well, It can be more challenging finding a bird in flight to photograph with a 500, at least initially!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I'm ready for the challenge, the exercise wil be good.........
DeleteWow congrats, Stu! I've never seen any skua in my life. Hope it'll stick around until your 500 f4 arrives!
ReplyDeleteHi Ayuwat. I think it will be long gone by then (it wil just follow the terns south I guess). There'll be other stuff though I'm sure.........
DeleteGreat Skua shots. I saw one back in the 90s in Aus and only with a mere file camera. I'm sure you'll get plenty excited when the lens arrives just as your big eagles are heading your way. I'm not half jealous!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty excited already Russell!
DeleteGreat (definitely a juv). Not seen one for a while and not as good views.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't such a great view (these are 100% crops) but it was pretty exciting to watch it chasing the poor terns. Without photographs it would have just gone down as another unidentified 'skus sp'.
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