Flight was never easy!

Wednesday 6th May

Flight shots, I mean. Much as 'bifs' are probably my favourite way to record birds, birds such as hirundines are, well, pretty tricky. At East Park, Hull, today a red-rumped swallow was flying over the lake along with house, sand, barn and swift. Still I got him in poor light so I can't complain. At times I wasn't sure, looking through the camera, if I was even on the right bird!

Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow

Of passing interest: this was the 300th species of British bird that I have photographed. Quite a nice bird to take on this arduous role!!

Thursday 7th May: not just a general election...

A very busy day for me but I managed to get out in the afternoon to go to Saltholme to see if I could see the Temminck's stint. The plan was to then drop down late afternoon to Sutton Bank and see the turtle doves. Plans don't always work out as expected and I knew from the start that the turtles could be elusive...

A quick drive down the Zinc Works Road produced this stonechat who refused adamantly to look my way!

Stonechat

As I walked up to the visitor centre at Saltholme this whitethroat was busy collecting food.

Whitethroat

The long walk to Haverton Gate was successful. Mr. Temminck was at home! But being very little, even at fairly close range he seemed a little distant...

Temminck's Stint Temminck's Stint Temminck's Stint

...as was an LRP

Temminck's Stint

Eventually I set off southbound for Sutton Bank. As the visitors left and the cycle shop packed up for the day my hopes rose. A young man from the National Park staff told me I needed to come very early morning. After checking out innumerable collared doves and wood pigeons in the surrounding trees I raised my bins once more to a rather bedraggled wood pigeon...

...or so I surmised...

Turtle Dove

The bird didn't mind me walking around its tree to get a better light. Much better! Or was it a different bird maybe?

Turtle Dove Turtle Dove Turtle Dove

Two turtle doves and not a [grey] partridge to be seen!

Turtle Dove Turtle Dove Turtle Dove Turtle Dove

#212 UK 2015