HUNGARY JULY 2019

WADERS.

A very early morning start in a hide placed a little way out in large ( but fast drying out by the day as the weather grew hotter) lake, hoping for some of the resident waders to come close enough to photograph. The light was great, just a matter of wait and see what species may come by. We were not disappointed as a pair of beautiful Avocets came closer and were soon feeding in front of us, very elegant ,handsome birds with their upturned birds sweeping through the water in search of a few tasty morsels. I've tried on quite a few occasions to photograph Avocets at home but never seemed to be able to get quite close enough, so am delighted with these views and photos. A while later a few Wood Sandpiper dropped in plus some Ruff and a Spotted Redshank.

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Hungary July 2019

HOOPOE

Are'nt Hoopoe's brilliant!. I think perhaps may have overtaken the Hobby and Long Tailed Tit as my favourite bird, colourful,  full of character and proper quirky. Seen a few in the u.k but not comparable to watching them from a hide at such close quarters.

Hungary July 2019

EUROPEAN ROLLER

Another exotic looking bird, the Roller is a stocky (Jackdaw sized ) bird with  glorious blues ,browns and orangy colouring. Its prey include large Insects, Reptiles ,Rodents and Frogs and the ones we photographed were busy bringing assorted offerings to their young. A rare bird in the U.K, the only one I have seen was way back in 1989 in East Devon.

Hungary July 2019.

A re-visit to the Tizsaalpar area of Hungary after the trip in 2015. A week filled with amazing birds in a still fairly unspoilt landscape, quite a bit different from our industrialised fields where its hard just finding stuff let alone get close enough to photograph. From colourful Bee Eaters, Rollers,  and Hoopoes to eight species of Heron ,Falcons, Shrikes and Waders among many others.
Lots of photographs taken and no apologies for showing probably too many here.
So lets start with the beautiful Bee Eaters, just sitting watching and listening to their calls as they visited their nests with a whole assortment of insect food was a treat.

BEE EATERS.

Three Islands in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.

17th - 21st June .

For a birdwatcher and wildlife photographer there is nothing quite as exciting as visiting a seabird colony and these three small island in the Firth of Forth just of North Berwick,Scotland ,offered up a real treat to the senses, with the sight , sound and smell of thousands of seabirds nesting on the cliffs. We visited Fidra, Craigleith and the Bass Rock as well as nearby St.Abbs Head. It was great being so close to Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes among others ,and the sheer joy of being among  the 150.000 Gannets on Bass Rock, somewhere I'd always wanted to go. Lots of photos.

Bass Rock

Bass Rock

St. Abbs Head

Puffin

Puffin

Puffin pair

Puffin classic pose with Sandeels

Puffin incoming

Puffin flyby

Puffin flight

Puffin

Razorbill and chick

Razorbill with Sandeels

Guillemots

Guillemot

Kittiwake

Kittiwake with nest material

Kittiwake on nest

Kittiwake scrap

Nesting Shag

Shag and young

Lesser Black Backed Gull on nest

Herring Gull

Herring Gull newly hatched chick and egg

Fulmar flight

Eiders

Gannets

Gannet aggression

Gannets Bass Rock

Gannets fishing

Gannets fishing

VERY close Gannet

Gannet preening

Gannet with nest material

Gannet preening

Gannet diving

Gannet Bass Rock.