Friday 8 April 2011

Ring ouzel just up the road - Great lifer. Israel trip report coming!

Ring ouzel has long been my bogey bird, until last Monday. David Campbell sent a message on Saturday that a male had been seen at Canons Farm. I had just gone on a walking weekend in Sussex so I couldn't come back. The bird was still there on Sunday. Good. Would it. . . wouldn't it stay? Monday morning I arranged to pick David up at 6.15 and we went to the spot. Yes!!! There it was. A new lifer. Here is the best pic:


Male ring ouzel.

The previous Friday David rang with reports of a Leach's storm petrel near Reading. I'm not doing long distance twitching any more, but this wasn't too far so I agreed to go. I did wonder what a pelagic bird was doing at this time of year on a freshwater gravel pit,  and it was April 1st!! However it wasn't a hoax and here is the poor record shot to prove it.


Leach's storm petrel.

By the way, I am working on the pics of my recent Israel trip, but I have about 2,500 photos to go through so it will be a few days yet. Be patient and visit again.

3 comments:

  1. Finally a post! Nice pics and I'm very much looking forward to your Israel posts. I'm glad I found you your first Rouzel.

    see you tomorrow night

    David

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  2. Your back! Great!
    Well done on the Rouzel- a smart bird!
    (yes I know David found it but you had to see it!)
    Looking forward to your photo's from Israel.
    C

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  3. Thanks, David and Corinna! Yes, I've not done a lot so far this year but I'm back in the saddle now. Best wishes, Phil.

    ReplyDelete

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