ICELANDIC MARAUDER.

At the risk of showing some of my not so good shots, I thought you might forgive me and enjoy, if that's the right word. An exciting hour or so for me at least, photographing Arctic Skua's and their endeavour's.

Arctic Skua.

In June last year Neil, Eleanor, Wendy and myself embarked on our first ever trip to Iceland.

The trip was based in the North-west birding area's, taking in the Snaefellsness peninsula and lake Myvatn.

 If you think that the wet weather of the past week or so was aweful, add a few degree's of coldness and strong wind, that would be the prevailing condition's we were contending with most of our trip. So  finding a cafe along Miofjorour at Hvammstangi was a welcome relief.

Although the sky held rain and it was very breezy I found a partly sheltered spot and elected to stand and try to photograph some Arctic Skua's...whilst the other's sat in the warm and dry drinking their expresso's

The lighting was dismal and grey my Iso  as low as I dared at f5.6 as I tried to track and photograph the distant action. I soon became enthralled with the action and dilemma's being played out in front of me.

Picking a target

Skua's are much larger than their victims and are in effect mugger's and bullies.
Although one thing I love about the arctic Skua is it's fighter style prowess in the air.

The chase begins 

They identify their quarry and soon get along side their hapless victim.

Flying upside down !

With  speed and acrobatic flight they easily catch up and strike terror into the much smaller Arctic Terns.

Catching the disgorged food 

As often is the case, harassing the Tern's, they are forced into disgorging their food. But the Skua still
has to catch the falling bounty.

Swerving to find another Tesco's trolley.

This time a Black headed Gull, take a close look at the flight attitudes of both birds.

Trick flying.

Sometimes the Black-headed Gulls are not so easy to mug, but the Skua's have it covered.

Two against one

Once the Skua's have prompted the Gull to regurgitate it's food, it's a race to see who can catch it.

But Hey ! this fiesty Gull isn't taking things lying down.

Whoops better move on.

Amazing the Gull was able to defend itself and move the marauder's off.

Another Gull doesn't defend so well and gives up it's hard gained food.

If you look closely you can see dinner arriving or is it departing?

Two lumps up for grabs

I can't quite imagine that the discarded food is all hoovered up, there must be a lot of wastage?




And so the conflict's continue as they have alway's done from the distant past. Although I've called them  bullies, this is the way they survive and they should not be maligned in any way for the way they live. It's all part of nature's rich tapestry and I would not change a thing.

Hope you have liked this short epic adventure, I found them simply captivating and enthralling, I hope that I have conveyed that feeling to you.
I Would dearly luv to do it all again and maybe I will !!

Club Indoor Meeting 5th June

Hello

Next Wednesday (5th June) is this month's club indoor meeting at the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir. Our speaker is club member Jeff Blincow who will be presenting what he considers his best talk...'Rockpooling'!

Club members will know that Jeff is an excellent all round naturalist and speaker, his enthusiasm for all aspects of wildlife is legendary and I'm sure this month's talk will be as educational and amusing as always.

The meeting commences at 7.30pm with a few notices and a brief update on the club tour of the Camargue last month and the evening is then over to Jeff. Hot drinks and biscuits will be available throughout the evening. Everyone is welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Camargue tour

Hello

Yesterday evening the group of thirteen NBC members partaking in the trip to the Camargue returned from their adventure in the south of France. The weather was dominated with strong northerly winds but a copious amount of sunshine so we have all returned back a little browner!

During our eight day tour we managed to visit some of the prime sites in the Camargue but also visited the slopes of Mount Ventoux, the plains of Le Crau and the Les Alpilles range of limestone hills.

Plenty of birds were on offer (over 160 species recorded) and we were lucky to see a wide range of insects and accumulated a healthy mammal list too. More details soon!

Regards

Neil M

Some of the wildlife encountered!

A DAY of TWO HALVES

Hi,

Sunday at Otmoor was little on the cold side upon arrival, but that did not stop the birds from singing.

Whitethroat

All along the watchtower sorry tracks Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing, finding them was the problem. Singing their hearts out, but in the dense foliage they were playing difficult.

Sedge Warbler

Jenny Wren, Bob Gill

To be honest coupled with poor light the photography was made even more difficult. A Red Kite came close but against the grim sky images suffered, nothing to do with the photographer's of course!

Red Kite

Out in the fields albeit at distance the Brown Hares were chasing each other, what a superb animal the Brown Hare is ! I was also so pleased to see my old mate Loppy ear's.

Loppy ear's

Brown Hare

Still the Birds were singing Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat and a Grasshopper Warbler reeled out its song.

Linnet

After a bit of well earned scoff, we watched a female Pheasant dust bathe, I must try that sometime!

Dust bathing Pheasant

 The weather had started to warm up, as all of a sudden insect's were apparent. As we were the only car on the trip the macro's came out, but then we heard a sound we had been waiting for, the purring of a Turtle Dove. I secretly wondered how long we shall still see this lovely Dove and how have we let it get to this stage of decline ?

Turtle Dove

I say the Macro lens's came out....mine was still at home...but it didn't stop me I had to use my telephoto.

Red and Black Froghopper's were out in profusion .

Froghopper Bob Gill

Cream Spot Ladybird.  Bb Gill

Orange Tip Butterflies danced along the footpath's, Bob becoming the champion of finding their minute eggs on Mustard garlic.

As usual Otmoor had given Mark, Bob, Wendy and myself another wonderful day out.

Rhingia campestris  Hoverfly

Cheers Robin.

Indoor Meeting 1st May

Hello

This coming Wednesday (1st May) is the next indoor meeting of the club when there will be a presentation on the Wildlife of Mallorca as provided by our club chairman Bob Gill. This Mediterranean island has been a regular venue for Bob and his family for a number of years and we all look forward to seeing and hearing about his wildlife excursions.

The meeting begins at 7.30pm at the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir and Northants Bird Club members and non members alike are very welcome. Free parking is available close to the Fishing Lodge which is situated just off the Brixworth road outside the village of Holcot, and there is an overflow facility in a small car park next to the fishing boats.

Hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening, we look forward to seeing you there!

Regards

Neil McMahon

Great Reed Warbler.

Clouded Yellow butterfly.

NBC Car Trip

ole' loppy ears

Hello, the car trip this month will be on Sunday the 28th.

All being well we shall be visiting RSPB Otmoor, a great place to see all kinds of birds including
Turtle Doves, raptors and Cranes.
Brown Hares, Grass Snakes and Lizards etc etc are amongst a host of other wildlife that can be on show.

To enjoy a beautiful day out in the Oxfordshire countryside contact Bob Gill on 07938680386 for more details

Roe Deer

Cheerz Robin.

Bittern gallery

Hello

Wendy and Robin Gossage are not long back from a break in Suffolk, and of course one of the must visit places is the RSPB reserve at Minsmere. It was here one evening that they watched a fabulous Bittern at close quarters...

Regards

Neil M

Images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Indoor Meeting 3rd April

Hello

The next indoor meeting of the club is on Wednesday 3rd April 2019 when our visiting speaker Alan Peters will be reminiscing of his recent trip to Kazakhstan where he thoroughly enjoyed birding the vast expanse of steppes and other habitats to find the special birds of this region. Alan' presentation entitled 'Birding the Steppes and Mountains of Central Asia' will come with digital images and the meeting begins as usual at 7.30pm.

Hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening and members and non members alike are very welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Demoiselle Crane.

Pallas's Sandgrouse.

NBC Car Trip to Titchwell

MARSH HARRIER

Titchwell a well seasoned favourite and always a great place to visit.

Whilst having a slurp in the car park on arrival, Richard and Trish joined us. The weather prognosis wasn't bad,  being sunny with a little bit of a breeze.

There had been a White Tailed Sea-eagle wandering up and down the coast, so who knows what we were to expect.

First up a beardy, unusually just the one, a female type, but the breeze was keeping it low.

Bearded Tit   Bob Gill

Making for the beach whilst the tide was still high, a bit of sea watching was in order. Some nice plumaged Red breasted Mergansers passed by with Red necked, Great Crested and Slavonian Grebes vying for position on the sea. A Great Northern Diver and Scoter were also out and about.

As the tide receded water rushed out of the tidal lake exposing fresh feeding ground for a host of waders flying in.

Avocets   Mark Williams

Avocet  Bob Gill.

Brent Goose   Bob Gill

Brent Geese were coming in off the marshes along with Curlew, Redshank, both Black tailed and Bar tailed Godwits and Knot etc.

Flocks of knot twinkling in the sunlight  as they flew around this way then that way.

Knot,  this way

Knot,  that way

Avocet

Amongst all the kerfuffle were a few pairs of Med Gulls.

Med Gull    Mark Williams.

Med Gull.

Wigeon

A walk along the Meadow trail hopefully for a Bittern or Woodcock, a female Brambling was imprisoned in a bird feeder.






Continuing along the Fen walk we stopped at the end to photograph a few Marsh Harriers.










A Buzzard was also seen stooping,

Common Buzzard.

Red Kite   Mark Will  I am    s

Lastly we visited the dank and dark stream where the perennial Water Rail had been seen.






A sunny weekend in Norfolk brought out hoards of people, making the traffic on the way home
 dismal.

Aside from that, it was a wonderful bird filled day.

AGM and Indoor Meeting 6th March

Hello

The club's AGM is to be held on Wednesday 6th March commencing at 7.30pm at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir. Bob Gill, the club chairman, will be managing the meeting and after the AGM formalities we very much look forward to a presentation from visiting speaker Colin Wilkinson who will be speaking about a recent wildlife trip to Taiwan. Colin is supporting his presentation with images from this exciting Asiatic island.

As usual hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening and all are welcome to attend.

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Turtle Dove.
Images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

GREAT DELIBERATIONS

Hear ye, Hear ye

and for your delectation, all entries for the Northants Bird Club Photographic Competition, are now on the blog.

So for all those that missed a great evening or would like to simply peruse some wonderful images,

go to,  https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-winners-2018.html