CONFUSED PART ONE (15/09/11)

I was up with the Lark this morning. Could well have seen one for all I know. It’s been a very busy four hours birding and other things that took my fancy along the way. I went back to the Gannetry. I really do need to join a birders club………I met three today, they weren’t much help. One was trying to convince me a Rock Dove was a Kittiwake………..I knew it was a pigeon. I think they were winding me up or maybe they were just dumb birders. They had all the gear………cammo jackets, and they were just for their lenses……..Like howitzers the lenses were. One even had a tripod head bigger than my camera and lens. It’s a floating, hydraulic, diesel electric, gimbal head………………..apparently!

      Sunrise this morning………….I’ve seen worse at least it was on time 0634h. I like things prompt. Walked and fed the dogs and off we toddled half an hour later.

         It was blasted chilly. These Seven Spot Ladybirds obviously thought so. Every fence post for fifty yards had a similar colony. Never seen them do this before.

   A Red Admiral drying it’s wings.

   I saw one of the flocks from yesterday…………..Goldfinches. This shot and half a dozen similar passed a good half hour on. I could have done with a beater to circle round and drive them towards me. Still most of my bird images are rear views………….I’m thinking of specialising in them. The rest of you can do the front views.

  I’m not sure (1). My head is spinning I’ve been backwards and forwards through the bird book till I'm dizzy.

     I’m not sure (2)……….I thought I was following a Wheatear from pillar to post. It’s comfort zone was seven posts. I even got the dogs to stay………….no simple task…………but seven fence posts it remained.

       A Green Veined White Butterfly.

     A Small White Butterfly.

     To round out the Butterflies this lovely Small Copper…………I hope. A first for me.

We eventually arrived at the Gannets.

    This is a better image than yesterdays view of the colony. Nearly broke my neck to get a clear view of it. Worth it though it is one of the best places I’ve seen.

     You’ll have to look carefully but these, I hope, are Rock Doves. Even I know they aren’t Kittiwake. There are dozens of them but they fly too fast for me.

        A young Gull of some sort. The Gulls fly level with the cliff top the Gannets are too far away and lower down.

         I didn’t notice this mutual preening yesterday but it was a popular occupation today.

         You can’t tell from my snaps but they have the most beautiful pale blue eyes. Stunning birds.

        Here are two airborne. I don’t know if this is the best I got. I do know I’ve got a lot. There is still the odd Razorbill around………….I never saw one but the ornicopters at the platform assured me they had seen some.

It’s been another great morning and I’ll now sort out some other birds what I’ve snapped. We are suffering a plague of Craneflies. The birds are having a real feast. I’m just breathing through my nose. They taste of nothing.

Have fun I’ll be back. All Images should enlarge……..non are cropped.