Oxon Bird Pics Autumn/Winter 2011/12
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Great Grey Shrike, South Leigh
23 March 2012
After something of a barren patch, it is good to be
"back in the groove"!
This bird was quite confiding, as reported by others.
Click pic to enlarge
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Goosander, River Thames at Farmoor 11 February
2012
This female was fortunately flushed towards me along
the river by some walkers on the opposite side.
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Blue Tit, Bushy Leaze Copse 11 February 2012
With some snow & ice around.
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Great Tit, Bushy Leaze Copse 21 January 2012
A somewhat different subject from the phalarope below!
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Grey Phalarope, Farmoor 21 January 2012
A most unusual winter visit from this dainty wader.
Quite difficult to photograph in the rough conditions,
despite its tameness.
A good low camera angle on this one - worth the
resulting wet feet!
Click pic to enlarge.
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Grey Phalarope, Farmoor 21 January 2012
As above, but a slightly raised camera angle.
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Grey Phalarope, Farmoor 21 January 2012
Closer (frame filling) but by now the sun had
disappeared.
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Hen Harrier 8 January 2012
A considerable improvement on my 3 December effort (see
below), but still some way to go for a notable result! I
had the exposure compensation all wrong for this surprise
close (ish) encounter, which certainly didn't help on
this ISO 1600 shot taken into the light, just as dusk was
gathering.
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Cormorant, Farmoor 7 January 2012
On a nearer than usual buoy from the causeway - easier
than the highly mobile GND!
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Great Northern Diver, Farmoor 2 January 2012
A sunny day at last for some of the day at least!
Unfortunately, this GND wasn't coming too close, but this
photo is reasonable, despite the distance. It has
benefitted from a fair amount of processing...
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Hen Harrier, Otmoor 3 December 2011
Showing briefly and distantly over the reeds from the
second screen, near which the Kestrel shown below was
hovering. Probably my best Hen Harrier pic to date, which
isn't saying much!
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Kestrel, Otmoor 3 December 2011
Hovering near the second screen.
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Snow Bunting, Farmoor 12 November 2011
A moderately obliging bird at times. This photo was
taken during the dull conditions in the morning.
With the Lapland in September (see below), this makes
two locally rare buntings in one autumn at Farmoor!
Click pic to enlarge
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Snow Bunting, Farmoor 12 November 2011
Another photo taken in the morning.
Click pic to enlarge
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Snow Bunting, Farmoor 12 November 2011
Taken in the afternoon when it was somewhat brighter.
By then it was spending most of its time at the water's
edge.
Click pic to enlarge
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Golden Plover, Port Meadow 5 November 2011
After a blank October, this poor Golden Plover photo
is at least something! These birds were very wary, and
the light was awful. It is however my only shot of this
species to date. Getting a better one is the next
challenge.
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Kingfisher, Letcombe Bassett 24 September 2011
Very quiet at Farmoor this morning, but this more
local spot compensated slightly!
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Lapland Bunting, Farmoor 17 September 2011
Another great find by Dave Lowe, just a week after the
Citrine Wagtail!
After it had been relocated mid-morning, this bird was
very confiding, but was difficult to photograph well, as
it hardly ever stopped moving, and the light was
difficult.
This is a slightly distant, and hence quite heavily
cropped shot but the warmer colours (due to the lighting
being better) give a nicer overall effect than the shot
below.
Click to enlarge
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Lapland Bunting, Farmoor 17 September 2011
This is a closer and shaper pic than the above, but
the light direction is all wrong!
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Wheatear, Farmoor 17 September 2011
Having arrived about 10sec after the Lapland Bunting
had disappeared for the first time, this Wheatear on the
west side of F1 proved a welcome diversion while waiting
for the Lap. to be re-found!
This is probably my closest Wheatear pic - virtually
frame filling!
Click to enlarge
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Citrine Wagtail, Farmoor 10 September
2011
A county first and a world lifer for me!! Many thanks
to Dave Lowe for first finding this bird, and then re-finding
it on the causeway for those who missed it by about ten
minutes first time around (like me).
Click to enlarge
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Citrine Wagtail, Farmoor 10 September
2011
As above.
Click to enlarge
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Citrine Wagtail, Farmoor 10 September 2011
No apologies for another, slightly different shot of
this super bird!
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©
All pictures copyright Stephen Burch |