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Oxon Bird Pics: Spring/Summer 2021
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Wheatear, Farmoor
25 August 2021
It was nice to
see two of these birds on causeway but getting close enough for
good shots was difficult, given the considerable footfall. Hence I
thought I'd see if I could get any flight shots for a change.
This
was a bit distant but I find getting onto small birds in flight
difficult at the best of times, even with the R5's AF tracking
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Osprey, Farmoor
18 August 2021
I got lucky on my
first visit to Farmoor in months! An early report of waders
prompted me to go, but when I got there all I could find initially
was a juvenile Oystercatcher.
However, shortly afterwards,
Isaac West kindly told me that there was an Osprey about! It was
often extremely distant but came closer to the causeway a few
times. This shot was taken on its last and closest approach, just
as it was starting to brighten up. I was using the 500f4 with the
x2 TC, hand held for this shot - not something I would normally
attempt but with the bird almost overhead it was the only option.
Click to enlarge
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Osprey, Farmoor
18 August 2021
See above - a bit
more distant and before the sun made a brief appearance.
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Little Egret
21 July 2021
These birds always
look so much better in full sun in my opinion! This bird virtually
filled the frame.
Click to enlarge |
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Little Egret close up
21 July 2021
A crop of the
shot above.
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Little Egret
21 July 2021
A reflector shot in
the calm conditions.
Click to enlarge |
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Common Tern
21 July 2021
Close inspection of
this photo and others I took showed this bird had a dark blue ring
with U21 in white letters on its left leg. Subsequent enquiries
via the BTO showed this bird was ringed as a juvenile in
Leicestershire in 2018.
Click to enlarge |
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Bittern, Otmoor
8 July 2021
After a three hour
wait, I eventually got some relatively distant shots of the Bittern in flight that
has been showing from time to time from the bridleway.
The
wings are raised in this shot.
Click to enlarge |
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Bittern, Otmoor
8 July 2021
Wings down in this
shot!
Click to enlarge |
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Curlew, Standlake Pit 60
7 July 2021
This bird
flew over calling, circled a couple of times, and then decided
against landing.
Click to enlarge |
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Swift, Farmoor
22 May 2021
I made an unplanned
to Farmoor, on the spur of the moment, after seeing reports of
plenty of Swifts around. When I arrived it was late morning, and I
just had a relatively short time to try for Swifts flying across
the water using the R5. This performed a lot better than my
previous 7D II would have under the same circumstances. The 7D II
would have focussed on the water every time!
After a
little while, the clouds parted and the sun came out, which caused
all the Swifts to vanish!
Click to enlarge |
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Swift, Farmoor
22 May 2021
Even with the R5,
flight shots against the sky were more reliable in terms of
focusing.
Click to enlarge |
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Hobby
18 May 2021
This was the bird I was hoping
for but slightly distant.
Click to enlarge
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Common Tern
18 May 2021
Came reasonably close to
me.
Click to enlarge
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Little Egret
23 April 2021
A close fly-by - just
managed to get on to it with one frame.
Click to enlarge
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Little Egret
23 April 2021
Another close
approach in brilliant sunny conditions.
Click to enlarge
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Little and Great White Egrets
23 April 2021
A
rather distant approach early on just as the sun was coming up.
Nice to get both species in the same shot, well illuminated.
Click to enlarge |
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Shelduck
23 April 2021
The male in mid display.
Click to enlarge |
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Shelduck
20 April 2021
Really good to be able to
get out and find some water birds.
This rapidly incoming
bird was a good test for the R5 Auto Focus with the 500mmf4 lens
and the x2 converter! Other shots were not as sharp..
Click to enlarge |
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Shelduck
20 April 2021
A nice reflection in the
calm conditions and great light.
Click to enlarge |
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Red-crested Pochard
20 April 2021
A fly-by of
this exotic duck.
Click to enlarge |
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Little Egret
20 April 2021
A close approach!
Click to enlarge |
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Goldfinch, Garden
4 April 2021
Trying some
garden birds again, with the "sky" as a background.
Click to enlarge |
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Goldfinch, Garden
3 April 2021
Trying some
garden birds again - the fence as a background..
Click to enlarge |
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Robin, Garden
3 April 2021
A surprise visitor
very briefly on the perch.
Click to enlarge |
© All
pictures copyright Stephen Burch |
