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| East Prawle, Devon 9th June 2005 |
| A couple of photos of the adult Rose-coloured Starling in Devon suggested that it was showing well, so with my exams finished I decided to go down and check it out. Originally the bird showed well for scope views on somebodies lawn, but eventually flew across the village to feed on the top of a shed which was regularly stocked with various food items, including (somewhat bizarrely) water melon. Here, the bird was very tolerant of the few birders who had come to see it - showing down to a few yards. It was less tolerant of the local bird life, Starlings, Collared Doves, Sparrows and Greenfinches all being chased away from the feeding area when the Rose-coloured was on the scene. A really good looking specimen - about as good as they get, and far nicer than the grotty first-summer thing I saw in Cornwall last year. Click on the head shot below for more photos of this bird - |
| Happisburgh, Norfolk 17th July 2005 |
| I finally caught up with the adult Lesser crested Tern at Happisburgh after it flew off 20 minutes before I arrived at Waxham. To begin with the bird wasn't particularly close, but when it flew down the coast towards Eccles the crowd disappeared leaving Paul Hackett and I to relocate the bird. We found it sitting on a groyne close to the beach. After watching several dog walkers pass it at close range without flushing it, we edged closer and got within about 40-50 yards. Click on the photo below for some more photos of this bird: |
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| Cemlyn, Anglesey 19th July 2005 |
| Two mega Terns in the space of 3 days, and my third mega Tern of the year! Having not had the necessary enthusiasm to get a boat out to see the Sooty Tern when it frequented the Skerries offshore a week or so ago, it was good news that the bird had started settling more regularly on Cemlyn lagoon. Arriving on site at about 10.30, there had been no sign since 4.40 when it had been seen flying west distantly offshore - not looking good. Fortunately it was picked up flying off the sea at 11.45. It proceeded to fly right past the assembled birders and land in front of us on the lagoon! It stayed around the rest of the day. These photos are probably the pick of the bunch, unfortunately the sun went in pretty much as soon as the bird arrived. Click on the photo below for more shots of this bird: |
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| Rainham Marshes, Essex 3rd July 2005 |
| The Collared Pratincole at Rainham was apparently showing well so I decided to go and have a look - having not been bothered to travel for the distant bird in Norfolk. It did show quite close, especially in flight, but was hard to photograph in pretty poor light. Click on the shot below for more photos of this bird - |
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| Winterton, Norfolk 1st September 2005 |
| A visit for the Booted Warbler at Winterton. It eventually showed well for a few photos. |
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| Various sites in Norfolk & Suffolk End of August 2005 |
| A trip round Suffolk and Norfolk produced decent scope views of the Pacific Golden Plover at Levington Creek in Suffolk, some Whimbrel images from Salthouse and these shots of two juvenile Dotterel at Snettisham, click on the head shot for more: |
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| Cornwall late September 2005 |
| The juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher was the main highlight of a trip to Cornwall. Other good birds seen included a confiding juvenile Black-winged Stilt and a juvenile Ring-necked Duck. Click on the Dowitcher for more shots: |
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| Isles of Scilly October 5th 2005 |
| This Water Rail was naturally the highlight of my first trip to Scilly. Blackpoll Warbler, Sora and Spotted Sandpiper were also seen on the trip. Click on the Rail for all the photos: |
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| Portland, Dorset October 10th 2005 |
| This Arctic Warbler eventually showed well at Portland, Dorset. More images can be found by clicking on the shot below: |
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| Anglesey November 10th 2005 |
| The Green Heron showed pretty well despite the weather at Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey. More shots by clicking the image below. The regularly returning Black Scoter was also seen from Llanfairfechan promenade. |
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| Kingston Seymour, Somerset November 12th 2005 |
| This Upland Sandpiper showed very well along the seawall near Kingston Seymour, Somerset. Click on the image below for even closer shots: |
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| June to November 2005 |