Coastal Birds Photos

I've been taking a few shots of the Coastal Birds in our area over the last few days. It's amazing in Autumn, the number of different species you can see on the Coast. The variety, and number seem to increase at this time of year, and they also seem to come closer in shore.
I got this one today of a Cormorant drying out its wings, just off the shore of Rhos-on-Sea in the Bay of Colwyn





WS

I love that first photo of the cormorant WS, it's a brilliant photo and in the second photo he almost looks as though he is standing on a whale looks as though the weather was nice and hopefully you had a nice day too. Really like those pictures WS.

littlewid-x-

Great photos WS - lovely to see the cormorant sunning himself.

Lai Pai

Thanks Guys. I'm really chuffed with the first one of the Cormorant. I've got it as my screen saver now.
Another shot of a Oyster Catcher opening a Cockle



These shots are at maximum zoom on my camera, really I could do with a longer lens to get the best of the birds around the shore line.

This was the original shot at maximum zoom



Then I had to crop it to bring it up on the PC

WS

I met a semi-pro photographer on my holidays in Norfolk,he gave me this tip.Take your first picture,just so you have a record.Then creep in closer,shooting as you go.Depending on the subject,you may be crawling on your stomach at this point.Remember,creep not crop.Often easier said than done mind you...............

The difference between the two photo's is amazing WS, thats some distance to zoom in on, but the tweeking of the pic is brilliant but also brilliant that from a distance you saw him trying to crack the oyster.

TB.......watching WS crawling on his belly would make a brilliant picture in itself
A good tip to take your shot and then keep clicking whilst moving in to try and get an even closer one, you would have to creep as stealthily and silently as a Cheetah does.

littlewid-x-

Thanks for the tip TB, but have you seen the size of those bolders, some of them are nearly as big as my belly and they go all the way from the edge of the beach.

See if you can spot the Bird in this one. I saw it land, I could see it through the Binos, but when I brought the camera up I could'nt. I spent ages trying to get a shot, in the end in dispair I took a general shot of the rocks again at Max Zoom, and crossed my fingers.


It was a Curlew, a female I think not quite in focus, but at least you can see it


WS

what a vision, that's made me laugh first thing. Nice photos WS and good advice TB, but with those boulders

Lai Pai

I can't believe I spotted him straight way in the first picture WS, he blends so well into the rocks doesn't he. The second picture really shows him off, you did well to spot him in the first place. I've not seen a curlew before, a nice looking little bird, they've got quite long legs haven't they.

littlewid-x-

I owe a BIG THANKS to TB for identifying this next Bird. I was'nt sure what it was, so I PMd it to TB to ask. In the mean time the following day I saw it again, I asked a Guy on the beach who had a scope, and said he was local if he knew what it was. He looked at it, and idtentfied it as a Immature Razor Bill, because the beak had not fully developed. I told TB, and he had seen Razor Bills in the nest, and the beak was developed. TB identified it as a Guillemot in its winter plumage, and suggested I look in more than one book. He was spot on, and those are very wise words, you need more that one book, some have photos, and some have drawings. It was from a drawing that I confirmed TBs answer was right.
TB

This again was a very long shot, with no tripod, the Guillemot was not on the surface for very long, as it was diving, after fish, and it was coming back up all over the place.
I eventualy got a couple of shots but it was a long way out over the water





WS

TB and good advice re the books.

Lai Pai

Lovely shots WS Good job you checked your pics out with TB otherwise we would all be confusing razor Bills with Guillemots, so well done TB

littlewid-x-

Your right there LW, because on the same day, as I saw the Guillemot for the second time. I drove a couple of miles down the coast and there was a traffic hold up. So I parked in the first available space. Looked out at sea, and look what was there



Now I'm pretty sure that is a Razor Bill, you can tell the end of the beak is blunter than a Guillemot, it was just resting on the surface, it had proberbly been diving for fish. Thats the first time I've spotted either of them, and both on the same day, an amazing coincidence. Although the do frequent the same areas.

WS

That second one has more of a Razor about it , doesn't it?
Key thing is use more than one reference source if you're unsure,try to get some indication what species are likely to be in the area at certain times of the year.Finally keep looking,the only way to learn.
ps.I use the RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Holden and Cleeves as one of my favourite guides,this has drawings that can emphasise certain details that a photograph might not.One with photographs I use is another RSPB one(you can use others) from Dorling Kindersley by Rob Hume

Thanks TB, I've made a note of those two Books, and will look if they have them at our local RSPB Centre, I really found that the drawings in a book I've got helped more that the photos in another after you suggested checking more that one book.
I've got another couple of photos to post that I'm sure are Common Sandpipers tomorrow

WS

The thing is with books,they only help confirm or otherwise,you also need to know the flight of birds and in springtime,their song too.When you get one of those"little brown jobs"(brown bird that could be one of a dozen different sorts),it's the flight,song and habitat too that helps.Either join a local club or just spend some time watching and listening,it takes time,but that's half the fun of it.Oh and finally,if you're not sure which it is,it's nearly always the commonest one you can see.

Your right there TB, songs, and flight do help. I got the RSPB Bird Song Identification CD, along with a few other members on here, and when I've been sitting outside in the summer. It really has helped me to recognise quite a few different birds although I could'nt see them. Ther are also a few sites on line that do that sort of thing as well.

This is one the photos of what I think are Common Sandpipers. They are in Britain from April to Oct according to my Book, so they will be off on their migration quite soon



WS

Great photo WS - and I love the colour of the wet pebbles as well.

Lai Pai

......................er,I think they are Turnstones..............

Thanks TB. I will check them out in my books. Your proberbly right, but they were the closest I could see.
WS

Spot on again TB. I should have checked the second book, again. You'd have thought I'd have learnt by now. They are Turnstones in winter colours. I'm goona have to make you my specail advisor at this rate
WS

Great pic WS. Some of those were very hard to spot if you had not zoomed in. You have a lovely variety on the shore, dont stop snapping.

SM

OK Lets see if I can get this one right. A Black Headed Gull



WS

Looks more like a mediteranean gull. I thought black headed gulls had completely black coloured heads?

SM