Can anyone help this old bird (me) with failing eyesight and a 300mm lens just a little out of range for this guy with an ID please. Brought some visitors from Suffolk down to the wetlands in Sept but no memorable sightings as still to overgrown. However by chance snapped this guy as saw him flaying across one of the big reed beds and assumed (was shooting into a low sun and my tinted varifocals had gone dark !) it was a heron coming in for an early tea. Its only now while flicking through unedited pics that I thought hang on have I managed to catch the one bird I've been trying to snap for the past two years with many unsuccessful visits to Minsmere actually on my doorstep ???. Please can someone either make me jump for joy or make me reach for the diary for another trip to minsmere with an ID please I would be very grateful to know either way from a knowledgeable and experienced head (Sadly pics are saying to big for adding onto the post so have uploaded them onto the gallery and links below) - thanks in advance
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/newportwetlands/m/newportwetlands-mediagallery/779782.aspx
Hi
Its Bittern in flight, nice capture.
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
whoooohoooooo thanks Shane well happy now - just gutted I didnt appreciate seeing him at the time - will pay a lot more attention from now on !!
Your very welcome :-)
Well spotted Nicky and thanks for the ID Shane. Nicky I've not been myself but everybody who crosses the pond to Ham Wall in Somerset tells me that Bittern are easy to spot over there and Great White Egrets. -Think we're beginning to benefit from the overspill!
Yes I've heard lots on Ham Wall so am planning a visit hopefully this month to try and catch the starling murmuration as well as the Bitterns and Marsh Harriers - GWE's would be the icing on top if they are there at the time too. Good to see that their making their way across the channel