[SeanKP]

In a complete rip-off of Postcardcv's idea, I have decided to keep a photo list for the year. I'm hoping it'll provide an incentive to start taking shots again of birds of which I've already got masses of pictures. I'm not going to set myself a target but at the current rate I'll be lucky to get to 50...

The first set are all from the 8th of January at the London Wetlands Centre:

1. Chaffinch
2. Great Tit
3. Green Woodpecker
4. Grey Heron
5. Robin

I definitely hope to get better shots of all of these and if I do I'll replace them accordingly.

Sean

Edit: Replaced Chaffinch and Great Tit Pictures with pictures taken 15/01/2006 at LWC.

Edit: replaced Green Woodpecker shot with Photo from 20/01/2006 at LWC.

Edit: Replaced Chaffinch, Grey Heron and Robin pictures (6/2/2006)

[SeanKP]

The next 3 are also from 8th January:

6. Blue Tit
7. Snipe
8. Water Rail

I managed to sneak out with my camera during my lunch hour on Wednesday and got:

9. Blackbird

Edit: Blue tit replaced with picture from 22nd January.
Edit: Blue tit replaced with picture taken 28th January.
Edit: Snipe replaced with picture taken 12th February.

[SeanKP]

Spent the day at LWC again. The sun is playing hard to get, making an appearance for all of an hour! A few additions to the list though:

10. Coot
11. Dunnock
12. Greenfinch
13. Kestrel
14. Mallard

Edit: Dunnock picture replaced by one taken 18/02/2006
Edit: Kestrel picture replaced by one taken 26/02/2006 at Elmley

[SeanKP]

More from today at the LWC:

15. Mute Swan
16. Ring-necked parakeet
17. Shoveler
18. Siskin
19. Gadwall

Edit: Replaced siskin photo (6/2/2006)
Edit: Replaced Mute Swan photo with one taken 11th February.

[Isurus]

Where was that kestrel Sean? it looks like its sat on top of one of the hides.

[SeanKP]

Hi Isurus

It was on that building with the straw birds on the roof, to your left just as you enter the waterside.

Sean

PS: Good to meet up with you.

[mark ridsdale]

At this rate you'll easily top the 50 photos mark.Crackin photos!

[James Lowther]

that teal is a gadwall ain't it?

Edit: didn't mean to be over negative - keep up the good work!!

[SeanKP]

Originally Posted by James Lowther

that teal is a gadwall ain't it?

Edit: didn't mean to be over negative - keep up the good work!!

Erm, you're quite right James. Thanks for pointing that out, I've changed the description accordingly.

[SeanKP]

Took the afternoon off work and resisted the temptation to chase the whale up the Thames and instead went back to Barnes. Glad I did too. Sadly the kingfisher didn't show until the sun was setting and was just too far away for pictures anyway but it was my first kingfisher sighting that wasn't a whoosh of electric blue as it flew by. Got a few more for the list too:

20. Great-crested Grebe
21. Great-spotted woodpecker
22. Pochard (I think!)
23. Tufted Duck

Edit: changed the woodie picture to one I like better.

Edit: changed the great-crested grebe shot (6/2/2006)

[SeanKP]

My car is knackered so, as it is by far and away the easiest place to get to by public transport, it was back to Barnes again for me today. Whaddya know, the sun even decided to put in an appearance as did yesterday's kingfisher. Anyway, down to the nitty gritty, a few more additions:

24. Canada Goose
25. Goldfinch
26. Kingfisher (desperate to get a better one!)
27. Little Grebe
28. Moorhen

Edit: Replaced kingfisher shot with one taken 28/01/2006. Still room for improvement though

Edit: Replaced goldfinch, kingfisher and little grebe shots (6/2/2006)

[Geoff Pain]

What equipment are you using Sean?

[SeanKP]

Hi Geoff

It varies. I was using the 350D with either the Sigma 170-500 or the 500mm prime (depending on how lazy I was feeling). The last couple of days I've been using the 1ds MarkII with the Sigma 500mm.

Sean

[SeanKP]

Gotta get my car sorted. Spent most of the day dipping on the kingfisher and just two new additions:

29. Lapwing
30. Teal

Edit: Lapwing picture replaced by one taken 27/02/2006 at Elmley

[SeanKP]

Been trying to make the most of my lunch hour but it has been perishing cold and windy. A couple of gulls from yesterday and a starling from today:

31. Black-headed gull
32. Lesser black-backed gull (I think, I'm even worse on gulls than ducks!)
33. Starling

[markho]

Hi Sean

I go to the WWT quite often , think I may of even seen you a couple of times. I was interested in your Kingfisher and Water Rail pictures. Where abouts do you normally see them. I have only seen the rail once when it walked across the path infront of me. The Kingfisher I saw by the Peter Scott statue , sitting on the bridge , I have never seen him since despite going to that nesting hide every visit. If that Sand martin hide opens this year you should get some cracking shots for your list.

[SeanKP]

Hi Markho

I'm at Barnes quite a lot as I live near Waterloo and it's the easiest place to get to by public transport. If you see me, say hi. You'll easily recognise me, I'm the idiot struggling with the big Sigma lens. Oh, and I'm short with dark hair.

The water rail I saw from the Wildside hidewhilst looking at the feeders. It was walking across the path that is part of the summer route. I've seen it a couple of times but not recently. I've also seen water rail from the Headley hide (the reeds at 11 o clock as you look out of the front of the hide) and from the bridge off the main path between the first hide (can't recall its name at the moment) and the WWF hide.

The kingfisher I saw on the patch of water next to the feeders on the waterside, at the crossroads between the main path and the route from the WWF hide to the toilet block. If you know where the alders are where the siskin tend to be, that's the spot. Apparently, it has been seen there quite a lot and I may give it another go this weekend if I can find the time.

All the best.

Sean

Originally Posted by markho

Hi Sean

I go to the WWT quite often , think I may of even seen you a couple of times. I was interested in your Kingfisher and Water Rail pictures. Where abouts do you normally see them. I have only seen the rail once when it walked across the path infront of me. The Kingfisher I saw by the Peter Scott statue , sitting on the bridge , I have never seen him since despite going to that nesting hide every visit. If that Sand martin hide opens this year you should get some cracking shots for your list.

[markho]

Cheers , thanks for that info.

Next time I'm there I'll look out for you

[SeanKP]

Spent most of Saturday attempting to photograph the kingfisher so the additions to the list are somewhat naff:

34. Bittern (lousy but about as good as I'm likely to get this year)
35. Feral Pigeon (well, it had to be done eventually!)

[SeanKP]

I thought I was going to have to work Sunday and I was pleased as punch when it turned out that I wouldn't need to after all. The light was beautiful all day and I figured I'd go look for the kingfisher again. Trouble was it was free to get in at the LWC and the crowds weren't exactly conducive to bird photography. Oh well, a few more for the list anyway:

36. Carrion Crow
37. Cormorant
38. Long-tailed tit
39. Magpie
40. Redwing

Edit: Replaced magpie photo with photo from LWC on 4th March

[SeanKP]

One more from Sunday:

41. Greylag Goose

[SeanKP]

I wasn't feeling very well but I wasn't going to miss the first decent light in ages and so I dragged myself to the Wetlands Centre on Sunday. Managed to grab a few new birds:

42. Egyptian Goose
43. Reed Bunting
44. Ruddy Duck

Plus this one from 21st January:

45. Whooper swan

[SeanKP]

I was in Bristol for my sister's birthday this weekend but managed to do both Leigh Woods and Slimbridge on Saturday which netted a disappointingly low number of new birds for the list:

46. Bewicks Swan
47. Jackdaw
48. Rook
49. Shelduck

I'm resisting the temptation to post a 'record' shot of a coal tit just to get to the 50 mark.

[SeanKP]

A dull day at Elmley yesterday but I managed to get a few new birds and to break the 50 mark at last:

50. House Sparrow
51. Pheasant
52. Pied Wagtail
53. Pintail
54. Ringed Plover

Edit: Replaced ringed plover with photo from 6th March.

[SeanKP]

Another for the list from Elmley:

55. Stonechat