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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. D

    Merlin and skylark

    Interesting to hear it's a documented phenomenon, thanks. The impression worked on me (I thought the merlin had no chance) but didn't make the merlin give up quickly.
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    Merlin and skylark

    I need to share my experience from yesterday with anyone who will listen. I was out on my bike (Scottish central lowlands) when I saw two birds flying wildly in the distance. As I got closer I realised it was a merlin chasing a skylark. The merlin kept diving at the skylark which flew out of the...
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    Geese central Scotland

    Thanks all. I think I just got thrown by some odd postures making them look long-necked (before the photos were taken). Once you've seen something one way it's hard to see what's really there. Michael
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    Geese central Scotland

    I saw these geese this morning in central Scotland. They struck me as longer-necked than the typical pink-footed geese which are typical in the area. I wondered if they might be bean geese and took a few quick pictures in terrible light. I've looked at the pictures too much and can convince...
  5. D

    Help with coastal birds winter plumage, UK.

    Pretty sure the duck is long-tailed. Slightly odd plumage but they do vary a lot.
  6. D

    Falcon and cuckoo Zhejiang China

    Thanks
  7. D

    Falcon and cuckoo Zhejiang China

    Thanks, what makes you think lesser cuckoo?
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    Falcon and cuckoo Zhejiang China

    These photos were taken yesterday in woodland near the shore of the Qiantang River estuary in Zhejiang China. The cuckoo I don't hold out much hope for but thought I'd post it in case anyone spots something identifiable in it. It seemed small in the field but lone birds and all that... The...
  9. D

    Cuckoo Zhejiang, China

    No, no flight shots. It was all but dark so even still shots were tricky. What am i looking out for if I see it in flight again? Michael
  10. D

    Cuckoo Zhejiang, China

    Is there enough in these pictures to identify this cuckoo seen this morning in a city park in lowland Zhejiang province, China? Michael
  11. D

    Is this an eagle or hawk at Grand Canyon, Arizona

    Agree that this is clearly a turkey vulture (most obvious from the head) but worth noting that in Arizona, zone-tailed hawk also has this combination. Michael
  12. D

    Mallard or black duck central Scotland

    Fair comment. I'll see if it's around again next time I'm there.
  13. D

    Mallard or black duck central Scotland

    It's on Bothkennar pools in Falkirk.
  14. D

    Mallard or black duck central Scotland

    This duck was with a group of mallards this morning (10th June) on a small lake in central Scotland. Many of the males were just changing over in to eclipse plumage, and that may well be what this is, but it stood out as unusually dark and dull coloured. Is there any way to rule out American...
  15. D

    Cumbria - A66 near Appleby - smallish raptor?

    The other crow-sized birds with black and white on the wings around there are lapwings. I've mistaken them for raptors on brief views loads of times and they're very common along the A66 at this time of year.
  16. D

    Cumbria - A66 near Appleby - smallish raptor?

    Harriers are very distinctively shaped in flight. I would expect anyone used to seeing buzzards, falcons, sparrowhawks etc to notice the long-straight, narrow wings even from brief view of a flying harrier. Did you notice anything about the shape?? It's worth noting that there is perfect habitat...
  17. D

    Paris, 07/05/2023, Tree sparrow? Audio

    I agree this is a house sparrow. I live in an area with lots of tree sparrows and I always think their call sounds like two smallish stones banging together. Not sure if that helps but it's very distinctive call once you get used to it. Not that much like house sparrow at all.
  18. D

    Visiting Parque del Guadalhorce, Malaga by car.

    Thanks.
  19. D

    Visiting Parque del Guadalhorce, Malaga by car.

    I'm staying in Spain near Malaga for a few days this week and was hoping to visit Parque del Guadalhorce traveling by car. I'm struggling to find details about where I could park. Anyone got any experience of visiting by car? I would be visiting with my only moderately birding- tolerant family...
  20. D

    Andalucia, Spain, Lark ID

    Not going to argue with that! I'd hoped that someone with lots of experience would be able to ID the brief snippets of song but not terribly surprised that noone can. Thanks for all the input Michael
  21. D

    Andalucia, Spain, Lark ID

    Thanks. Crested lark recordings certainly sound closer to what I heard. It's appeared more than once, I'll see if I can see any more details if it appears again. Michael
  22. D

    Andalucia, Spain, Lark ID

    I thought that too but the song doesn't sound anything like what I've heard online. Do they do a more warbling thing too? Michael
  23. D

    Andalucia, Spain, Lark ID

    I'm in the mountains (~600 m) in southern Andalcucia, Spain (near Comares) and have seen and heard a lark in song flight that I can't identify. The only lark I'm familiar with is skylark; in comparison this one looked much shorter-tailed and flew lower with a wobblier, less stable-looking...
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    Scaup? Central Scotland 1/4/23

    Thanks for the comments. Here are all the other images; I don't imagine they add much. Interestingly, my first impression was of a pochard so I certainly wouldn't rule out a hybrid. The eyes looked pretty yellow in the field but the light was terrible (hence the bad pictures) and I only had...
  25. D

    Scaup? Central Scotland 1/4/23

    I saw this duck today with a flock of tufted ducks. The white on the face is pretty limited and well within the range for a tufted but it stood out as being a different shape: big bill, round head and sloping back seem to fit scaup better. Thoughts? Michael
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