While I love this blog, I now pretty much only write on my other two blogs: BirdingBlogs.com and 10,000 Birds - I would love to see you there!

Saturday 12 June 2010

Birds on a pole

Sometimes there are special, magical places that just seem to draw birds. This one pole was shown us by the local Texel expert, Mark Plomp, and it drew in a variety of species.


Here are a Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit, hanging out in the rain. Not the best conditions for digiscoping, but the colours are wonderful.

All images and videos digiscoped with Swarovski Optik STM80 HD spotting scope, TLS800 digiscoping adapter and a Canon 7D.

the video is kinda shaky as I only had a tiny rice bag for in the car. Next time, I'll have to make sure I have a more stable setup.


Happy digiscoping!
Dale Forbes

13 comments:

gwendolen said...

Lovely shots Dale. Looks like you had a great time in Holland. :-)

Chris said...

You are right Dale, the light and the colors are wonderful on these shots!

Unknown said...

Awesome shots Dale!... I just made a similar one today: Noble Snipe in the highland swamps of the E Andes of Colombia...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/colombia_birding_diego/4694529331/

Dale Forbes said...

@Gwendolen, ya, the Netherlands were awesomes!

@Chris, you are the master of colour and light, I am just a humble student!

@Diego, cool snipe! they really are crazy birds.

Michael Flowers said...

Really like the Godwit image. Great capture!

Dale Forbes said...

Thanks Michael, I had fun taking it!

eileeninmd said...

Cool birds and Wonderful photos and video!

mick said...

Great photos and so interesting to see waders in colors that we don't usually see "down under"! Redshanks are not common here - usually only seen in NW Australia - but we do see a few Black-tailed Godwits.

Jerry Jourdan said...

Beautiful Black-tailed Godwit, Dale! I wish we'd see some Godwits in alternate plumage for a change...
Jerry

NatureFootstep said...

I agree, the colors are very nice. And I like the way you croped the photos. I can´t belive this is digiscoped, the birds so sharp and clear. :)

Dale Forbes said...

@NatureFootsteps, I was quite happy with the way the colours, the rain and the angle all work together.

By the way, these images are NOT CROPPED whatsoever, they were just re-sized.

@ Jerry & Mick, Before moving to Europe there were many shorebirds that I had never seen in anything other than their dull, southern hemisphere colours. It is really cool to see Ruffs in breeding plumage, just as one great example.

@Eileen, VERY cool birds. Both species really have a grace about them, and I love watching them.

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

Beautiful pictures and video.
That pole is a vantage point, good view to search for food and rest I think.

Halcyon said...

Great shots. I have never seen a bird like this one before. He's a beauty.