Another fantastic year ...
Firstly 2013 has been amazing for many reasons, the trips, the birds, but most importantly images !!
That's what its all about images, Photographing birds, trying to capture artistic, pleasing shots of the chosen subject as best you can ...
The things that stood in the way of photography were, mainly weather related, rain, grey cloud, but we avoided most by going to areas with a better forecast.
The general lack of birds played apart, most would argue this with a stack of megas & rarities that turned up but its difficult to get good images with so many birders about.
Why then was there so many weekends resulting in no images, it was Me being a stubborn arse, due to not wanting to press the shutter for the sake of it ..
If theres a bird in your lens most have a compulsive reaction to press the trigger, i'm still thinking about getting in out the bag !!
The general lack of birds played apart, most would argue this with a stack of megas & rarities that turned up but its difficult to get good images with so many birders about.
Why then was there so many weekends resulting in no images, it was Me being a stubborn arse, due to not wanting to press the shutter for the sake of it ..
If theres a bird in your lens most have a compulsive reaction to press the trigger, i'm still thinking about getting in out the bag !!
Some months were laden with images to choose from, mainly because I did actually get the camera out !!
This is still going to be tough to choose but I'm going to start with ...
"Image of the Month"
January
Slavonian Grebe ~ Littlebrook Lake, Dartford
February
Fieldfare ~ Shoeburyness, Essex
March
Hoopoe Lark ~ Merzouga, Morocco
April
Peregrine ~ Kent
May
Dusky Thrush ~ Margate, Kent
June
Nuthatch ~ Gilfach, Powys
July
Bonaparte's Gull ~ Crossness, London
August
Caspian Gull ~ Dungeness, Kent
September
Caspian Gull ~ Dungeness, Kent
October
Audouin's Gull ~ Pollenca, Majorca
November
Caspian Gull ~ Dungeness, Kent
December
Slender-billed Gull ~ Ebro Delta, Spain
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Best Trip
Hands down it has to be our Morocco Trip at the end of Feb/Mar .. The 4 of us Me, Richard, Jono & Bradders birded from dawn till dusk at some great locations and resulted in some brilliant birds !!
Returning in Feb '14 !!
Best Location
Standing alone, on the courtyard at Yasmina Hotel in the dark just waiting as the sun came up to reveal the stunning sand dunes of The Erg Chebbi
Best Location
Standing alone, on the courtyard at Yasmina Hotel in the dark just waiting as the sun came up to reveal the stunning sand dunes of The Erg Chebbi
Best for Images
Has to be the Lesvos trip in April with slightly more images in the favourites than Morocco but only by two !!
Superb !!
Luckiest Moment
Could be our day we had with the Peregrine which put on a display just for us but this has to go to the Juvenile Caspian Gull that we found and spent the day photographing at Dungeness ... we had it to ourselves !!
Bird of the Year
Now with so many great birds photographed this year it should of been hard to choose, but it must go to the superb Hoopoe Lark out in Morocco ...
Plans for 2014
Jan/Feb .. Ireland for Nearctic Gull's
Feb .. Morocco ~ BOOKED
June .. Iceland ~ BOOKED
Eygpt would be nice ..
And Poland or Estonia as long weekends
And Poland or Estonia as long weekends
Target Species for 2014
Well just about any species that let's you get close enough !!
But White-eyed Gull is the one ..
But White-eyed Gull is the one ..
Thanks to all who take the time to talk, comment and give out info ...
My favourite
"Image of the Year"
Birding is so much more enjoyable when you stop listing !!
Good Luck for 2014
My favourite
"Image of the Year"
Birding is so much more enjoyable when you stop listing !!
Good Luck for 2014
6 comments:
A great selection of images Mick, I don't remember seeing the Nuthatch images before but that is a very nice image due to the back ground, light and the pose of the bird.
Cracking images Mick. Hope to see you around in 2014
Too many Gulls! If I was choosing it would be between the Peregrine and the Grebe. Cheers, Jono
Great images from last year Mick, they are all so . Have a cracking 2014 and maybe we will rub shoulders again somewhere.
Amazing year indeed!
Best wishes for 2014.
Regards,
JR
All the best for 2014 Mick. I have enjoyed following your travels and photos.
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