Starlings

Before Christmas 2023 there were some good gatherings of Starlings at Gosforth Nature Reserve and I was able to watch them when I was finishing my afternoon stint as a Volunteer Warden. Of course, it was getting quite dark...

The Starling seems like a very 'common' bird but their numbers have crashed by 87% since the 1960s.  There is an article here about this decline:

The decline of British starlings - BirdGuides

When you get a close up view they are a very beautiful bird.  I took this portrait shot at Seahouses several years ago...

The murmuration at GNR in November did not make many spectacular shapes but I was in the midst of the birds as they swooped down to roost in the reeds close to where I was standing.

There was a Sparrowhawk lurking, but as it was nearly pitch dark when I spotted him the picture is a bit murky.

Sparrowhawk

The murmuration in December was against a gorgeous sky with some interesting shapes. I especially liked the 'brain' and the 'heart'....

There is also a cormorant 'fly by' in the last of those pictures...

And the birds descend into the reeds

And, lastly, you may wish to view a video I made 9 years ago (yes...nine!) of a fantastic murmuration at Rigg near Gretna - all set to some stirring music by Handel. Here is the link...

Starling Murmuration at Rigg near Gretna (youtube.com)

Return to the BLOG via Fuerteventura, 2024

I created this blog during COVID times...and then forgot about it.
I have had problems with my "pontartphotos" website so was considering setting up a new website.  

But that seemed rather intimidating, as all I want to do is share my photos beyond what I put on Facebook. So, I thought, why not resurrect the Blog?

Good idea - but I have forgotten what to do!

So this is a first attempt to post something to see if I can work the technology.

This post shows some of my recent pictures taken on Fuerteventura.  We have been there twice: in November 23 with Naturetrek and in January 24 as part of a Jet2 package holiday.

The island is our favourite 'Canary' and we know it quite well.  We hoped to find some new birding locations with the Naturetrek guides and this worked to some extent. In January we stayed in our usual hotel in Jandia and hired a car for a couple of days to get about.  I didn't take my normal photography gear in January, just carrying a lightweight bridge camera instead - it showed in the results, but there were a couple of shots of a Spectacled Warbler that is worth sharing.

Houbara Bustard - one of the main target species

Spectacled Warbler - taken with a Bridge Camera

These following photos have all featured on my Facebook page...

 Spanish Sparrow

Berthelot's Pipit

Fuerteventura Chats

Egyptian Vulture

Great Grey Shrike

Sardinian Warbler