Dont delete all those rubbish images... just yet!

Its been wet and miserable here in the UK during the past week and along with working long hours, finding time to get out has been hard to justify.  So this weeks post is yet more delving into the archives of my March trip to Venezuela. 

Below is an image from a dayout at Morrocoy

It was very dark, totally overcast with squallid showers on and off all day. I snapped about 20 shots of a large group of Flamingos, and to be honest the days photography had been generally poor. I didnt have any inclination to get more than a few record shots just to file as a first sighting of Flamingos on my world bird list......

..... so this is what I got

please click on the images to reveal all the hidden detail...lol, well maybe not in image 1

yep, too dark, no overall detail, poor composition , image too fussy, posts in the foreground making a nuisance of them selves...... basically lots of negatives and certainly one for the bin.

Well below is the salvaged result of the poor image above.

Dont ask what I did as I cant remember exactly but on this occassion it is not important, I just gave it my best shot for 10 minutes (at the most) and came up with this.
There was always something about the group of birds in the foreground that I thought maybe worth trying to crop around and see what happens and there you go, agreed its not the best your going to see but improved beyond recognition.

so dont be too hasty with that delete button!

Morrocoy - Venezuela

A day trip out from our mountain based holiday residence took us the 3 hours to Morrocoy National Park on the Northern Coast.

We tried our best to get at least a half day to relax on the beach and enjoy the sea but we were drawn to the wildlife that was around us so little time time to get the beach towl too wet! although it did rain.

Yes the sandy palm laiden beaches were picturesque  and would I swap work for just an hour there now..... of course I would

but the reason to come here was to see the birdlife.

We knew what species we would encounter but the expectation and excitment was still strong.

Of course we could see the Magnificant Frigatebirds as we drove along the coastal road but we had an added bonus of a boat ride to an island that took us along the edge of the breeding area.

100s of pairs noisly went about their business

Breeding male

and unfortunatly not all made it...

this looks like a juvenile that has proably fallen from its nest

Brown Boobie

In our quiet cove we had wonderful Osprey taking fish from the sea while Ruddy Turnstone and Semi-palmated Plover fed on this rocky outcrop

The big fellas joined in the action and landed close by

Brown Pelican

we drove to a few hotspots looking for waders and added yet more to the trip list including Bicolored Conebill, Blue Winged Teal, Greater Yellow legs, Short billed Dowitcher, Wilsons Plover and Gull Billed Tern, Whimbrel and Black Necked Stilt.

Juvenile Greater Flamingo

and the adults.... which were in their 1000s

while we have plenty more shorebirds to mention

Western Sandpiper

 Least Sandpiper

Tri-coloured Heron

Reddish Egret - (white phase)

Yellow headed Caracara

These images are taken from Hato Pinero on my recent trip to Venezuela

please click on the image to release the detail within the pixels

The Yellow Headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) is a small bird of prey found in tropical & sub-tropical South America & Southern Central America. They are related to falcons but are much slower in flight and do much of their hunting and feeding on the ground. With broad wings and a long tail they have buff head and underparts, brown upperparts and wings and a barred cream and brown tail. Their natural habitat is savannah, swamps and forest edges, but they have also adapted to urban areas and are commonly seen in many South American cities. Yellow Headed Caracaras have a very varied diet including small reptiles & amphibians, insects, fruit and carrion. It will also take ticks from cattle, giving it the nickname 'Tickbird'.

so the nickname is true.......
and now I can see the attraction of the cattle ranch where these images were taken

immature Caracra

not looking quite so beautiful yet

out on the tiles ...

......... or in the frame

Goosander

Not many words needed for this post......

This female Goosender and nine chicks enjoy the sun at Tittesworth Reservoir in late May

please click on the images to reveal the finer detail

Stonechat

The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine 11.5–13 cm long and genetic evidence has placed it and its relatives in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.

The summer male has black upperparts, a black head, an orange throat and breast, and a white belly and vent. It also has white half-collar on the sides of its neck, a small white scapular patch on the wings, and a very small white patch on the rump often streaked with black. The female has brown upperparts and head, and no white neck patches, rump or belly, these areas being streaked dark brown on paler brown, the only white being the scapular patch on the wings and even this often being buffy-white. Birds are frequently seen flicking their wings while perched, often doing so on the tops of low bushes. As its name suggests, birds utter a sharp loud call that sound like two stones being tapped together.

They breed on heath, moors, grassland, and wasteland that have some dense shrubs, such as gorse, in which it can build a nest.

Stonechats are primarily insectivorous, feeding on caterpillars, moths, ants, spiders and flies, though they will also take worms and snails, and feed on seeds and berries in the autumn and winter.

Please click on the images to reveal the finer detail within the pixels

The following image is of the male that holds territory close to a busy road high up on the peak district upper moorlands.

 2012 Male casting a cursory glance

2010 male in the same area but on the otherside  of the road - is it me or do wire fences make great perches for images!

2011 male holding territory on Anglesey (N Wales)

the backdrop is a farm gate (the rusty bolt adds to the image)

The following image is of the female that holds territory close to a busy road high up on the peak district upper moorlands.

2012 Female

with a fine meal

perfect habitat shot

I have to drive 30 minutes or so to see this species as I dont have enough of the right habitat locally but its always worth for a fine species such as this

 

Mandarin

The male Mandarin (Aix galericulata) has the most elaborate and ornate plumage with distinctive long orange feathers on the side of the face, orange 'sails' on the back, and pale orange flanks. The female is dull by comparison with a grey head and white stripe behind the eye, brown back and mottled flanks. They were introduced to the UK from China and have become established following escapes from captivity. Here in the NW of England a few large colonys thrive on inland bodies of water, often in Country Parks.

These images are from my local park - Etherow cp

please click on the images to appreciate the finer detail within the pixels

how many colours.....

just looking magnificant

in soft focus

preening in a tree

going for a stroll

mr & mrs

how cute are they.....