Iceland Birds

One of the reasons I wanted to do this challenge was to prepare and get as much practice as possible photographing birds for my holiday to Iceland. At first I had planned to aim for 100-120 birds but thought I would set the challenge at 150 because I knew I would get a few in Iceland. What I was nit prepared for was a) how many birds I would see and b) just how close I would be able to get to so many different birds. I saw so many birds I have never seen before and was fortunate enough to be able to photograph all of them. (some better than others!). If anyone wants a great place to go on holiday with wonderful scenery and superb wildlife I could not recomend Iceland highly enough. The photos below are a selection of the hundreds I took. I am still going through the photos so will post more, with more detail about the country, later but for now these are the birds I managed to see and photograph:
123. Arctic Skua

124. Arctic Tern

Barnacle Geese

125. Barrow's Goldeneye

126. Black Guillemot

Black Tailed Godwit

Dunlin

127. Eider

128. Fulmar

129. Gannet

130. Glaucous Gull

131. Golden Plover

132. Great Northern Diver

133. Great Skua

134. Guillemots

135. Gyr Falcon

136. Harlequin Duck

137. Kittiwake

138. Manx Shearwater

139. Merlin

140. Pink Footed Geese

141. Ptarmigan

142. Puffin

143. Red Necked Phalarope

144. Red Throated Diver

Redwing

Slavonian Grebe

145. Snow Bunting

146. Whimbrel

147. White Tailed Sea Eagle

148. White Wagtail

149. Whooper Swan

A few pre-holiday shots

OK so I need to do a large update soon with various pics from my holiday but I realised I hadn't uploaded some shots I took just before I went. These were taken at various places around Kent and Sussex in the couple of weeks of July.
119. Barn Owl  (noy a great shot - really want to improve on this before the end of the year)

120. Great White Egret

121. Green Sandpiper

122. Common Sandpiper

A few bits and bobs from over the last few weeks.

Since the World cup started I have not had a chance to get much photography done. I've been out a couple of times but have not really been out for long. I have managed a few new species however and am getting toward my target slowly. I honestly didn't think I'd manage a Short Toed Eagle before House Martin but the Ashdown Forest Eagle provided fairly good views enabling me to get a shot. Also saw my first ever Turtle Dove today :)
The following shots were taken at varying locations over the last month or so at various locations.

114. Great Crested Grebe

115. Little Tern

116. Stonechat

117. Short Toed Eagle

118. Turtle Dove

Around Kent and Sussex

Since getting back from the Peak District I have had a few days out around Sussex and Kent. I figured I would make the most of the fact I have slightly more free time now the football season has finished (and with the world cup starting soon my free time will disappear as I do intend to watch every game!!). I managed a few new species and improved on shots of a few others.

First stop was Arundel where I managed to add Pheasant to my list (to be honest I have seen loads and only just realised I hadn't inclded it yet!). Was also nice to get a better shot of a common tern.

109. Pheasant

Common Tern:

Oare Marshes was the next place I went and managed to add Black Tailed Godwit to the list.

110: Black Tailed Godwits

Saw a bearded tit but failed to get a shot as it flew too quick and didn't reappear. Next stop was Shellness where I was hoping to see Little Tern but sadly none about. I did manage to add one species to the list however:

111. Ringed Plover

Was also nice to see a summer plumage dunlin:

I went to Elmley marshes next and although no new species was pleased with a couple of shots:

Redshank:

Yellow Wagtail:

Also managed to photograph a hare while I was there:

The next place I visited was Loder Valley at Wakehurst Place. I managed to see and photograph one of my favourite birds. I'll definitely be going back there again as I love kingfishers and have been trying to get a shot of one for over a year!

112: Kingfisher

Also nice to see Grey Wagtails around:

And finally a shot I forgot to add to my Peak District post!

113: Whinchat

Short trip to the Peak District

Over the school half term my sons both went to Barcelona (lucky gits!) on a school trip. My wife and I thought we would take advantage of having some time to ourselves to visit the Peak District - a place neither of us had been before.
We went on various walks and when it rained visited some lovely national trust buildings. I also managed a few shots toward my target including a couple of birds I have never seen before :)
The best place for photographs was at Stanage Edge - it was a nice day and crowded with tourists but there was one small area with few people in where I managed a few shots:
106: Red Grouse

107. Ring Ouzel

Wheatear: 

Not a bird but I was pleased with this shot of a stoat:

108: Pied Wagtail

Curlew:

Went to Dove Stone Reservoir RSPB reserve and saw pretty much nothing! However we did meet a guy who told us of a good spot to see Dippers. Sadly I knocked my camera and ended up shooting with all the wrong settings!! Did get 1 or 2 half decent shots though.

Dipper:

Overall a lovely few days away and a much needed break :)