Birds of the world checklist
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Greece, Rhodes near Prasonisi.
Interestingly, the Greek checklist doesn't contain this sp.
This population look much lighter in color than Hungarian specimens. (Species ID is based on collected specimen.)
For comparison, Hungarian specimens can be seen here:
www.flickr.com/photos/100884443@N04/48561359117/
and
Eurasian Wigeon, a rare visitor to Nampa, Idaho
"Common and widespread in the Old World, the Eurasian Wigeon is a sporadic visitor to North America. Regular in very small numbers along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, single individuals have turned up in nearly all states and provinces."
Within 15 minutes of driving, biking or walking, I can visit seven first class Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque or City of Corrales open spaces. Los Poblanos is one of these and is well known to birders with 216 species reported in 2023 on 2,332 checklists in eBird, as of today. It’s a great place for a walking, dog walking, birding and great wildlife photography opportunities. Each year there are also several well-known and attended seasonal events and festivals.
Early Thanksgiving Day morning, out to do a quick check for cranes, geese and waterfowl and I’m not disappointed. I estimate and record over 275 geese, crane, crow and other smaller birds. The migrating Sandhill Crane is the star of the show and a coveted photograph in several world class locations across New Mexico and mostly in the Rio Grande valley.
To see a large amount of well documented information in a very interesting format about the Sandhill Crane (and all migrating birds in the USA) and most importantly their migration patterns visit this great Audubon site: Sandhill Crane - Migration Map | Bird Migration Explorer (audubon.org). It's an eye- opener.
Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula), St James Anglican Cemetery, Pitt Town, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/checklist/S100312608
The leaden flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) is a species of passerine bird in the family Monarchidae. Around 15 cm (6 in) in length, the male is lustrous azure with white underparts, while the female possesses leaden head, mantle and back and rufous throat and breast. It is found in eastern and northern Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests in the northern parts of its range, in the south and inland it is eucalypt woodland.
Source: Wikipedia
Painted Buttonquail (Turnix varius), Castlereagh Nature Reserve, Penrith, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/australia/checklist/S102538996
The painted buttonquail (Turnix varius) is a species of buttonquail, the family Turnicidae, which resemble, but are unrelated to, the quails of Phasianidae. This species is resident in Australia where numbers are believed to be in decline. A subspecies, the Abrolhos painted buttonquail (Turnix varius scintillans), is endemic to the Houtman Abrolhos islands.
Source: Wikipedia
The fog on Armand Bayou was as thick at dawn as I have seen it in several years and probably thicker than the juvenile Brown Pelican had seen in its entire brief life. After testing its wings and checking the wind, it rumbled down the runway, barely lifting above the water before disappearing into the mist.
Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
Non-Breeding
Family: Sandpipers
Little Estero Lagoon
Lee County, FL
2017/07/12
The RE20/RB22 is the only line near where I live which still has locomotive hauled regional trains. In 2020 when I first moved to the Rhein-Main area the trains were hauled exclusively by the East German designed 143 and 114 class. However, in 2021 the locomotives were partially, but not completely replaced by more modern Bombardier 146s. Due to a persistent locomotive shortage the 114s and more infrequently leased 143s make an appearance on the line.
In 2020 I was completely oblivious to the line and never photographed it when it was easy. In the last two years I have tried to get some of the 114 workings after work, but the locomotive turns never seem to line up on days when I remember to check and its sunny.
Last Friday I checked BahnExperte and was surprised to see no less than 5 BR 114s in the pattern, and with two headed southbound in good evening light. A quick trip after work truip up to Bad Camberg was in order.
About an hour later 114 036 leads another Frankfurt bound service around the classic photo curve south of Bad Camberg.
Before each dive I go through a checklist to ensure my underwater rig is working properly - did I take the lens cap off, is the autofocus switch properly set on the lens, are the o-rings clean, is the battery sufficiently charged, etcetera. But on this dive, I failed to check everything ... the switch on the strobe trigger was not turned on. Above water this error takes just a moment to correct. The only solution underwater is to end the dive.
And of course, we find a frogfish. So I did a custom white balance on my white fins and took the shot. (Maybe not needed because the WB could be adjusted in post, but I figure I would try it out.) Much to my pleasant surprise, the image isn't dominated by blue (which usually happens underwater). Amazingly, what little red was down there was still captured by the camera. And, the look of the image is different than one taken with strobes.
So I learned something - maybe sometimes I should experiment to see what can be done without strobes. Always using strobes might get in the way of some creativity.
This orange frogfish is about 6cm long. I returned several weeks later (with strobes working) and it had doubled in size.
It's home is an elephant ear sponge (Agelas clathrodes). They are estimated to live up to 2,000 years. So in this image, the sponge is probably the more interesting living creature!
Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), Stockton Sandspit, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/australia/checklist/S64035266
The red-necked avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) also known as the Australian avocet, cobbler, cobbler's awl, and painted lady, is a wader of the family Recurvirostridae that is endemic to Australia and is fairly common and widespread throughout, except for the north and north east coastal areas of the country.
Source: Wikipedia
Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Bushells Lagoon, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
The black-fronted dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) is a small, slender plover that is widespread throughout most of Australia, and is native to New Zealand.
It is common in freshwater wetlands, around the edges of lakes and billabongs, and in shallow, temporary claypan pools. It is also found occupying saline mudflats and estuaries, but rarely. They are generally sedentary, with a single bird, a pair, or a family group occupying a stretch of habitat on a more or less permanent basis. However, some individuals appear to travel considerable distances, and flocks will sometimes congregate in food-rich areas.
Source: Wikipedia
Frisian landscape checklist:
- flat.... CHECK
- muddy... CHECK
- empty... CHECK
- grey... CHECK
- salty smell... CHECK (well, at least in my mind)
- boring... NO WAY
Nowadays landscape photographers prefer to shoot from high mountains with spectacular light and some eye catcher in the foreground. It has become sort of an unspoken rule, just like the rule of thirds. And they come up with good shots.
With this shot I deliberatly go against the grain. It shows what I like about the frisian wadden sea landscape. There's no excitement, no hectic hustle and bustle, no spectacular eye catcher to be beheld. To me, the emptiness always conveys a sense of peace and freedom. So, take a moment to sit back, let it soak in, calm down, breathe.... and smell the salty air.
Enjoy!
Usually when a good train comes around, it is usually on the CPKC Windsor sub the train comes on, in which I get straight to documenting old searchlights if possible. But, sometimes it is nice to take a break to shoot something good on the Chatham sub. While it might not be as good photo wise compared to the Windsor sub around here, I had the chance to shoot an EB CN leader in the morning on the Chatham sub. This is something pretty rare, as 438 never runs in the morning, like they used to back in the early 2010s, and 514 only runs EB from Chatham to Thamesville, in which you have to hope they run in the morning and face the right way AND have cars :). But, instead of 1501 leading the tech train, we have CN 0999 here with an Ex-IC Dash 9 as a pilot. Now I do not know what the difference is between the two technically, but after catching 72 the morning of, I heard them getting ready to leave CN Little yard on my scanner. This gave me the opportunity to shoot the Dash 9 in morning light here at Belle River Marina, a catch I have been wanting to get a good shot for a long while. The train was lined into Stoney point siding for a meet with VIA 71.
Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), Sydney Pelagic, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/checklist/S137321945
Huge albatross of the Southern Ocean; breeds locally on remote islands, but circles the globe on its travels. Plumage highly variable, but always has white underwings with small black tip. Only similar species that is equally large is Royal Albatross, which never has dirty brownish markings on head and body or a mostly black tail as seen on many Wandering Albatrosses. Juvenile Wandering starts out with a chocolate brown head and body and a white face patch; gradually attains adult plumage over many years. Oldest Wandering develops extensively white upperwings and a white tail, much like Royal, making older birds difficult to separate. Wandering lacks narrow black “lips” on bill of Royal, often has messier, more spotted pattern on upperwing, and can show diagnostic pinkish stain on cheeks, not shown by Royal.
Source: Ebird
A Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) on migration in Bhaktapur, Nepal. #championofmigration
Story behind the shot: www.ianhearn.com/post/manohara-1
eBird: ebird.org/checklist/S73447255
My website: www.ianhearn.com/
Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Galaringi Rserve, Carlingford, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/australia/checklist/S93608952
The powerful owl (Ninox strenua), a species of owl native to south-eastern and eastern Australia, is the largest owl on the continent. It is found in coastal areas and in the Great Dividing Range, rarely more than 200 km (120 mi) inland.
Source: Wikipedia
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
Adult Male
Family: Wood Warblers
Dirty Bird Ranch (J and M Home)
Chemung County, NY
2019/08/23
He stayed. He spent the Winter with us. One of the shyest birds and a delight to see.
We see fewer and fewer migrant sparrows.
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), Nurragingy Reserve, Blacktown, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/australia/checklist/S117236058
The royal spoonbill (Platalea regia) also known as the black-billed spoonbill, occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
Source: Wikipedia
An immature male Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) near Kathmandu, Nepal. Siberian Stonechats are frequent winter visitors to the Kathmandu Valley and can be seen perched on top of bushes in open areas. #localbirding
eBird: ebird.org/checklist/S63219435
Website: www.ianhearn.com/birds-nepal
The RE20/RB22 is the only line near where I live which still has locomotive hauled regional trains. In 2020 when I first moved to the Rhein-Main area the trains were hauled exclusively by the East German designed 143 and 114 class. However, in 2021 the locomotives were partially, but not completely replaced by more modern Bombardier 146s. Due to a persistent locomotive shortage the 114s and more infrequently leased 143s make an appearance on the line.
In 2020 I was completely oblivious to the line and never photographed it when it was easy. In the last two years I have tried to get some of the 114 workings after work, but the locomotive turns never seem to line up on days when I remember to check and its sunny.
Last Friday I checked BahnExperte and was surprised to see no less than 5 BR 114s in the pattern, and with two headed southbound in good evening light. A quick trip after work truip up to Bad Camberg was in order.
Here 114 018 leads a Frankfurt bound service past the old Bahnwärterhaus (signalman's house) just south of Bad Camberg.
Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus), Galaringi Reserve, Carlingford, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/australia/checklist/S92532451
The spotted pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus) is one of the smallest of all Australian birds at 8 to 10 centimetres (3.1 to 3.9 in) in length, and one of the most colourful; it is sometimes known as the diamondbird.
Source: Wikipedia
Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus), Stockton Sandspit, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Ebird checklist:
ebird.org/australia/checklist/S123838207
Their breeding habitat is grassy wetlands in inland Siberia and Manchuria. They migrate to southeast Asia as far south as northern Australia, although both the breeding and wintering areas are poorly known. This bird is always found on coasts during migration and wintering.
These birds forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud. They mainly eat insects, mollusks, crustaceans and marine worms, but also eat some plant material.
Source: Wikipedia
3rd and last species that was on the ABA checklist I had captured in Little Tobago was this Bridled Tern. In the U.S., the easiest place to see this species is at Dry Tortugas out of Key West. Somehow I had missed him while I was there....So this was a real bonus for me to have bagged this bird in this beautiful country of Trinidad.
Travel tips: Flying from Trinidad to Tobago takes 20 minutes and cost only US$50 return on a small jet. But make sure you book in advance..