Clicking on the links below the pictures to launch the videos on You Tube. Each footage will open in a separate window. Please enjoy.
The early videos were produced through digiscoping video (Nikon CP4500 and ED111 60mm scope (20-60x zoom)). Since mid 2012 using the video mode of a Panasonic Lumix FZ45 "bridge" camera. More recently there are several examples of phone scoping videos (Samsung S3 Mini and ED111 60mm scope (20-60x zoom)). Please enjoy.
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2023
London birding and first up the returning (adult) Caspian Gull at Eagle Pond, Snaresbrook with a 1st winter present near Rainham Marshes RSPB later in January. Also in the compilation showy Black-necked Grebes at Staines Reservoir near Heathrow airport where the rare visitor - drake Lesser Scaup showed at distance. Back to the east and an adult Mediterranean Gull joined Black-headed Gulls on the shore near Erith Pier. Another Caspian Gull features in the next video, a colour-ringed 1st Winter present on the Thames shore near Rainham Marshes RSPB, London on Saturday 11 February 2023. It was ringed at a Caspian Gull colony in SE Poland in June 2022.
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2022
The Great Grey Shrike present near York showed well at the start of the year. In London a Caspian Gull present one Saturday afternoon in January on the Target Pools at Rainham Marshes RSPB showed reasonably well, whereas the following day a wintering Little Bunting to the south east of the capital showed extremely well on a grassland path. A compilation from a trip to Cyprus at the end of March/early April features several Wheatears including last looks at an overwintering Finsch's Wheatear before it crossed the Mediterranean for the summer, a rarity for the island in the form of a Tree Sparrow, and the superlative Caspian Plover seen literally at the end of the trip. Next up, from early May the Black-browed Albatross returning to Yorkshire's Bempton Cliffs RSPB, giving the Gannets a gliding lesson. A week later the Iberian Chiffchaff singing in London's Regent's Park showed fairly well. A compilation from a weekend in Germany with a few species from the Waghäusel reserve near Karlsruhe (May). Next up, the sighting of the year/decade/century in GB of the Eleonora's Falcon at Worth Marshes, Kent, this June, not to forget the accompanying Red-footed Falcon. Also from June a fantastic display from the Honey Buzzards at Wykeham Forest, North Yorkshire including wing clapping and the Woodchat Shrike further up the coast near Scaling Dam Reservoir. The summer brought Spoonbills and Great White Egret sightings at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London with several juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Caspian Gull across the river at Erith. The Greater Sand Plover on the coast at Redcar, Yorkshire, showed well with Ringed Plovers in late August and a few hours later connected with Bempton's (Red-tailed) Shrike on its last day on site later that Saturday evening, having seen it when moulting in July. At the end of the month and into September Kilnsea, Spurn held some nice sightings, with Citrine Wagtail, Red-necked Phalaropes and Caspian Gulls providing a range of scarcities to see. Ospreys lingered at lakes and ponds including at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, Ecclesfield, and Old Moor RSPB, South Yorkshire with the latter site holding a Pectoral Sandpiper the day after a front crossed the country from the Atlantic. Star attraction of this period, which I was lucky to see, Wantage's Nighthawk in Oxfordshire. A strong contender amongst a list of many for rarity of the year. A compilation from a November trip to Cyprus includes a very confiding Little Bittern and the enigmatic Wallcreeper. The end of the year saw wet and windy conditions on the jet stream conveyor belt across Great Britain, Norfolk's wintering Pallid showed well on one calmer day in late December at Warham Greens. A large and dominating Caspian Gull present along the factory roof by the River Don in Sheffield allowed for a very close study, whereas the similarly aged individual at Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley at the year end was a smaller individual. |  |  |
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2021
Franklin's Gull, a rare visitor from North America, this striking gull showed well against a backdrop of leaden skies at Swillington Ings RSPB in West Yorkshire early evening on Monday 24 May. It was very vocal amongst a small group of Black-headed Gulls. A Common Rosefinch over in East Yorkshire and down at Spurn Point later in May, where it showed briefly at the top of the tangles. The amazing Black-browed Albatross at Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire, next up in July, with further footage from September. The Elegant Tern showed very well in the Tern colony at Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, North Wales in July. As the weather finally cooled later that month, Lincolnshire's Pacific Golden Plover gave nice views at Frampton Marsh RSPB. Into August and a wandering Isle of Wight White-tailed Eagle was most welcome and it's the time of year to practice your juvenile Caspian Gull identification skills, Cromer and Spurn. Not forgetting the fuss caused by Yorkshire's first White-tailed Plover, with further footage from September added. In Cheshire a Wilson's Phalarope performed for several days by the England/Wales border and across the country Short-eared Owls performed well near Spurn, East Yorkshire. Hartlepool's Arctic Warbler (October) sandwiched between Caspian Gulls at Attenborough NR, Nottingham a few days beforehand and the returning adult Caspian Gull at Snaresbrook, London in late November.
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2020
A smart 1st winter Caspian Gull present in early March by Erith Pier, London brightened up a dull birding period for which wind and rain had haunted weekend birding early in the year. Next up as Lockdown eased was the Bearded Vulture in the Peak District followed by an Osprey stopping over in North Yorkshire, both seen in August. A Mountain Hare gave good views in late summer in the Peak District with a trip to the Yorkshire coast in early September producing fantastic views of a Wryneck and visiting Spoonbills at Kilnsea, Spurn. Further into September the Dearne Valley, South Yorkshire hosted Common Crane, Spoonbills and a Great White Egret and out on the coast Barnacle Geese found themselves off course for their wintering grounds. Rare visitors feature in what will probably be the final footage of the year a compilation showing at distance, Taiga Flycatcher, at speed, Firecrest, and as a blur, the West Yorkshire adult Brown? Shrike. |  |
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2019
Fantastic Caspian Gulls in early August on the Thames across from Rainham Marshes RSPB. September saw some rare waders sighted in the North West and in West Yorkshire including American Golden Plovers, Red-necked Phalarope, Pectoral Sandpipier and Long-billed Dowitcher. A Red-breasted Flycatcher showed on and off at Kilnsea, Spurn, East Yorkshire one Saturday in late September. A visit to Cyprus in October 2019 yielded footage of returning Greater Sandplover and Finsch's Wheatear. December yielded the returning, and stunning, Caspian Gull to Eagle Pond, Snaresbrook, London. The year ended with a compilation from a trip to Scotland just before Xmas, and twitching Rough-legged Buzzard back home and Eastern Yellow Wagtails in Northumberland and Norfolk over the festive period.
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Finsch's Wheatear - (Cyprus) - Oct 2019
Greater Sandplover - (Cyprus) - Oct 2019
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Birding UK (Waders Compilation) - Sep 2019 - Sep 2019
Caspian Gulls - London (UK) - Aug 2019
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Great White Egret - London (UK) - July 2019
Great Reed Warbler - West Yorkshire (UK) - May 2019
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2018
Returning wader passage signals the start of birding "autumn" in July, with record footage of the Marsh Sandpiper from Rainham Marshes RSPB, London. September saw The Wath Area, Barnsley, South Yorkshire host a few good records and I managed to get footage of the Dipper, Spotted Crake and Grey Phalarope that were in residence. A twitch over the Pennines to see the wonderful Pallid Harrier that spent a couple of days or so in The Fylde. Back on Cyprus at the end of October / early November and it didn't disappoint. A nice variety of species with again Eleonora's Falcons top billing, some late season herons and friends, and finally... Finsch's Wheatear.
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Dipper, Spotted Crake and Grey Phalarope - South Yorkshire (UK) - Sep 2018
Pallid Harrier - Lancashire (UK) - Sep. 2018
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Birding Germany Compilation - June 2018
Birding Cape May Compilation - May 2018
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Iceland Gull - London (UK) - Apr. 2018
Birding Cyprus Compilation - Mar. 2018
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Scaup - London (UK) - Feb. 2018
Horned (Shore) Lark - London (UK) - Feb. 2018
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2017
A compilation from Cape May, NJ, USA (early May) followed by the returning Bonaparte's Gull to Oare Marshes, Kent (July), with a smart Spotted Flycatcher, Rainham Marshes RSPB, London (August). Ending the summer with some raptor footage including 2 Yorkshire Ospreys and early autumn birding featured an inland Red-throated Diver, east coast rarities and the mega Ryhope Scops Owl. Falcons giving flying lessons and other highlights from Cyprus (October).
Ending the year with record shot footage of the Hawfinch back home at Broomhill Flash, Barnsley, South Yorkshire in December 2017.
Birding Cyprus Compilation - Oct. 2017
Birding UK (Yorkshire Compilation) - Sep. 2017 Birding UK (Raptors Compilation) - Aug. 2017
Bonaparte's Gull - Kent (UK) - July 2017 Birding Cape May Compilation - May 2017
Birding UK (Spring Compilation) Birding Germany Compilation - March 2017
White-fronted Geese - Ingbirchworth Res., South Yorkshire (UK) - Jan. 2017 Caspian Gull - Thames Barrier Park, London (UK) - Jan. 2017
Stonechat - Richmond Park, London - Jan. 2017 Caspian Gull (plus small dark LBB Gull) - Anglers CP, West Yorkshire (UK) - Jan. 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 A couple of trips to Cyprus (Apr and Oct) with many highlights including Cyprus, Desert and Hooded Wheatears plus Eleonora's Falcons. Compilation from Spain with the stunning Spanish Imperial Eagles and lots more. UK highlights from 2016 include Rainham Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl, Cattle Egret and Merlin. Not to forget a Yorkshire adult Caspian Gull, Old Moor compilation and the bird of the decade - Siberian Accentor at Easington, East Yorkshire. Ending the year with a compilation from Yorkshire at Xmas - includes (Eastern) Black Redstart, Hen Harrier, Caspian Gull and Waxwings.  Birding UK (December Compilation)
Cattle Egret - Rainham Marshes RSPB, London (UK) - Oct. 2016 Siberian Accentor - Easington, East Yorkshire (UK) - Oct. 2016
Hobby - Old Moor RSPB, South Yorkshire (UK) - Sep. 2016 Caspian Gull - Ingbirchworth Res., South Yorkshire (UK) - Sep. 2016
Birding Cyprus Compilation - Apr. 2016 Jack Snipe & Short-eared Owl - Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK - Jan/Mar. 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015
Pied Wheatear, Citrine Wagtail and Jack Snipe - Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, UK - Oct. 2015 Woodchat Shrike - Nosterfield, North Yorkshire, UK - Sep. 2015
Birding Spain Compilation - June 2015 Birding Germany Compilation - June 2015
Spoonbill - Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK - Apr. 2015 Water Rail and Red Kite - Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK - Jan/Jul. 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014Kumlien's Gull from a New Year South Yorkshire gull roost plus the Sussex Short-toed Eagle. Lots of compilation videos as well - Birding UK Spring (inland Long-tailed Skua, Arctic Terns and Short-toed Lark) - Birding Germany in April (inc. Black-necked Grebes, Marsh Harrier and Crested Lark) - Birding Cape May in the Spring (inc. Cerulean Warbler and Red-headed Woodpecker, Wild Turkey, Black-necked Stilt and more) - Birding UK Autumn (Barred Warblers, Masked and Steppe Grey Shrikes). Please take a look.
Short-toed Eagle - Ashdown Forest, Sussex, UK - Jun. 2014 Birding Cape May Compilation - May 2014
Birding Germany Compilation - Apr. 2014 Kumlien's Gull - Broomhead Res., South Yorkshire, UK - Jan. 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013Compilation highlights from two trips to Cape May (May and Sep/Oct) and Germany. UK birding videos include the London Bonaparte's Gull present in the summer in 30C heat, Icterine Warbler and Wryneck at Kilnsea, Spurn, an Essex Parrot Crossbill (not a Ring Ouzel!), Rainham Short-eared Owl, the south coast Xmas special - Brunnich's Guillemot, and not to forget the amazing Two-barred Crossbills back home in South Yorkshire.
Ivory Gull - Patrington Have, East Yorkshire, UK - Dec. 2013 Short-eared Owl - Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, UK - Nov. 2013
Birding Cape May Compilation - Oct. 2013 Icterine Warbler and Wryneck - Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, UK - Aug. 2013
Birding Germany Compilation - Jun. 2013 Birding Cape May Compilation - May 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2012In this section the birding videos from 2012 including lots of footage from the Birdfinders trip to California in September as well as Germany in the Spring. UK footage of Buff-bellied Pipit, Iceland and Kumlien's Gulls, Pied Flycatcher, Short-eared Owl, Spoonbill, Roller, Lesser Scaup, Yellow-browed Warbler, Bee-eater and more.
Buff-bellied Pipit - Queen Mother Res., Berkshire, UK - Dec. 2012
Yellow-browed Warbler - Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, UK - Sep. 2012 Birding California Compilation - Sep. 2012
Roller - Aldbrough, East Yorkshire, UK - Jun. 2012 Pied Flycatcher and Short-eared Owl, East Yorkshire - May 2012
Iceland and Kumlien's Gulls - Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK - Mar. 2012 Lesser Scaup - Cosmeston Lakes CP, South Wales - Feb. 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 - 2011The following birding video is a compilation from 2004 - 2011 and features birds from the UK, USA, Germany and Madeira - Caspian, Yellow-legged, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Black Grouse, Purple Heron, Woodchat Shrike, Spotted Crake, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ferruginous Duck, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Broad-winged Hawk, Fish Crow, Gannet, Grasshopper Warbler, Hobby, Kingfisher, Smew and Sparrowhawk.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Any comments about my birding pages - please email me at jcwasse@gmail.com. |
