We Wildlife Lovers!

Other than the photographers/birders whose names and images I'm permitted to use on Birds2blog, I'll stick with the practice of not naming people on here as I think its the best policy, although in this case I reckon I'd have had no backlash in doing so. But please take a good look at this brilliant account to which have been added some 'My Take' comments which are equally brilliant, and one of which echoes one of my own....conservationists my arse. 

If you're regular on Birds2blog  - and I appreciate that very much - you'll know my opinions about the subject, and you'll see who its publisher is and what the issues are when you get THERE

And we can't have a post without some excellent photography being highlighted....

Cormorant David Cookson

Like this one of the Cormorant mentioned in the above which I hope you've read by now, and another of those brilliant 'pics with a difference' from DC with thanks and appreciation.

Buzzard Paul Foster

And another one mentioned in the above, the stunning Buzzard. How tragic that you arrived on this planet as a bird regarded as a problem and a pest by a few - but too many of them - idiots still living in the Dark Ages. Thanks PF, you're image is much appreciated. 

And finally, the non-bird picture....

Carneddau Ponies Gary Jones  

The Carneddau Ponies....how much harder can life be in the winter months in the UK, than that of these delightful creatures scrapping for food below the snow on the Welsh mountains. Thanks Gary, a brilliant image.

Fighting Depression!

I looked out of the bedroom window at first light this morning and could barely see the end of the road through the mist and drizzle, a sight which persisted to dusk at least when I stopped looking and continued the fight against depression which is setting in, the result of being house bound for far too long.

Oystercatcher. Pete Woodruff.

So some time spent reading in the hope I can expand my knowledge a little more about the birds, and some searching through old records and photographs which resulted in my finding - amongst many other things of interest - this picture of the brilliant leucistic Oystercatcher which I saw many years ago at Fluke Hall. 

When I first picked up this bird in flight before it landed in this field, without noting the bill I thought I was watching perhaps a Little Gull which this waders upperpart plumage details briefly resembled. It is one of many such birds - leucistic/melanistic/albino - I've seen over the years.      

Black-crowned Night Heron. Pete Woodruff.

Another bird of many years ago was this Night Heron which turned up on one of the pools at the University of Lancaster. I remember heading off to see this bird with John Leedal and managed one of my famous inferior shots. I was never able to take this individual seriously, as I recall it had wandered near and far and at the time was suspected to have been an escapee.

Carneddau Ponies. Gary Jones. 

Another trawl on the internet had me discovering GJ's New Year wanderings - camera and all - to get these wonderful images of the wild ponies to be found on the mountains of Wales. Do yourself a favour and find out about a way with a difference of celebrating the New Year on top of a mountain....fascinating stuff HERE thanks once again Gary.

I'D SOONER BE BIRDING....Maybe - hopefully - tomorrow.