My first ventures at bird photography with the LUMIX was more successful than the dear old iPhone. It was also quite good to zoom in on birds to identify them as our binoculars have gone walkabout. In this photo I was trying to identify a large looking egret but missed seeing the other two. It was only later, on the computer, I spotted the two other birds.
I never thought how important binoculars would be some years ago when I tried using them and couldn’t focus at first. But the distinct colours and antics of birds became so vivid that now I feel lost without them. I remember the little brown bird in my garden, a dunnock,with its tawny golden streaked feathers.
In 2010 we walked along this stretch of the Ria Formosa by Cabanas Fort. This is a sandy dune habitat and a protected place for conservation of a range of habitats and seabirds. My eyes were opened to the variety of birds and trying to look for the leg or beak colours. This was another eye opener to the amazing range of birds I had never really thought about before.
But the curlew had always been a part of my imagination. A book read long ago in childhood described the haunting cry of the curlew. Now we need to listen to their plaintive cries and protect their habitats. Maybe the mystery bird is a curlew? But could it be a whimbrel, a godwit or one of those green or red shanks… .? It was far too far away to see and when I saw the photo it was also well camouflaged on the shoreline. A bird to haunt me!
Now for the missing binoculars, not just one but two pairs. Is this what happens travelling between UK, Spain and Portugal? Unfortunately am still looking and having to use the camera to zoom in and capture a little bird.
More of a concern than the binoculars are the decline in bird numbers. How many different birds will we miss if we have never known the amazing variety that there are? Just for starters…. Kentish plover, Ringed plover, Little ringed plover, Golden plover, Grey plover, Dotterel and let’s not confuse Dunlin, Sanderling and Knot or take a Stint or two.
Maybe they all deserve a poem or a shipping forecast with their amazing names.
Ooh Whimbrels and Curlews one of the biggest challenges to get right even when you have binoculars!
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Ok if they are near one another as the size can give it away…just!
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Very nice! … And yes, a poem! I’ll be watching for that… 😊
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Have to do one now then!
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Yes, have written it and will blog it soon. Thanks for the push!
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Poem ready now and thanks for your inspiration!
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Peter thinks the photos are very good as you didn’t use a tripod.
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Very calm hand!
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Great idea to make an eco-poetic statement about these birds beauty and contribution and impending decline. Actually, I think you have the first lines already!
Kentish plover
Ringed plover
Little ringed plover
Golden plover
Grey plover
Dotterel
Dunlin
Sanderling and Knot
or take a Stint or two.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today & leaving a comment. You are welcome anytime!
Love your photos. If we have these birds in South Texas, I do not know them, so fun to know them here.
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Yes, you are right! I might have been trying to save space, which is silly when digital. Poems are all about the lines! Thanks and must now go back to a poem for this amazing diverse crew of birds.
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Go!!
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I have now written the poem! Thanks for the inspiration!
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Did you ever find those binoculars? I get quite sentimental about mine – I still miss an old pair of long-gone Zeiss 8x30s that became a part of me, almost…
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Yes, but only my smaller pair, handy for my pocket, but the other still a missing mystery. I had a great clear out when back in UK though!
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Lovely to see the photos. How many of these blogs have I missed? All the best Opher
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