Tristis

This interesting Chiffchaff was jumping around a bush by my car at the end of Meadow Lane, Bedford today.  Its call instantly drew my attention to it - as it sounded a bit plain and monosyllabic.  I got a pretty good view of it and it was fairly brown with the only green on the plumage being on the wings and on its tail sides.  It had a scruffy cheek with a few feathers out of place but it did have a really nice flaring supercillium.  The underparts were dull cream getting slightly brighter towards the centre.  The upperparts were grey-brown - all in all it looks pretty good for tristis.  Have a listen to the call (below) - mostly pretty even, but one or two calls were pushing towards the 'seoo' end of things.  I wonder if its in the variation of tristis?  More research needed but it does look good.
Chiffchaff at Meadow Lane 8th Jan 2012 by Steve Blain

Wol

We went for a quiet drive round the lanes on Boxing Day night in the hope of seeing some Tawnies.  In the two hours we were out we only heard one Tawny, but did see two excellent Barn Owls instead.  Check out the finely feathers tarsi - if you see any Barn Owl pics without these hair-like feathers, the photos are probably of a captive bird.

Off out owling again tonight with Sam.  Hope we find some Tawnies this time!

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk a photo by steve_blain on Flickr.

Spent a few minutes watch this Sparrowhawk rip apart a Feral Pigeon at Derek's this afternoon. I'm really quite pleased with the digiscoped shots I got too.

Murmuration

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

I bumped in to this on Vimeo and though it was well worth sharing.  Starling roosts are one of the most amazing bird spectacles we have in the UK.  Make sure you make the effort and go and see one this winter.

Azorean type Gull video

Azorean type Yellow-legged Gull from Steve Blain on Vimeo.

Some video of the second Azorean type Yellow-legged Gull at Stewartby Tip, October 2011