When I was a kid, I read old yellowing pages about the effects of the agricultural chemical DDT on raptors such as Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons. The birds ingested the chemical via their diet and it caused the thinning of their eggshells. The rate they were disappearing, it was unlikely they’d see the new century. …
Birds at Toyanogata, Niigata in Winter
Again, I have been visiting the same place at Toyanogata and recognise the same winter birds in the same place. I have found a female Great Spotted Woodpecker who doesn’t care about me following and watching her. She just ignores me and gets on with her business of pecking. Last week, I had a super…
Woodpeckers of Winter
Usually this time of year, I head to the wetlands searching for raptors, but to be honest, I just keep taking the same photographs year after year. Don’t get me wrong, I love fleeting encounters with raptors, but my image folders become stale looking at the same birds with similar poses. This year, my biggest…
Runaway Trains
Runaway Trains Not long ago, I finished only my second real holiday since before the pandemic. It was my second visit to Australia since 2019. The days went by so fast. I barely started each day and my mind and body were overtaken by the atoms buzzing around me. I thought I had plans, but…
Dark, Quiet,
Apart from my visit to Australia, my 2024 was fairly uneventful birding wise. I’m on holidays at the moment but rain, rain, rain, wind, wind, wind, has been the schedule since December started. Snow is on the menu for tomorrow. The max will be 3, but it has been steadily going between 3 and 5…
A Visit Home
I had a great summer vacation.
Uncropped 500mm Full-frame Bird Photos at Wetlands on a Dull Winter Day
What a catchy title, I know, but as my usual Goldilocks-self, I had been pining for that 400mm 4.5 Nikon lens for the last year and a bit. For me, quick and nimble gets most of my best pics, but my experience yesterday, made me feel ‘Goldilocks’ should stick with the porridge she has. 500mm…
When I was a kid, I read old yellowing pages about the effects of the agricultural chemical DDT on raptors such as Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons. The birds ingested the chemical via their diet and it caused the thinning of their eggshells. The rate they were disappearing, it was unlikely they’d see the new century. Continue reading
Russell Jenkins Stoop Files 