Sometimes, just sometimes, you stumble across something that is that little bit special. I've got several photos today, from two different locations, but they include some that – to me – are very high in my 'want to see' list.
I'll start with the least unusual, though still a scarce one. A female great spotted woodpecker. This was taken at a local lake, and as you can see from the trees she was doing her best to remain hidden from view.
Like the woodpecker, this next photo is not the greatest quality but it is easily the best photo (and sighting) I've had of this most elusive but regal of birds. yes, a kingfisher. I think I've photographed them twice before, but from ridiculous distances. This was not exactly close, but a lot closer than I've managed previously. 
Now a kingfisher is a seriously big thrill, but while I was watching to see if it would return (it didn't) an even more elusive bird popped up on the tree just where we were standing. A treecreeper. I've glimpsed these before (about twice) but have never managed to get even a hint of a photo. They love the shade (clinging to tree trunks in woodland is their favoured habitat), which makes capturing images even more awkward. I managed 10 or 12 frames, including this one where it just edged out from beyond the intervening foliage with enough decent light filtering through the tree canopy. I'm unlikely to get a better shot of a treecreeper… ever.
Those were all taken at a local lake, at a village called Slaugham (pronounced Sloffam). The rest of today's are from the more familiar territory of Rottingdean, or more accurately the Marina which sits between Rottingdean and Brighton. Most of them were taken from the outer marina wall. First a couple of shots of a pretty little turnstone. There were several of them on the marina wall, mixing with the much larger gulls.
The other 'feature' birds out at the marina are the cormorants. This is much more their natural habitat and the outer wall gives a good vantage point for viewing them as they shelter inside the marina itself.
This next one has just relieved itself!
And now a couple of incoming flight shots as a cormorant comes in from the sea.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
gdare
31 Aug 2011Kingfisher is a real catch!!!
They all come to pose for you. You are famous photographer now. And they all want to be celebrities 😀
anonymous
31 Aug 2011Puzzle writes:
I was treated to a wonderful sighting of a couple of treecreepers near Loch of the Lowes. It was only on the return home when doing some research I found that they often hang around with flocks of tits in woodland (that's what we were initially looking at) so worth keeping your eyes peeled.
Words
31 Aug 2011Darko, if only they would come and pose, but over time I will get a good picture of a kingfisher. At least I now know a place where there is a chance of seeing one. That helps!
Words
31 Aug 2011Puzzle, that's interesting and very helpful. There were numerous long-tailed tits in the same few trees so the theory is sound.
Words
31 Aug 2011Erwin, thanks! It was a good day 🙂
SittingFox
1 Sep 2011Kingfisher! Wonderful :yes:
That is probably classed as an extremely good day 😀 I love treecreepers. They're such odd little things, sort of like a nuthatch in reverse!
Words
2 Sep 2011Adele, they don't really come much better than that for variety and unexpected surprises. I've really enjoyed finally being able to see treecreepers properly.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Wonderful Pict :up: