Only Gulls

Every Tuesday and Saturday along with the open market in Rotterdam comes hundreds of Gulls. And to be very honest I had no idea what these guys are and how to differentiate them from each other. But it seems for now, these fellows who appear here are not that difficult to ID.
So as a sort of Gull ID tutorial I have put together this series on two of the larger species we have here - The Herring Gull and the Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Also managed a few decent flight snaps of both species.

But I don't have such comparative analysis of the juveniles. Only Herring Juniors here.

Back in Rotterdam

Back in Rotterdam went for a bit of birding in the Park next to Museum Park in the heart of the city and was happy to see these fellows. Mostly familiar fellows but some not soo familiar ones like the Green-Finches.

Though these guys are supposedly common here for some reason I've always missed these guys.

Check out the blue on this guy!

More here from today @ 02 and 03

The capacity of all these birds to withstand the cold here really amazes me.

Mallard on the Rocks

More birds on the Rocks

How does this fellow swim in almost frozen water?

Always saw amazing snaps of this fellow on India Nature Pixs and wondered how people managed it, especially Mr. Sudhir Shivaram (of http://www.thejunglelook.com )

Check the above links for some amazing snaps of Indian Birds.

More here from today @ 01 and 03

Some more snaps from today.

Managed to catch this guy flying down from his Nest high up in the canopy.

I'll end today with this Treecreeper, who gave me a lot of thinking to do for his ID. But given all the evidence I've settled for just plain old Treecreeper.


More here from today @ 01 and 02

Last leg of Scotland trip.

Back in Edinburgh on my last day in Scotland got to see a few more birds in the garden of the Scottish Museum of Modern Art.

The garden itself designed by famous Architectural Critic - Charles Jencks - is worth a visit.

The Blue Tit gave me some great views, but the light conditions were not too ideal.

After a Song thrush at Loch Ness I was not expecting to see any more of these guys on this trip. But this fellow (this time a Mistle Thrush) surprised me. As you can see slightly more Greyish on the upperside.

Birds of the Highlands

Just managed to squeeze in a day away from the cities on a day trip to see the famous Loch Ness in the highlands of Scotland.

The route was absolutely beautiful with great views of the Mountains and the Lochs.

Armed with my new Nikon D50 I had the time of my life clicking this Robin in the most perfect settings. (This has to be one of my best snaps yet).

This Blackbird posed as quiet a challenge in this image with a bit of snow in the foreground.

This one was an ID-cruncher. Though I finally settled with a Song Thrush. (The Mistle Thrush is dangerously alike but is slightly greyer with white underwings).

This is the famous LOCH NESS where the supposed Dragon lives. Though I did get to see her, the birds kept me more than happy.

Birding in Scotland

As soon as I reached back in Rotterdam I took off for a small trip of Scotland in UK. Though not a birding trip I did manage to sneek in a few birds and as assumed also got a few 'Lifers'.

The Meadows in the heart of the capital city of Edinburgh I've been told is a good place to see Blackbirds, Magpies and more importantly Wagtails at this time of the year. Other regulars in this huge green are Gulls.

And I was lucky to get the Ring-billed coming here all the way from America.

Back in Europe

After brief visit to meet family in Dubai, I'm back in Europe for a while now. I was greeted at the Centraal Station in Rotterdam by this loud fellow.

Starlings are some of the most common birds here in the Netherlands.