rwking01stuff-blog

[rwking01stuff-blog]

de Haviland DH.88 Comet

Festival of Flight at the Shuttleworth Collection 01 Aviation Photography of a DH88 Comet from the Shuttleworh Festival of Flight Air Show in Bedfordshire The DH.88 Comet was built during the period between the World Wars where the aircraft industry and the public were focussing on racing. The Comet was built in 1934 for the England to Australia MacRobertson Air Race. The development of the…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

It only took 9 years .... American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

At last after a 9 year wait!

The first time I saw an American Dipper was in November 2014. I was on a Bald Eagle workshop with Moose Peterson in Haines, Alaska. It was a very dull and dark day and I saw this tiny (compared to Bald Eagles) quickly working along the river bank. I asked what it was and Moose said an American Dipper. Of course the light was so poor I couldn’t get a good image. Unfortunately, I did not see it…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)

More from the Spring Bird Migration

Spring Bird Migration USA 06 There are three types of “Black-throated” Warblers: Green, Blue and Gray. The colour in the name refers to the colour of the plumage on the top of the head and down the back. The Black-throated Green Warbler is olive-green, white below, with yellow faces and black on the front. Adult males are stunning, with a bright yellow face and extensive black on the throat…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

Spring Bird Migration

Spring Bird Migration USA 05 The Black-and-White Warbler is easily distinguished from other warblers by the way it moves on the limbs and branches of trees. It scurries, climbs up and descends along the branches looking for insects to eat. Very often they can be seen hanging upside down on a branch in their search for nourishment. It is also distinctively marked with black and white stripes all…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Cape May Warbler (Setophaga Tigrina)

Spring Bird Migration USA The Cape May Warbler, while being one of the species passing through Magee Marsh, was the most evasive. There was very limited visibility of the male Cape May Warbler, dodging around non-stop making it extremely hard to get a picture (but, of course that is his job!). However, on my penultimate day a female Cape May Warbler treated me to a fairly good session involving…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)

Spring Bird Migration USA The Magnolia Warbler has a distinctive black neckband with black streaks that radiate from the neckband giving the impression of a jeweled necklace. The Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) is often confused with the Magnolia as it also has the jeweled necklace, but the Magnolia has other black streaks along its body and white wing bars and head marks, whereas the…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Spring Bird Migration USA This visit to Maggee Marsh Wildlife Area in Ohio is the first time that I have seen the Prothonotary Warbler. It is quite different from most other Warblers to look at as it does not have a distinctive cap or stripes along the body. Yes it does have a distinctive shade of yellow, as do many warblers. In fact the name is because the plumage represents the yellow of robes…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Spring Bird Migration USA I posted this on Instagram the other day hoping it would also post here and on Facebook. No such luck! A first visit to the marshes on the southern side of Lake Erie in northern Ohio. The mission is to photograph the migration of warblers as they rest a little after their northward migration in order to get ready to fly across the water. The first day was a visit to…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Spring Bird Migration As the week at the Marshes on the Southern Shore of Lake Erie in Ohio progresses, this very distinctive bird call was teasing me. The call was from a Warbling Vireo, I could get a sense of direction, but could not find it. The trees are in full leaf and I think the birds use this to hide from the mass of birders walking around Maggie Marsh Wildlife Area. This being the…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica Dream Adventure 8 - Drygalski Fjord

This is our third day at South Georgia Island in our Antarctica Dream Adventure. South Georgia is the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. As we progress on the expedition we are told that areas of South Georgia are being closed due to the detection of birds with avian influenza and to help reduce the spread of the disease. The expedition leader is…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

2024 Destinations

The plan, which is our intentions of the moment, although there are flights booked, rental cars, rental RV, hotels, airshow, etc that we hope are very firm. The rest depends on luck, fate and good health. Not quite as frenetic as 2023, but that was mainly because the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise was a very last minute decision. 2024 Destinations

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica Dream Expedition 7 - Fortuna Bay

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica Dream Adventure 6 - Grytviken, Old Whaling Station

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica Dream Adventure 05 - Birds and Bergs en route to South Georgia Island

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica Dream Adventure 04 - Off-road to Volunteer Point and Penguins

Falkland Islands a British overseas territory We left Octantis by Zodiac and landed on the dock at Port Stanley. Port Stanley is the capital city of The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean. As a British overseas territory, the Falklands have internal self-governace, but the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. This explained why…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica 03 - Penguins At Last, West Point Island

Landing at West Point Island in the Falklands The Falkland Islands are a remote South Atlantic archipelago. Although the Falkland Islands are not deemed part of Antarctica, they are a British overseas territory, it was a thrill to be landing in such a famous place. West Point Island, situated on West Falkland Island, is owned by Roddy and Lily Napier and run as a sheep farm and a tourist…

[rwking01stuff-blog]

Antarctica 02 - A Day at Sea and All About Bio-Security.

Sailing from Ushuaia to West Point on West Falkland Island. Continuing our pursuit of the No. 1 item on the Bucket List, Viking Octantis left its birth on the dockside of Ushuaia and headed to West Point Island in the Falklands. Our first sailing in Viking Octantis was very smooth We will be at sea for a day and anchor in the bay ready for our landings the next day, this is truly exciting as…