Re: Lilac Breasted Roller
Originally Posted by
gasman
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Nice one Nom - where did you spot them?
The first i saw was near Sunderland, i had just got the internet, and came home from work to find a report on birdguides. So off i went laden with gear in the hope of seeing it.
Saw some birders so asked for directions, about a mile up a lane. Off i went and on arrival a load of birders around, no hurry mate said one its been here 3 weeks. The farmer thought it was an escaped parrot.
The important one was a Northumberland bird at Beal near Holy Island, i was cool about it, not rushing to see it. But a few days later i planned a trip up to Lindisfarne.
This was only the second record for the county, the first in 1958, i do wonder how many saw that bird, pre phones, pagers, cars, and the internet.
However i stopped off at Beal and in a private field with no public access i found the bird in a tree.
Quickly set up the scope and jammed the compact against the eyepiece and got a record shot at about 150 yards.
Cant compete with Grahams photo, but i was pleased to capture an image. As i was standing a bus trip of birders from Scotland turned up and all saw the bird.
I later met them on the island, where we saw American Golden Plover, Red Breasted Flycatcher, Great Grey Shrike, Yellow-Browed and Barred Warbler, a dam fine days birding.
Poor image here.
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...php?i=20955&c=