Re: Holiday Snaps

Just got back from a short break in Mallorca where I couldn't take my 'proper camera' owing to restrictions imposed by Leprechaun Airways - it's a long story but basically a camera counts as a bag! Anyway I still had my trusty Canon A500 compact camera and was lucky enough to see and snap one of the most spectacular birds - the Hoopoe. I was just getting in the groove when it managed to get behind an inaccessible screen fence and I couldn't capture any more shots, but before that I did have a chance to see it in its full glory with an  erect crest - amazing sight!

My other less spectacular bird (but still a first for me - was this Spotted Flycatcher (my I.D. so please correct me if wrong) in an Oleander bush. 

Good stuff John. Aren't those Hoopoes amazing to see ?

john_l_uk

I couldn't take my 'proper camera' owing to restrictions imposed by Leprechaun Airways - it's a long story but basically a camera counts as a bag!

Another reason I won't use them. Taking all you can carry in your Gilet pockets and a rucksack is no problem with their main rival.

Really amazing and thanks. The trouble was I booked through LowCostHolidays.com who just listed 'lowcostairline' and it wasn't until the package was processed that I discovered it was actually Ryanair. I've never had problems with cameras carried separately on Easyjet or with my wife carrying a handbag but Ryanair insist that everything has to fit inside the 'Carry-On Bag' or pay £50 for an extra 15 kilos or £70 for 20 Kilos hold baggage. A new low-cost Spanish airline  started from Cardiff whilst I was away so will try them next time - they don't seem to have 'hidden extras' ;)

Wow, wonderful to see these.

Fantastic bird John, seen one twice, both when on holiday.  There was one recorded briefly at Llandegfedd last July but unfortunately I did not see it - we live in hope!

A Hoopoe can certainly make your day, a cracker John

Thanks all! Let's hope that with these hot, dry Summers we'll get a visit sometime in the future! From looking at them feed they behave a lot like Blackbirds so they wouldn't be interested in the wet areas particularly but the grassed and woodland areas would suit them. This is my one other shot but already cropped and doesn't bear much enlargement. If only I'd had the SLR! The camera that I had wouldn't hold the date, so every time I started it up had to set it and even though I just pressed OK to 00.00.00. and edited the date at home it still wasted those valuable few seconds! Still mustn't moan I had the pleasure of seeing the bird and I've got a record! ;)

I would love to see a Hoopoe! Great shots!

Ant

Great shots John,

I can remember taking an "extended" lunch break some years ago to see one at Tredegar Park, (not the Tredegar house one, but the Council park).

Of course it would be nice to see another here, and not have to go to the Spanish islands.

Flew to Lisbon a few years ago (BA Scheduled flight), for work, and the engineer I was travelling with took a full size surfboard with him, Staff never batted an eyelid, what a difference, (Sat behind Nigella Lawson's Dad, the then chancellor, on the flight back, that trip)

Thanks Nigel! As everybody says it would be amazing if they became regular visitors. You were certainly lucky to catch one over here, well done!

Don't get excited, but have just seen an unconfirmed report of a Hoopoe, at St Brides Major this last weekend

Eyes peeled Peeps :)

Keep us posted Nigel!