Anyway it has been a very interesting year, so here is a quick review:
Today is the "Early Birders" blog anniversary and according to the stats I've posted 192 times, have 94 followers and in excess of 9,500 visits all in 12 months. I'm somewhat amazed that what I post appears to be enjoyed by so many others. So special thanks go out to my regular readers who continually leave encouraging comments and to everyone else who happens to drop by I'm very appreciative of your support.
My birding year started, as is usual, with a visit to the south coast where on 1st January I finally caught up with a Purple Sandpiper but didn't get any pictures. My friend Steve at Shooting my Universe has plenty of stunning photos of this delightful wader.
The purchase of a DSLR earlier this year provided an added incentive to post what I was watching but sometimes I still have difficulty choosing between traditional birding and wildlife photography.
One of my earliest digi-scoped images of a Black-tailed Godwit became my header.
A Skylark took centre stage on the blog and then the opportunity to follow breeding activity in the garden was captured whenever I could find the time whilst still working full time.
Throughout the summer the camera enabled me to capture other wildlife and to rekindle an interest in 'flutters' (not least prompted by the massive invasion of Painted Lady's), plus 'dragons' and 'damsels' thanks to an inspiring blogger Kim at Wishnik Woods.
During the final part of the year other external influences finally led to a change in lifestyle and should now provide me with more time to appreciate our native wildlife by exploring my local environment as well as the regular strolls at other locations I enjoy visiting.
So..where will I be today? Somewhere watching wildlife and hopefully getting the new birding year off to a good start.
Wishing everyone a HAPPY, PEACEFUL & Wildlife Rich 2010.
GM Frank
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours and what a wonderful years roundup of photo's and look forward to many more in 2010. Just wonder what DSLR and lens setup you use as your pics are always so clear and sharp. Anyway great stuff and keep up the good work.
Thanks for the review Frank which is full of superb photographs. Its been good to follow your blog through 2009 and I look forward to your entries of 2010 and beyond.
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations on your 'Blogaversary' Frank. As you said, how quickly the time goes...
ReplyDeleteA lovely round-up here with great photos and I also enjoyed the 'skaters' on the previous posts.
Wishing you and Anita a Very Happy and Healthy New Year.
Congratulations on one year of blogging. Your writing, photos and friendship have enriched my life. I wish you all the best in 2010!
ReplyDeleteHi Frank,
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to wish you the best for 2010... It has been a pleasure to follow your blog and experience, and I think I know what you meant by saying that it is sometime difficult to choose between birding and photography. I'm having the same problem very often! Nature photography asks more things than birding and it is sometime difficult to stand in one place waiting for a bird to show off and take a picture while others are singing around ;-)
It's been a pleasure to meet you!
My birding will start as soon as it gets light enough. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteFantastic Images Frank,everyone
ReplyDeletea clear winner.
Great blog.
HNY.
John.
Beautiful photos Frank! Purple sandpiper? Who knew?! Not this Yank, ha! The 'deer' photo is exceptional. I wish you a very prosperous wildlife-viewing 2010!
ReplyDeleteThis year will be as good as last, if not better! just keep that shutter clicking!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying the morning as I stop by to visit my regular bloggers..I have always enjoyed your posts, your photos and your commentaries. You managed to snap some wonderful images over last year..some birds I can only hope to see some day! I do hope you and your family have a wonderful 2010, enjoy good health, plenty of sunshine and find some new birds to share with us!!
ReplyDeleteI've found a little spot locally where Reed Buntings can supposedly be found, so photographing one of them is my goal for this year.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated your atittude to the 'external forces' you mentioned (which sound like they were initially negative). Reminds me of the man who was lying in bed one night when a huge storm descended on the house, ripping his roof off. The man lay there for a while then said to himself 'oh how lovely, I can see the stars!'.
Happy New Year! I hope it's great for you ;-).
Happy New Year Frank! I hope to be a more frequest visitor in 2010!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your pics!!
A wonderful 2010 to you Frank. May it bring you joy and happiness.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly had a great year of birding and wildlife watching. Thanks for sharing it with us! Looking forward to your 2010 posts.
ReplyDeletecheers,
Wilma
You had a great 2009 Frank. Here's hoping for the same in 2010! Happy birding New Year! (-:
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed following your blog Frank, and learning from your knowledge.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent selection to show the highlights of the previous year. Those Blue Tits are a superb capture!
Here's hoping for even bigger things for this year; and I look forward to meeting up again.
All the very best to you and Anita.
I have enjoyed your blog and many wonderful photos this past year. I wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year. and look forward to following your blog in 2010.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone. Sorry for the delay in responding to your comments but I've been out in the cold coastal air looking for birds!!
ReplyDeleteMonty. I'll e-mail you shortly with details of my set up.
Roy. Thanks for your continued support.
ShySongbird. Happy New Year to you Jan.
Lynne. You are a true friend. Stay well my dear.
Chris. You are an inspiration in the way you have to deal with such diverse conditions. I've decided to do more birding in 2010 but hopefully the photography will also improve. HNY to you and the family.
Bill S. I had no doubt that you would be up with the lark!
JRandSue. Thanks John but I'm not sure I'm ever going to match your digi-pics.
Jann. Some more deer pics soon. HNY to you.
Warren. I'll do my best & try to get some decent local sightings.
Tina. It's the same for me when I cross the water to look at your birds. That's what has made blogging so special. Thank you.
Gaina. Good luck with the Reed Bunting....just be patient and it will happen. Smile when all is falling around you..that's a good motto.
Kerri. Whenever you can is fine by me. Always good to hear from you. HNY.
Joan. I wish the same for you.
Wilma. Life is what you make of it & I'm delighted to share my wildlife moments.
Jenny. HNY to you and I'm looking forward to keeping track of you as well.
Keith. That's what friends are for. I still have a lot to learn from the 'gunslinger'.
Mona. Thank you for your regular comments they are appreciated.
Happy New Year! These are some amazing photos. Congratulations on your blog anniversary and I hope to see more awesome photos in 2010.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Looks like you had a good year! It would be great to catch up too. All the best for 2010.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you.
ReplyDeleteLovely series of images. The image of the skylark is my favorite...Thomas
It looks like you had an amazing first year, and you inspire others to keep going at it. Your images are lovely in every aspect and the clairty in them, your writing along with each image, brings just what we need to learn, glean and understand about other species of wildlife that we might not ever get glimpse of otherwise~
ReplyDeleteHi Frank! ...what a great year it has been. I've learned so much about European birds by visiting your blog, and I always enjoy your stories. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us this year! Wishing you and Anita all the best this coming year!
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy. HNY and I'm looking forward to plenty of colourful images from Florida in 2010.
ReplyDeleteMark. I see you had a good start to 2010 with the RT Diver.
T ans S. Thanks Thomas.
Mary. I'll do my best to keep you entertained and informed.
Hi Kelly. Same for me too. Great new header...tell Rick 'well done' from me. FAB.
ReplyDeleteHope the new year is everything you wish for.I personally think you have a winnings formula so a continuation rather than a veering to one side or another is the answer in my book.
ReplyDeleteCheers Trevor. That's excellent advice....I'll try to stay on the straight and narrow then.
ReplyDeleteMarvellous photos. I got my first dslr last year too, and certainly dont regret it!
ReplyDeleteNeil. Thanks. I'm still getting used to the fact that I can take lots of pics without using up the film!
ReplyDeleteWow some great shots there. Happy New Year Frank.
ReplyDeleteAngie. Let's hope 2010 is good for both of us. Take care.
ReplyDelete