A couple of weeks ago I took a wander around Thursley Common hoping to catch sight of a Great Grey Shrike that had been reported.
My search around 'Shrike Hill' and elsewhere was unsuccessful so with little other avian activity I decided to follow a path across one of the wetter areas where I heard but failed to see a Dartford Warbler calling from a clump of mature gorse.
I then spotted a distant pale head moving about level with the heather and initially thought it might be a Grey Heron but something in my mind said it just didn't look right. So I diverted from the path and very slowly stalked through the heather while trying to avoid any of the many deep wet pot holes to get a closer view and this is what I found ...
Please click here for my other WBW post on FABirding.
isn't she (or he) beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreat close-up photos - the eye color is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! The eyes are very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThats a hell of a bird for a UK list!!!! I wonder where it came from.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Stewart ... I doubt it would be accepted even if I bothered to submit a rarity report .. lol!
DeleteIt probably escaped from a private collection.
Those eyes are totally cool
ReplyDeleteSo what list does that go onto then Frank....vagrant, migrant or 'what the ......'?
ReplyDeleteYou managed to overcome your surprise and get some cracking shots though...[;o)
Cheers Trevor .... the missing or escapee list I presume!
DeleteWow, that would have had me jumping all over the place. Superbly captured.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing find,love the last image,how you manage to keep your hand still.
ReplyDeletegreat job Frank.
John.
HI Fantastic opportunity. How wonderful for you to have come across a Rhea. I have seen them in South America. I think I would have tried t find out where this Rhea was from, you never know where that would have lead. You might have found the person with the collection. They probably would have been grateful that you had found their Rhea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a face!
ReplyDeleteExcellent portraits! Escaped or not, it's a very cool looking bird!
ReplyDeleteHe is fantastic and you captured him so beautifully Frank.
ReplyDeleteThese images are positively delightful, such clear shots too!
ReplyDelete...whoa! That would be quite a surprise. Beautiful...
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome bird, you can see the resemblance to its cousins the Emu and Ostrich.
ReplyDeleteWow great find Frank,wonder where that came from, nice one
ReplyDeleteOh so glad you checked this out. I've never seen this bird before but look at those eyes and the fuzzy feathers. It's really a cool looking bird.
ReplyDeleteWonderful encounter!
ReplyDeleteWOW, those eyes, they look so human!!
It must feel quite lonely, poor thing!
Great portraits, Frank!
Keep well
Wow - What a great find for you! I wonder what happened to it?
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope somebody is searching for it and takes it back home ...to some safety .... poor guy....
ReplyDeleteVivid, beautiful eyes. Stunning close ups. Great job, Frank!
ReplyDeleteWhoosh, those eyes, how magnificent a find you had, absolutely stunning images!
ReplyDelete