Saturday 17 October 2020

Hoopoe - Collingham

 A visit to Yorkshire where a very obliging Hoopoe had been for a good week was too good an opportunity to turn down. It had been frequenting a cricket pitch and was said to have been giving very good views. Sometimes when you hear the words 'showing well' it can still be at some considerable distance and require a scope for the best views. On this occasion, binoculars were not even required. The bird was coming to within four or five feet of the assembled birders, many lying on the ground to get even closer. It was fantastic to watch this bird dig in the ground and time after time bring up a grub or lavae of some sort. It would then bash it with it's bill before tossing it in the air like a pancake to catch and swallow whole. Just the most amazing bird and a lifer for me. I won't forget spending time with this beautiful bird.












22 comments:

  1. Wonderful photo sequence! We love hoopoes! I didn't know they lived in England (isn't that where you are?)

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  2. What great pictures of this Upupa epops.
    All perfectly photographed.
    Greetings Irma

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  3. Hello,
    I think I would have made a trip to see this bird, it is a beautiful bird. The Hoopoe is on my wish list of birds to see. Your photos are awesome too. Congrats on your sighting. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care and stay well. Have a great day happy weekend.

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  4. That are wonderful photos!!!
    Greeting Elke

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  5. What a striking bird, Adam, and certainly one I've never seen. Beautifully photographed!

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  6. Great pics! I wish I will capture one too, one day...

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  7. What a perfect name for this unusual bird. Just amazing to see the photo of the bug between his beaks! I'm glad you got these photos to share! I probably will never get to see one of these!

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  8. Amazing! Great photos!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  9. Amazing looking bird. Wonderful set of photos you took of it.

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  10. For once I actually recognised this bird. First saw them in India many, many years ago and then one appeared in my garden in London. No idea where it was on its way to and it didn't stay long but at least I knew what it was.

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  11. Wow, what a crest! Incredible bird.

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  12. One word...MAGNIFICENT!



    I thank you for your participation at I'd Rather B Birdin this week as always.

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  13. Hi Adam, you have the Eurasian Hoopoe and we get the African Hoopoe here in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ours is a common garden bird and I have a few action photos but nothing like the amazing photos you have of it foraging , throwing the food into the air and catching it. Thanks for sharing. Jo

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  14. Hi Adam
    I love the Hoopoe, that's one is my favourite, beautiful images.

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  15. That's a very interesting bird! Great photos!

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  16. Good pictures Adam. Hoopoes always seem to put on a good show. You both made the Daily Mail too.

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  17. I've never seen that bird before but his feather markings are amazing. Love the birdie!

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  18. Such wonderful shots! This is out National Bird. My kids used to call it the peck-peck birds when they were young. We'd see them often.

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  19. I always do a double-take when I see photos of hoopoes. Such strange birds! I wonder what function the doojobie on the back of the head might serve?
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/10/at-aquarium.html

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  20. what an interesting looking bird and he posed for you in so many different ways! Stunning

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  21. Fantastic photos of the Hoopoe!!

    I have seen them in flight mode 3/4 times from my home's balcony but have not been able to capture them well as yet.

    The Hoopoe has such an interesting look.

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  22. fantastic shots and what a name for a bird very cool I would love to see him

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