Vote for Best Surfbirds Rarity Photo of 2007

[admin]

Thanks again to all the digiscopers and photographers that posted their photos to the Britain and Ireland Stop Press Gallery (http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery9) this year. We enjoyed seeing them all. Over 1500 photos were posted to this gallery in 2007 and these photos were viewed close to 6 million times! However, it's not just the razor sharp, frame-filling photo that gets our attention. Sometimes, an interesting or educational pose or even a fuzzy record shot of a bird where the observer was lucky to get a shot at all can still be jaw-dropping to see. We're looking for you to cast your vote for the photo that best captures your most memorable moment in 2007.

There were many other excellent photos posted. All wonderful studies of hard to see birds, let alone photograph on these shores. So many to choose from that it was difficult to get the list down to the following. These are just some of our favourites from the past year. Keep them coming in 2008!
________
Norseman (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Chrysler_Norseman)

[Joe Ray]

Cheers Andy.
Some great images there, vote cast.

[Bobolink44]

mine too - some tremendous shots!

PS would have voted for the pechora if I had managed to see it.

[Ian Hardy]

Brown Flycatcher even though i missed the bird Damn :certifiable:

[greenwithensbirder]

not much we have not seen before so i went for Lanceolated Warbler only because the photographer is female and pretty:smile:and she lives on fair isle most of the time:smile:

[wraithy]

Brown Flycatcher excellent pic by Josh Jones gets my vote,the 04.30hrs start from Cheshire was well worth it.:lovegulls:

[Brian S]

One or two great shots: the Pechora by Pete Morris - though am a bit put off by the flash; the Brown Flycatcher; the Lancie - just because I like them and not for the same reasons as above.

However, as a first for Britain, my vote has to go to the Pacific Diver. Not only is it a great shot, but it highlights really well the features by which it was initially IDed.

[Nighthawk]

I've voted too, don't know whether we're supposed to be saying which we voted for in case of influencing others, but there is a real beauty up there! That's the one I went for!

[richard dawkins]

Great shot Dave gets my vote:certifiable:
http://www.richard-dawkins.fotopic.net

[Bobolink44]

Dave Hutton or Kelsall - Woodchat or Glossy Ibis? Both crackers! Photos that is and not the photographers.

If any of the photographers have joined, would love to know what gear you used for your shot.

[Dave Hutton]

Dave Hutton or Kelsall - Woodchat or Glossy Ibis? Both crackers! Photos that is and not the photographers.

If any of the photographers have joined, would love to know what gear you used for your shot.

I used a Canon 30D & Sigma 300-800 f5.6 for my shot & about a 6hr wait for the birds to finally get out of the ditch & walk up towards where we were all standing!!!

Dave :certifiable:

[reo1971]

Great shot of the Squacco Heron, Jon Its got my vote :beer::beer::beer::beer:

[timmyjones]

I voted for the Dark-Eyed Junco its an amazing photo.

[hughharrop]

I'd agree with Brian - Pacific Diver.

[cjg]

Speaking as a birder with a camera then I don't think that you can beat Kit Day's 'bill shot' of the White-billed Diver.

My gear MKIIn/40D and 500/4

[Sean Cole]

I'm with cjg - unusual shot of the WBD's bill, perfectly focussed and much more interesting than standard portrait shots. Does it for me anyway. Of course th ephoto also shows the feature by which the bird was identified!!

It seems from the voting that people are going for their favourite bird rather than the best photograph (sorry Josh).

I do quite like the argument for the Lancy shot though. I'm not voting for that however pretty Rebecca is, because I've dipped Lancy four times and it brings back such bad memories.

:eek:

[Josh Jones]

It seems from the voting that people are going for their favourite bird rather than the best photograph (sorry Josh).

Are you nuts Sean? The Brown Flycatcher was clearly the most boring 'first' for some years (so unlikely to be people's favourite), and my photo is quite obviously technically faultless - brilliant if I may say so myself.

:laugh:

Seriously though, I voted for Day's White-billed Diver shot myself - classy image - brilliantly sharp, unusual image that brought a smile to my face when I saw it!

[chris butterworth]

As a photo, the Blackpoll is both a stunningly composed shot and shows all the relevant field marks, bit 'chocolate boxy' though. I would have voted for one of the Petchora's but, after years of chasing them, to no avail, I dont believe they really exist!

[Rebecca Nason]

Hi.

I used a Nikon D2X with accompanying hand-held Nikon 80-400mm VR lens for this image.

[Michael T]

All the photo's were great! But i would say that jon,s photo was my favourite! it was nicely focused, and showed an active bird in the open, rather than the usual partially hidden ones.

[Christopher Cachia Zammit]

Great stuff...Keep up the good work people :)