ML609426528

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Very impressive numbers coming close into shore and then passing directly overhead as they flew inland. I estimated around 20 individuals offshore when I first arrived at 15:20. I then counted the total number of birds visible in a full scan of the horizon every ca. 30 minutes. It seemed like birds were mostly accumulating in the area before flying inland so I’ve listed the highest single count here, which is likely be an underestimate of the total. Counts were as follows: 15:50 = 38 individuals, 16:20 = 46 individuals, ~16:40 = 61 individuals. First birds noted flying over the beach and headed inland around 16:00. Numbers dramatically started to increase after 17:00: 17:20 = 322 + probably 20 birds already passed overhead to go inland; 17:50 = high count of 640 birds offshore (estimated conservatively counting by tens) + minimum of 40 having passed overhead to go inland; 18:10 = 450 offshore (estimated by 10s) with lots having gone inland. The sun had just set around 18:10 so this last count may be an underestimate given that it was harder to see distant birds in the fading light. Listing the 17:50 high count + the estimated number that had gone inland already as the total here.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D850

Lens

500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

640

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/8000 sec

Dimensions

3080 pixels x 2055 pixels

Original file size

3.35 MB