Some favourite images of 2011

Below are some of my favourite images of 2011.  Several have already appeared here and some are new showings.  They are not in any particular order but there is a brief summary of each shot below the image.  Let's hope 2012 is as good as this year...

First year Curlew Sandpiper at Achna Dam, Cyprus in September.

Adult male Lapland Bunting in May, Varanger Fjord, Norway.

Steller's Eider at Vardo, Arctic Norway, May. One of a flock of 100 or so birds.

Puffins on Hornoy Island, Norway. A fantastic place with photo opportunities around every corner.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Marazion beach in February.  This site is one of the best for natural light.

Bewick's Swan at Par beach pool in March.  A scarce bird in Cornwall offering stunning views.

Goosander at St Andrew's Pool. The cold weather brought scores of this species to the county.

Red-throated Diver at St Andrew's in March.

 Paired up Waxwings berry-passing in courtship, previously unrecorded in Cornwall. Penzance. 

The same pair of Waxwings preening together.

Winter plumage Sanderling at Gwithian.

Pair of Cream-coloured Coursers at Cape Verde in March.  This desert species breeds in healthy numbers here.

Adult female Kentish Plover near the nest, Cape Verde in March

Ad male Black-crowned Finch Lark with a juvenile, Cape Verde.

Bridled Guillemot, Hornoy, Norway coming in to land in a blizzard

First year Kentish Plover on Larnaca beach, Cyprus. September.

European Bee Eater in September in Cyprus.  Just one of thousands seen this September.