I don't think he was after brilliant photos in this case ... ... he just wanted to make us Green with envy over his sightings ...
I agree it is great to see them and the proof is more than adequate ...
Correct, people get to hung up on the detail of a bird, to me some of the time it is nice to see the natural habitat - a kind gent let me look through his scope at x60 to see Mummy Kestral feeding her young with a mouse, also saw the newly fledged Peregrines, lovely fluffy heads they have, all this in half an hour
Sad story about the Owl, his partner was killed nearby and was found in the road, he now just sits there, watching the world go by
Both shots are crops and were taken at 400 mm on the Mk3 so 1.3 crop sensor aswell, they were a long way away hence not much point in cropping closer, at the crop I have done, you can see what they are, detail is good enough and they are in their own habitat, not captive birds.
SBB, Chough was seen near to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve.