December 2016 The forest specialist the Common Crossbill

I had a trip to The Forest of Dean today which gets me away from the Christmas over indulgence. It was great to catch up with a forest specialist the Common Crossbill.  Their bills have evolved in a particular unique way which enables them to extract pine code seeds.

Common Crossbill Male

Common Crossbill Male

December 2016 Local Urban Peregrines

Its is really amazing how things change over time in nature.  Peregrine Falcons were really rare in the UK in my youth and you would hardly ever get the exciting opportunity to see one.  Now not only have they dramatically increased in numbers, they are now adopting to urban life.  Most of the local towns and cities now have a pair on the high buildings.  This gives another welcome photo opportunity!

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

December 2016 Buzzard relaxed and in close.

These birds were so rare and in my younger days you had to travel to Mid-Wales to see them.  They are now our commonest raptor in the UK but I don't think I will ever take them for granted, and always get a few images when they are in range.

Common Buzzard

December 2016 Pied Wagtail

Sometimes you can spend time at a reserve but quite often you can get reasonable images in the car park on the way out.  Pied Wagtail on the roof of Slimbridge WWT toilet block.  I just like the colours.

Pied Wagtail

December 2016 A new bird for me the Little Stint

It is always exciting to get a new bird photographically.  This really is a small wader but I was really pleased to get some images of it.  It would come toward the hide and then get chased off by other birds. At last I managed to snatch a few images.

Little Stint

December 2016 Redshank Slimbridge UK

One of my favourite waders is the Redshank, I can never resist getting an image when there is a chance.  They are always on edge and so alert and tend to warn other birds around of any possible danger.

Redshank

November 2016 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Woodpeckers are always exciting birds to get near.  There are three species found in the UK: Green, Great Spotted and the Lesser Spotted.  The Lesser Spotted is the Holy Grail of birds for me as I am still yet to see one ever.  Perhaps this spring coming, before the leaves come on the trees again I may get lucky.  For now here is a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

November 2016 Such a beautiful bird the Grey Wagtail

Here's another image of the Grey Wagtail.  They are such a beautiful bird so no excuses for another post including it!

Grey Wagtail

November 2016 Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail

I went for a walk this morning on Cleeve Common looking for the Great Grey Shrike that has been seen there.  All was quiet and I thought there was going to be no new images for today and was feeling disappointed.  Decided to call in at the local park on the way home and managed to get these.  Sometimes you have to be flexible with you plans!

Kingfisher

Grey Wagtail

November 2016 The beautifiul Skylark on Cleeve Common UK

I went for a long walk over Cleeve Common as there is a Great Grey Shrike being reportedly seen up there.  It was a long walk with heavy camera equipment and was disappointed after a couple of hours to be walking back to the car without a sighting.  As I neared the car park a couple of Skylarks were landing in the grass and I managed to keep low and get quite near them. I think the learning point was: you can only photograph what is there.  Also be happy if you get a good picture even if it was not your original target!

Skylark

November 2016 Expert fisherman drying out, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire UK

Cormorants are excellent fishermen but after a period of fishing they like to catch the rays and dry themselves out.

Love the beautiful blue eyes

November 2016 A trip to the Forest of Dean UK

This is one of my favourite local places the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.  Its great to get there in the early morning light. These are rare birds visiting the UK in the winter but seem to appear there regularly over the years the Great Grey Shrike.

Great Grey Shrike

November 2016 Early morning in the Cotswilds UK.

The only decent sunshine forecast for today was in the early morning.  No excuses then, time to get up early.  Besides it is always the best time!

Roe Deer

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

November 2016 Kentish Plover Majorca

Another added bonus to being into photography is that sometimes when you do not recognise the bird at the time you can get home and get help with the identification.  This was the case with the beautiful Kentish Plover seen in winter plumage.

Kentish Plover

October 2016 Little Grebe Canop Ponds in the Forest of Dean

These are great little birds and very successful fishermen. I always enjoy watching them.  Its great after they dive to try and work out where they are going to surface next.

Little Grebe

October 2016 A drive in the Cotwold Hills UK. It was lovely to see a large flock of Lapwings.

I went for a speculative drive in the Cotswold Hills today.  I enjoyed seeing this large flock of Lapwings wheeling and twisting in the dappled sunlight.  It gives a false impression as these birds have declined greatly in the UK over recent years.

Great to see in flight

Spectacular

 

Closer detail

 

October 2016 I often think which is my favourite bird

These come right at the top of the list, the elegant Black Winged Stilt.

Black Winged Stilt

October 2016 Purple Gallinule S'Albufera Majorca

Quite a force in the marsh with this powerful bill and large feet.

In Close Purple Gallinule

October 2016 Osprey S'Albufera

This really was a great bonus during my holiday in Majorca.  They are quite regular and have their favourite perching places.



Osprey

October 2016 Purple Gallinule S'Albufera Majorca

These birds are quite dominant has the strut around the marsh and they often fight with each other.

Purple Gallinule

October 2016 More from my holiday in Majorca

I really love these birds as they catch a ride and let the horse do all the work of flushing out their insect food.

Cattle Egret and horse

October 2016 Back to Majorca holiday, some more beautiful waders

S'Albufera in Majorca was such a great place with plenty of waders in evidence.

Spotted Redshank

Kentish Plover

October 2016 Spotted Flycatcher Majorca

These are quite common in Majorca and also quite confiding.

Spotted Flycatcher

September 2016 Common Buzzard. I can't resist some images when they come in range.

I can remember travelling to Mid Wales when I first saw a Common Buzzard and was very excited.  Now they are very common throughout the UK.  I still always enjoy seeing them though!

Common Buzzard relaxing on fence post.

September 2016 Spotted Crake. A new bird for me!

This is a new bird for me and that always makes me happy.  This one was at Slimbridge WWT today and was very obliging.  It would dive back into cover with any disturbance, but was often out in the open again within a few minutes.  A great bird to spend time with.

Spotted Crake

September 2016 Night Heron S'Albufera Majorca

One of these turned up in out local park in Cheltenham UK a few years ago.  It caused quite a stir with many birders turning up to try and get images. It tended to stay well hidden under the dark over hanging trees.  I was so pleased to see these as I walked along the canal to the main park in S'Albufera.

Night Heron

September 2016 S'Albufera Wetland. The prehistoric looking Stone Curlew.

To me these birds look like such an ancient species.  I was really happy to be able to get reasonably close to them at S'Albufera Majorca.

Stone Curlew

September 2016 S'Albufera Majorca

Its great when you can combine you holidays with your hobby. It always surprised me that there is a large wetland on this sunshine island.

Black Winged Stilt

Cattle Egret and Camargue Pony

Little Bittern

Osprey

September 2016 After breeding in Iceland Black Tailed Godwits deserve time for a brush up at Slimbridge WWT UK

These birds breed in Ice Land and migrate in the late summer and autumn to join us in the UK.  It's always great when they get close to the hide especially when they take the time to have a splash and clean up.

Black Tailed Godwit

August 2016 Canop Ponds in the Forest of Dean UK

I went down to the Forest of Dean today.  One of my favourite places to sit and enjoy nature. The Cormorant always strikes me as an unusual species to be there.  Where there is good fishing though they seem to be able to find these forest ponds.


Little Grebe

Cormorant drying off in the sun



 

August 2016 Meadow Pipit in close. Lesson on how tight focus depth of field can be!

This lovely meadow pipit popped up on the wire close to where I was sat quietly.  I know with the lens wide open the depth of field is very narrow but this photo demonstrates it clearly.  The wire in the foreground and back ground fade away so quickly!

Meadow Pipit

August 2016 Cliff Top Pergrine Falcon

The local juveniles seem to be doing well.  I always love seeing them.  They always make my day. 

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

August 2016 Migration underway. Female Redstart

I saw this beautiful female Redstart on my small holding for the last three nights running.  On the third time that was enough to make me go back and get the camera.  Sometimes it doesn't work and the bird is long gone but this one appeared again on the post where I last saw him. Parked the Landover up and got this shot through the window.  Well pleased.

Feale Redstart

August 2016 Day off work. Where else would you go when Peregrine Falcons are close to home.

Super day today in the perfect sunshine watching these charismatic birds.  I just love Peregrine Falcons.

Juvenile Peregrine relaxing on the cliff face

August 2016 Buzzard enjoying the summer thermals

I always remember when you had to have a trip to Wales to see a buzzard.  They are now very common through out the UK. I never tire of seeing them though.

Common Buzzard

August 2016 Little Egret picking off tiddlers!

This little Egret was going along the pool taking many little fish.  Come to think of it I haven't seen them ever take large fish like a grey heron might.  I wonder if they do?

Little Egret catching fish at will

August 2016 Beautiful farmland bird the Yellow hammer

Never tire of seeing these beautiful birds close in.  They like to perch on the top of small trees and bushes.

Male Yellow hammer

August 2016 Juvenile Black Headed Gull

There was so much predation this spring that it is great to see some juveniles that have survived.  I think that the juvenile Black Headed Gull is a very pretty bird. rivalling even the adult in its colouring.

Juvenile Black Headed Gull