May 2013 Oyster Catcher

Not a very common breeding bird in Gloucestershire.  Great to see this one incubating on nest in a willow tree. Lets hope that they are successful at breeding.  Would always be a welcome thing to have more of these feisty waders around.  Love the deep red eyes.

Oyster Catcher on nest

May 2013 Beautiful iridescent bird found in garden

Yellow bill, iridescent blue purple plumage, covered in white and beige streaks.  Do we take these these declining birds for granted?  They are on the red list of rapidly declining birds. They do look good when you really look!

Common Starling 

May 2013 Little Egret

I remember first seeing a Little Egret in Gloucestershire about 6 years ago.  I had to text home to say that I might be a bit late as there was a Little Egret getting closer as I was waiting with my camera.  Times really change quite quickly in nature and these birds can now be regularly seen around wetlands.  About 150 pairs now breed. Its still great to get this close and I would never take this sort of close encounter for granted.

Little Egret

Little Egret fishing

May 2013 Sparrow Hawk in the garden

Was just leaving for work when I noticed this Sparrow Hawk on the shed roof.  Caused quite a rush for the camera.  One of my favourite birds and brings predator prey interaction right into your back garden.  I have seen these birds four times in my life mantled over their prey and would love to get the shot but have never had my camera with me.  Still these will do for now!

Male Sparrow Hawk Love the yellow staring eyes

Flexing the talons!

April 2013 gone warmer and birds really nesting

After a really bad winter it has finally gone warmer and there is lots of nesting activity going on.

Blue Tit already feeding young

Jackdaw adding nesting Material to nest hole

Pair of Jackdaws at nest hole. Balcony with a lovely view!

Found this beautiful Long Tailed Tits nest in a thorny shrub near to where I work and quickly took this picture.  Its made of 6000 different pieces of Moss Lichen, Spider egg cocoons, and feathers 

Its tough out there.  This duckling was left unattended for a few seconds and becomes a meal for this Herring Gull

April 2013 Water Rail

Really exciting after waiting a considerable while to have one of these shy birds come out of the cover of the reeds. A great time at Slimbridge Gloucestershire UK.  Wildlife photography: wait, wait and then adrenalin.

In the excitement remember to include the reflection in the composition!

Water Rail relaxed and coming closer

Is it going to break cover or disappear back into the reeds?

Attitude

April 2013 Common Cranes Slimbridge

The Great Crane Project is aiming to re-introduce Cranes across Britain where they have been absent for 400 years.  Eggs are taken from Brandenburg Germany and brought to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire where they are hatched and reared.  They are then released onto the Somerset Levels wetland.  Some of the cranes released have miraculously flown back to Slimbridge and giving us great views of these iconic birds. Very best wishes to this fantastic project.

Common Crane The Tack Piece Slimbridge

Common Crane

Common Crane

Common Crane Group The Tack Piece Slimbridge