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| Marsh Tit upright |
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| Marsh Tit with Blue Tit in the background |
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| Marsh Tit more normal posture |
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| Robin |
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| Blue Tit with raised "crest" |
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| Great Tit |
A collection of photos of some local common woodland birds taken recently.
Click on most of the captions for larger images.
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| Nuthatch on side of tree |
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| Nuthatch on the ground |
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| Marsh Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blue Tit close-up (crop of photo above) |
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| Blue Tit in flight - not an easy one to get! |
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| Great Tit |
Snow always adds interest to photos but sadly in southern England opportunities are very limited. So when there was a snow fall in the morning yesterday, I was keen to get out and find something to photograph.
First up, walking to Letcombe Regis, I thought there was a fair chance that the Great Bustard would still be in the usual field to the east of the village. Indeed it was and I managed to get a low angle photo that at least showed some snow had fallen.
As usual, click on the captions for larger images
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| Great Bustard in the snow! |
Later, I had amazing luck at the top of Chain Hill, just outside Wantage, with an apparent road-kill (a hare?) in the snow close to the road but not on it. There were a few raptors in attendance when I drove past, and this one stayed put when I came back even at point-blank range!
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| Buzzard on kill in the snow! |
As usual, click on the captions to enlarge
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| Cattle Egret by the lake |
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| Looking right! |
In between looking for the egret, I came across these charming Stonechats on the nearby Downs:
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| Stonechat female or immature? |
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| Crop of the photo above |
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| The male Stonechat very close |
Back for another extended and chilly session! Although I only captured one visit of the bird, at least it was for longer this time and I was able to get photos of the bird in a variety of poses. Conditions were however duller than my last session, when the bird appeared.
The last photos from this site for some time to come, given Lockdown 3...
Once again click on the captions for larger images.
Also go to this gallery for more Kingfisher photos.
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| One of the first photos of the visit |
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| Looking left |
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| Looking right and upwards |
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| Looking right and down |
A couple photos from a cramped 4 hr session in which the bird showed for about 30 sec!
As usual, click on the captions for larger images.
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| Sideways on - looking out over the water |
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| More head on having just flown in |
My third visit of the year to Ian Howells' great Woodland hide in South Wales. Fortunately it was just before the latest Welsh and now English Covid-19 lockdowns.
The main aim of this visit was to photograph the male Sparrowhawk that I'd seen previously as an immature in July and then moulting in August. For this visit the moult was complete, and the bird was looking very smart indeed!
However it took its time to appear - not until 11:45 - I had been there since shortly after 07:00!
Click on any of the captions below for larger images.
Also go to this gallery for all my photos of this bird from this session and the two earlier ones.
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| Click here to enlarge |
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| Crop of shot above |
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Suddenly alert, the bird had spotted a movement and was about to dash off in hot pursuit! |
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| A rare frontal view |
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| Female just after chasing off the male |
My earlier session at this hide - a new one for me - was cancelled due to the national lockdown 2, but fortunately I managed to re-book for December 10, after it had ended.
This hide, bookable through Wildlife Photography Hides, is high on the Downs near Swindon. It is operated by David White a local farmer who is also a keen photographer. To minimise disturbance you are required to be in the hide well before first light and to remain there until dusk. It is made very clear that under no ordinary circumstances are you allowed to leave the hide, as this would scare off the birds. A 600m walk in the dark up a track is required on arrival, but David was able to take my photo gear in his vehicle which he drives to the hide. This hide, like the WPH hide at Bourne, is well equipped with a heater and a toilet in a side room. It even has unlimited WIFI!
With these bookings, weeks in advance, it is pot luck over the weather and unfortunately it wasn't good at all for me with dismal light all day and some rain for a good proportion of it. The Buzzard and Kite activity started quite early and continued with birds present until 13:30 when the last flew off. Other birds included pesky Crows and Magpies, which frequently got in the way of the Buzzards, as well as the odd Raven that seemed interested but I didn't notice one land.
After 13:30 there was then nothing until dusk.
At its peak, there were four Buzzard on the ground at once tucking into the food provided with others nearby on posts.
For a gallery of all my photos from this session, go to this page on my website.
For larger versions of those shown below, click on the captions.
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| Getting stuck into the food |
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| On one of the surrounding posts |
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| Buzzard in the light rain |
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| Head on view |
As the food supply began to dwindle, some arguments started. These were challenging to capture in the dull conditions but a few are worth showing here.
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| The larger and darker bird on the right is the dominant one |
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| Certainly bullying it here - but the subordinate one managed to fly off after a few minutes |
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| Sizing each other up? |
Red Kites were also around, and flew past from time to time dipping down to grab some food. Just once, one came in and landed pretty close to the hide, affording a nice view:
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| Close Red Kite on the ground |
This place would be pretty special on a sunny winter's morning but unfortunately it now appears Covid restrictions will prevent my planned revisit in January.
