Common Whitethroat

This Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis was singing its heart out on the barbed wire perimeter fence at Finningley airport, (Doncaster Airport).







Canon 1D Mk2, 500 mm lens with 1.4 x extender.

Dippers

I've been a couple of times to Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire, to photograph the White Throated Dipper, Cinclus cinclus. So called because of their habit of dipping under to catch bugs and other tasty morsels. It's a strenuous walk from the car park in Over Haddon to the river, all downhill, and then you have to find them.
Don't forget the return journey, that hill is pretty steep. I usually carry all my kit in a Lowe Pro backpack, complete with tripod. Be prepared.



They're a smallish bird and usually keep their distance, a longish lens is best, these were taken with a 500 mm + a 1.4 x extender. Their habitat is shallow fast flowing water in upland areas, often in woodland. Lathkill Dale is ideal. Because of the tree cover and low light levels a flashgun is a handy item to carry, I sometimes use mine with a fresnel flash extender, to throw the light that extra distance.



Note the white coloured eyelids






Taking a peep.

I would say that no later than the latter end of April is the best time to go, before the leaf cover on the trees blocks out all the available light.

Bitterns at Potteric Carr

I live only a few miles from Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, it's a place I've visited regularly in the past, mainly to photograph the Bitterns that stay over Winter there. As many as 6 have stayed for the Winter months, but eventually the birds move onto the continent to breed. It is hoped that in future the birds will stay on to breed.

I've spent many hours in the hides at the Carr, my favourite being the one at Piper Marsh, the birds are very secretive and difficult to spot and move like a cat, very slowly and with precision.

Some bird watchers have been going for years and have never seen one, fortunately for me nearly every time I went to the Carr, I saw one or even two. Bliss. Mind you, these photographs do represent hours and hours of sitting in a hide.

Robin and Crab apple blossom

Because of all the cold miserable snowy weather we're having in the UK, I thought I'd post this bright Spring type image, I took this a couple of years ago in the back garden.

This particular tree will burst into blossom in April which isn't far away and it always looks good.



To get this photograph I erected a small hide and waited for the Robin, I was certain it was aware of my presence. I don't think you can really fool a Robin as easy as that.

Angry Shoveler

I was at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk when this Shoveler decided to show its displeasure to another male Shoveler.



After the other bird had done a dignified retreat, the angry bird did a wing stretching exercise, click on the video below.



Canon 1D Mk2 with 500 mm f4 lens.

Puffins galore

The favourite bird of many people, these Puffins, Fratercula arctica, I captured on the Farne Islands and also on Lunga one of the Tressnish Islands.
















And if you didn't know, Puffins nest in burrows



This Puffin was hanging onto its Sandeels in a brisk breeze and reminds me of Medusa's writhing snakelocks.

Canon 1D Mk2 with 500 mm f4 and 70 - 200 mm f2.8 zoom lens

Oystercatcher

The striking thing about the Oystercatcher is its brightly coloured bill which however, does serve a very useful purpose.

Klaas's Cuckoo

On my last trip to Abuko National Park in Gambia I was fortunate enough to see this Klaas's Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas, at a waterhole.





Canon 1D Mk2 with a 300 f2.8 lens and 2 x extender.

Herring gull

This beautiful looking gull I found at Bempton cliffs on a bright sunny day, there's a hint of malice in those eyes.

Black Headed gulls

To many people gulls are a boring bird and they have no particular interest in them, these Black Headed gulls, Larus ridibundus in Winter plumage, were captured behind the Spa theatre at Bridlington.

Turnstone feeding

This time, I was on the South Beach at Bridlington just behind the Spa theatre. A good place to go if you're interested in photographing birds and as usual the ever present Turnstones were there. I watched a small group foraging and this particular one was going from mussel to mussel having a peek for that tasty morsel.





I was particularly pleased with the first image, it won me 1st prize in a camera clubs photo competition.

Canon 1D Mk2, 500 mm f4 lens with 1.4 x extender all mounted on a tripod.

Turnstone

One September evening whilst walking along the beach at Scarborough, I noticed a number of Turnstones frolicking in the tidal pools. This was handy for me just what I wanted, armed with my Canon 1D Mk2 fitted with a Canon 70 - 200 mm f2.8 zoom lens.