Titting About

Not much preamble today, just straight in there with the images! I've had a number of visits from this little bird over the last few days, and in my 'housebound' state i've been keen to get a shot of him! I did just that the other day, but as well as this distinguished guest there has been the 'return' of the punk tit, and he's got a mate! Both very obliging, and both fairly photogenic...!

Not quite a tit, but still cute...!

Just Visiting

This afternoon a Female Sparrowhawk was seen in out front hedge. Upon closer inspection it had a damaged wing, obviously not in the best shape of her life as however hard she tried she couldn't fly, only a few flaps and hops. Still, as the small assembled group tried to contain her before the RSPCA arrived to take her to the vets, I took the opportunity to get some closeup shots of our most common bird of prey and probably my favourite...

Like a falconer's bird, but better!

Garden of Eden (or somewhere close)

Living in the suburbs is an advantage on living in the heart of the city, even if its a bit of a walk into Piccadilly! I put food out for the birds as most of us seem to do now, which is obviously a good thing for the birds. However, it means I 'compete for customers' with my neighbours, none of whom are trying to get BWPA-winning shots of them! Still, somehow I get by! I've got my Dunnocks, my Robins, my Blue Tits and my Blackbirds (all pairs this time of year!) and i've had something of a renaissance of feeding activity, headed by my little friend the 'Punk Tit'. Its presumably a feather growth problem on the head, but I have thought might be because its going in and out of a nesting hole. Anyhow, he is something of a poser...

But as well as these little beauties making there presence known, i've had a surge in plant  growth through this wet spell. I've never done flower photography, but this Marsh Marigold (I think!) in my pond was great in the late evening sun...!

Along with these blossoms...

and a Tulip...

Anyhow, a nice little diversion!

Puffin or Blowin'?

I spent a day on the farnes last year. I haven't done a seabird post (or any post for that matter), so I thought i'd better to keep things interesting. The farnes main attraction are the many 1000s of puffins that festoon the ledges above the sea. They make for very addictive shooting, not only because there are so many of them in so many different poses, but because they're just so garish and tame. There are the portrait shots...

I also went for the shots with bokah, mainly just the heads poking over the edge of the cliffs...

And of course there are the group shots of the adults waiting on the ledges...

I'll leave you with this rather sleepy individual...

How Green is the Valley...

Yesterday I visited Old Moor RSPB. It was fairly quiet birdwise, but as I was leaving I noticed a hitherto unseen feeder. A short(ish) crawl put me under it and amongst the feeding birds. One bird stuck out as a target, a female Yellowhammer, a bird that in the past i've struggled to approach. However, this bird obviously didn't get the memo to be secretive and prefer the bushes to open ground for she actively moved towards me, until she eventually filled enough of the frame for me to start click click clickin' away...!

As well as this little stunner, I also had some good views of Reed Buntings...

...Long Tailed Tit...

...and Cowslip flowers. I haven't really done floral photography before and this was a nice surprise and was quite challenging...!

However, best of all was meeting the RSPB's photographer Andy Hay. It was very interesting to see his kit and to talk about photography, particularly about hides. I have been contemplating buying a hide to do dippers with but have so far been unconvinced, but looking at Andy's results and the simplicity of the hides available I think may have swung it for me! All in all a great day out, even if I did dip the Avocets on the reserve!

What's Black and White but Decidedly Not Red All Over?

Ever since I were a wee kiddiwink wandering pretty clueless in the field of bird ID (long time ago, obviously!), I noticed these little characters. Pied Wagtails are amongst some of the most ubiquitous birds in Greater Manchester, found on almost every hill, on every street and roosting in every awning over every shop, or so it would seem. However, it seems that its taken me the whole of four months to get my desired shots of this little bird. Picture the scene, on the ramparts of an ancient castle in North Wales, the weight of history pressing heavy on me, when I forget all that in favour of this little bird making its way across the precipice towards me! Swivel on the spot, lens extended, parameters set and lying on the floor I wait until it enevitiably turns round, but it doesn't. I fire off a volley, surely its time to go, but no. It starts preening, and I keep shooting. I believe they call this Symbiosis...

Then its time for a clean...

Think that puts Pied Wagtails to bed, next up...Yellow Wagstails! (I'm full of variation like that)

Its Knot What One'd Think

Red Knot are not uncommon. If I look at my CAWOS 2010 Report they're described as 'very common'. This does not detract from their attractivness to the photographer, in fact the sheer numbers present on the coast present an opportunity for us to get creative and attempt to capture and convey the sheer mass of birds present. As it goes, the Wirral is one of the best places I know for these birds and its no secret, there are often many people watching them roosting. At low tide this is a different story! A gruelling 8 hours logged over both states of thge tide last year allowed me to capture these most wonderful birds at both rest and play...

Heads up lads...

...That's the port of Liverpool in the background, if you're interested...

...finally he sees the camera, took him long enough...!