Blue Tit - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Blue Tits

Blue Tits in blossom are a constant delight at this time of year. They may appear decorative, but the trees hide a …

Marsh Harrier - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Marsh Harrier overhead

I love a close Marsh Harrier. Here at RSPB Otmoor they are busy, but distant, and a pleasant hour or so in …

Grey Heron - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Huge Heron chicks

I’ve enjoyed going to RSPB Otmoor to see the Grey Herons in the past few years.

Red Kite - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Bright light – harsh light

Bright light for bird photography is a wonderful thing. Harsh light is terrible. Deep shadows, blown highlights, and excessive contrast are all …

Greater Whitethroat - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

The Nettle-Creeper

Last year, when I was in Oxfordshire, chicken-sitting for my friends, a Greater Whitethroat was in the garden scratching its beautiful/ugly song …

Goldfinch - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Tinkling Goldfinch

I’m surrounded by Teasel. It’s the ideal perch for Goldfinches and I’m ready to take their photograph any time they decide to …

Dunnock - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Dunnock

This Dunnock was singing beautifully on top of the bursting Hawthorn this morning. What a joy to be up early in glorious …

Red Kite - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Red Kite clutching

The Red Kites over my friends’ garden here in Oxfordshire all appear to be clutching something. There’s usually a feather or a …

Song Thrush - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Song Thrush

I’ve just spent an hour trying to get a good photograph of a Song Thrush and failing miserably. It was deep in …

Red Kite - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Red Kite, mobbed

I’m in the garden in Oxfordshire while on chicken-sitting duties for my friends My local Red Kite here has half of its …

Blue Tit - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Blue Tit in blossom

The planting in Foxburrow Wood in Oxfordshire is relatively new. It started in 2010 and ended in 2014. It’s 20 acres and …

Linnet - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Linnet / Ninnet

There’s a pair of birds twittering overhead. I can hear one say “Ninnet”. It must be a Linnet. Their song has far …

Common Buzzard - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Buzzard over the garden

I’m currently chicken-sitting for my friends in Oxfordshire and enjoying an egg or two. Their enclosure is larger than my garden and …

Red Kite - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Chicken-sitting

I’m currently back chicken-sitting for my friends in Oxfordshire. Last time I was here there were eleven chickens. This time there are …

Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Kerkini - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

The moment before it slapped me

There’s a younger Dalmatian Pelican on the prow of our small boat. I’m in prime position to photograph it. It’s beautiful light, …

Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Kerkini - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Pelican comedy breakfast

The early light is hitting the mountains on the other side of Lake Kerkini and bathing them in a warm orange glow. …

Grey Heron at Lake Kerkini - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Heron over the snow-capped mountains

There’s something enchanting about birds being able to project their own shadow onto themselves. Here’s a Black-Tailed Godwit with the shadow of …

Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Kerkini - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Changing light

The warmth of this image is a thrill. The difference in the mood of this image because of the changing light is …

Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Kerkini - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Pelicans and mountains

The blues and purples of this image are very restful, aren’t they? So is being out on a boat on Lake Kerkini …

Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Kerkini - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Symmetry

There’s something deeply appealing about the symmetry of these Dalmatian Pelicans. There’s also something worrying about them begging for fish thrown into …

Razorbill - the Hall of Einar - photo © David Bailey (not the)

Goth Puffins

The Goth Puffin lookalikes were out in force in Lyme Bay. I do love a good Razorbill flypast, but is it only …

Manx Shearwater - the Hall of Einar - photo © David Bailey (not the)

Shearwaters on the water

Having Manx Shearwaters around our coasts in South Devon at this time of year makes ever boat trip into Lyme Bay one …

Cormorant - the Hall of Einar - photo © David Bailey (not the)

White patches

Great Cormorants have a large sign, only visible in the summer, to show they are adults and ready to breed. It’s a …

Common Guillemot - the Hall of Einar - photo © David Bailey (not the)

Formal wear

The Common Guillemots, Uria aalge, are wearing formal-wear at the moment. Their smart chocolate brown heads and white bellies look very smart …

Manx Shearwater - the Hall of Einar - photo © David Bailey (not the)

Manx Shearwater

There’s a Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus, bonanza off Brixham at the moment. There was a flock of 29 out to sea and …