A Buzzard with its Crow shadow
Mobbing is something Carrion Crows manage to do on their own, without the need of a mob. There’s little rest for Buzzards …
Knocking on the door
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are knocking on the door at this time of year. You can hear them drumming in the last remnants …
Non-breeding plumage
There’s a Black-Headed Gull on the lake in beautiful light. It’s still in winter plumage. As am I.
Coots and Moorhens
Coots and Moorhens are fairly familiar birds of lakes, ponds and canals. They are both members of the Rallidae, a family which include Rails, like the …
When your mates arrive pre-loaded
It’s an evening out in England and your friends are meeting at yours. The cost of alcohol in pubs and clubs means …
A Mandarin Duck spectacular
The light’s just right. And so is the duck. Photographs of Mandarin Ducks just never get old. Unlike me. After lying down …
And then there was one.. again!
I’ve loved watching Coots have ugly-beautiful chicks and the dedication of the parents to raise them. One of the pairs on Stover …
Grey Heron flypast
A Grey Heron flies past me from left to right at Stover Country Park. I don’t notice it until it’s too late …
Look at the nictitating membrane on that!
Birds have several superpowers. One is that they can blink and still see, even when in the middle of blinking. Just look …
Coot cuties
Last week this Coot was sitting on six eggs. I waited until the incubating parent had a brief rearrange of their eggs …
How do you get this close to a Jay?
How do you get this close to a Jay? They’re famously reclusive birds, often only seen after they’ve seen you, and showing …
Vogue
I love it when a Nuthatch strikes a pose!
An inexperienced male
The female Great Crested Grebe at Stover Country Park has been making all the right moves. She’s been prostrating herself on their …
Supplementing their diet
Great Crested Grebes eat fish. Here’s a shot from the weekend showing just that: What I didn’t know is that they supplement …
Running late
Having a family is a stressful time. It’s particularly difficult if you’ve laid six eggs and have to incubate them and turn …
Great Crested Grebes
The pair of great Crested Grebes on Stover Country Park lake are getting frisky: They’re in full breeding plumage, with their spectacular …
Chaffink
The word finch comes from the Middle English word fynch. This, in turn, comes from the Old English work finċ. And that? We can trace …
Prunella modularis
I recommend looking. Seeing the ordinary and realising it’s extraordinary is a habit which can bring you much joy. This Dunnock is …
Grebe action
A little bit of sunshine meant I got up with a spring in my step and hot-footed it to Stover Country Park. …
Robin with sparkles
This Robin is having a quiet wing-droop moment on a branch in front of a Holly bush. The out-of-focus highlights from the …
What’s occurring?
If you had to come up with three words to describe the Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus, they would probably be skulking, secretive …
Dunnock
Warm winter light on orange fallen leaves. Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s even better when a Dunnock is fossicking in them. The closer …
Bringing home the sausage
This Blue Tit is a thrill in this light: It has a wonderful crest with a beautiful powder blue iridescence. Blue Tits …
Male Chaffinch
Chaffinches are one of my favourite birds. I’ve taken many photographs of them and blogged about them before. Here’s my most recent …
Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight
I’m working at the moment, so time is precious, and every moment of light is a marvel in these dark, short days. …
Environmental ‘improvements’
If someone uses the word ‘improvements’ you know it’s likely to be a euphemism. It means ‘damage limitation’ or ‘rectification of errors’ …
Male Blackbird
This early morning sun is beautiful on my bicycle ride. So is this male Blackbird. Just look at the rictal bristles surrounding …
The Upside-Down Bird is hatching nuts again
I’m fascinated by Eurasian Nuthatches. They’re unlike any other bird in the UK. That’s because all the world’s other nuthatches live elsewhere. …
When Robin and Blackbird meet
Within bird species there’s a strict pecking order. It’s played out in battles over territory, food and mates. Robins are some of …
Robins – a classic gateway drug to hardcore nature appreciation
It’s lovely light in South Devon today and there are Robins galore: This one appears possessive over its stash of seeds. The …