As an extension to the ongoing "I saw my first kingfisher today" thread, I thought it might be interesting if people wanted to post and share any wildlife pics that they've taken. As I said on the other thread, that way instead of just talking about what birds and other wildlife we've seen, we can also show photos of them. 

 

Hope you think it's a good idea.

 

As the current topic in the "kingfisher" thread is herons, I thought I'd start with a couple of pics of them that I've taken...

 

Juvenile heron (looking very interested in a dragonfly)

 

Heron in sunset silhouette

 

Next up, a couple of pics of blackbird chicks, which I was lucky enough to get while looking out through a window at home.

 

 

 

Come on then, show us what you've got. The only condition is that the photos are ones you've taken yourself.

 

Sparrowhawks are ace ... here is one from a few years back, it only landed for a split second 

 

I occasionally have a sparrowhawk land on my back fence but I've never managed to get a picture because as soon as I make the slightest movement it's off.

Nice photo gallery on the BBC News website this morning showing readers' photos of Spring wildlife.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/26628076

Nice photo gallery on the BBC News website this morning showing readers' photos of Spring wildlife.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/26628076

Russell. Thanks for posting link. Some amazing photographs.  Steve

Russell. Thanks for posting link. Some amazing photographs.  Steve

 

You're welcome, and yes, some great photos!!

 

 

 

 

 

Avcocets paired off for breeding

 

Steve

Edited March 21, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul

 

 

 

 

Black headed gull in breeding plumage

Sorry about the slightly dark pictures

 

Steve

Edited March 21, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul

mellytee, on 20 Mar 2014 - 10:28 PM, said:

No picture but I can report a Sparrowhawk at Taylor Towers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Idly looking out of the window I thought to myself 'why is there a chicken on my fence', on careful closer inspection I realised it was in fact a Sparrowhawk; ( no glasses and no observation skills but it was reddy/brown with powerful legs hence the confusion with a chicken )I was so excited (and still am  ). I remember when Pete99 reported one. We have literally dozens of sparrows in our garden - well maybe one or two less now   - despite them apparently being in decline! 

As for the 'Common' birds, less is more as they say :)

 

Melly CommonBird from Banbury

 

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGH6b7n08LclLoflFwEvEQwaQuJZNl5zYCuAdQYxqY6A_JPckIug

Hiya Melly

 

Hope yer well.

 

Sparrow Hawks are a top, top predator. Having one or a breeding pair around is a sign of a healthy bird population generally. They are nice to see like all birds but I sometimes have mixed feelings when they pick off my very tame collared doves which I have nurtured through the winter.

 

Peter

 

 

Cock pheasant in full breeding plumage

 

Steve

Winsford Soul, on 21 Mar 2014 - 9:18 PM, said:

IMG_6483.JPG

 

Cock pheasant in full breeding plumage

 

Steve

Very beautiful birds are pheasants. Nice one Steve.

 

Peter

Very beautiful birds are pheasants. Nice one Steve.

 

Peter

Thanks Peter. just fancied a close up, will try and get a full bird next time out to fully show all the amazing colours.

 

Steve

Black headed gull in breeding plumage

Sorry about the slightly dark pictures

 

Steve

Steve

 

There was an old adage when I started photography to help with exposure issues ... "add light to white" ... if you are photographing a white subject adjust the exposure compensation by +1 to +2 stops. (The opposite for a black subject)

 

The camera meter always assumes that it is looking at 18% grey, this is why the majority of peoples shots taken in the snow look grey, the white has fooled the meter so the image is underexposed.

 

Usually +1 will be enough, just take a test shot and check the image on the screen.

Steve

 

There was an old adage when I started photography to help with exposure issues ... "add light to white" ... if you are photographing a white subject adjust the exposure compensation by +1 to +2 stops. (The opposite for a black subject)

 

The camera meter always assumes that it is looking at 18% grey, this is why the majority of peoples shots taken in the snow look grey, the white has fooled the meter so the image is underexposed.

 

Usually +1 will be enough, just take a test shot and check the image on the screen.

Thanks Martyn. Always forget. I just get to excited and want to take the picture. Steve

Eagle and owls seen at a mediaevel fayre here in Amsterdam...

 

 

Another owl, this time in extreme close-up. One of my favourites out of all the countless photos that I've taken.

 

 

Edited March 22, 201411 yr by Russell Gilbert

Well I'm out and about again tomorrow. Hopefully will be some new pictures to post. Chiffchaff and sandmartins are the target's . Steve

I'm definitely going to look at getting a half decent camera and getting out and about along the canal and river this year.

 

This thread is very inspirational - thanks everyone.

 

Peter

Russell Gilbert, on 22 Mar 2014 - 1:13 PM, said:

Another owl, this time in extreme close-up. One of my favourites out of all the countless photos that I've taken.

 

Owl-close-up.jpeg

He - or she, is almost saying - ah reet pal. Wink wink.

 

I'm definitely going to look at getting a half decent camera and getting out and about along the canal and river this year.

 

This thread is very inspirational - thanks everyone.

 

Peter

Peter. It's a whole new world just waiting for you mate. It's a special world that we live in, it's just a shame that more people don't realize exactly what's around them. a camera certainly opened my eyes to the more intricate ways of nature. And that's from someone who has fished and loved the great outdoors since I was about 5 years of age. Steve

He - or she, is almost saying - ah reet pal. Wink wink.

 

 

More like he/she is saying "shove that camera lens any closer and I'll rip your f*%#ng eyes out!" 

 

Cos that's exactly how it felt... 

Well the chiffchaffs and sandmartins didn't want to appear on Steve's photo shoot today. Managed to capture a few pictures of some special birds though. Will post as soon as I get chance. Steve

Edited March 24, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul

I saw a yellowhammer whilst out walking the dogs early this morning - first one I`ve seen for absolutely YEARS.  Well chuffed!

I saw a yellowhammer whilst out walking the dogs early this morning - first one I`ve seen for absolutely YEARS.  Well chuffed!

I remember you commenting when I posted the pictures of them last year. Am chuffed for you..Can't wait for my holidays. 8 weeks to go. Always see loads of them down in Pembrokeshire. Steve

I remember you commenting when I posted the pictures of them last year. Am chuffed for you..Can't wait for my holidays. 8 weeks to go. Always see loads of them down in Pembrokeshire. Steve

 

Blimey Steve, Well remembered!  I struggle to remember what I had for breakfast...

I've not forgotten to post new pictures. Not had chance. Will sort it soon. Made a bad mistake today. Went Leighton Moss as normal for a Monday. Got camera out switched it on and battery light flashing. I forgot to charge them, so no pictures. Steve

 Burton mere RSPB reserve on the Wirral today. Little egret fishing and seen 3 stoats. Managed to get a few pictures but having problems with my laptop so can't  download from my camera. Steve

 

Little Egret catching  fish

Going Going  Gone

 

Steve

Edited April 4, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul

 

Buzzard

 

Steve

 

Reed Bunting

 

Steve

 

Stoat

 

Steve

 

 

 

Stoat with a water vole possibly, it was to quick for me to get a proper look

 

Steve

 

Peregrine falcon

 

Steve

Great stuff Steve.

 

Only ever seen one stoat!

 

Peter

 

Great stuff Steve.

 

Only ever seen one stoat!

 

Peter

 

Peter. Many years ago when I was fishing a local lake I had three young stoats (kits I think ) playing about two feet away from me. It was and still is one of those moments that will live with me forever. Steve

Peter. Many years ago when I was fishing a local lake I had three young stoats (kits I think ) playing about two feet away from me. It was and still is one of those moments that will live with me forever. Steve

The difference between a stoat and a weasel?

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Weasels are weasily recognisable and stoats are stotally different!   

The difference between a stoat and a weasel?

....

 

 

.....

 

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....

 

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Weasels are weasily recognisable and stoats are stotally different!   

Russell. That's weasily the worst stoat joke ever.  Steve

Russell. That's weasily the worst stoat joke ever.  Steve

I am sorry - to a degree. It's one of my girlfriend's all-time favourite punning punchlines and so I'm conditioned to use it whenever the opportunity may arise.

 

I'll tell Bev that I used it here and she'll be mightily impressed that I somehow snuck it in.

 

Thanks then for feeding me the opportunity to do so 

We have a breeding pair of Sparrowhawks that visit our garden and snatch a little bird now and again

Suz bird of paradise

Here's a pic of some of our feathered folk

xxx

Here is an image showing why Tawny Owls are so tricky to find

 

 

A crop of that shot

 

 

 

Well found! By the looks of things it had no trouble spotting you, Martyn. 

Here is an image showing why Tawny Owls are so tricky to find

 

401_033.jpg

 

A crop of that shot

 

401_033c.jpg

Nice one Martyn. Last year when I was out for a walk in the local park just before dusk I heard a few small birds scolding ,what I didn't know. Then I seen a tawny owl appearing out of a hollow in a oak tree. Just the classic poster shot but no camera. I've been back many times with the camera just in case but I've never seen the tawny owl near that tree. Steve

I am sorry - to a degree. It's one of my girlfriend's all-time favourite punning punchlines and so I'm conditioned to use it whenever the opportunity may arise.

 

I'll tell Bev that I used it here and she'll be mightily impressed that I somehow snuck it in.

 

Thanks then for feeding me the opportunity to do so 

Russell. If it gets you brownie points with Bev that's cool mate. Steve

I also happened upon a couple of Red Legged Partridge, the one posed nicely for me

 

 

 

I also happened upon a couple of Red Legged Partridge, the one posed nicely for me

 

401_019.jpg

 

401_026.jpg

 

401_030.jpg

Martyn. Another set of good pictures. Not that I expect anything less from you.  can't remember the last time that I seen any common partridge. Me thinks they not so common anymore. Steve.  You at keele Sat ? 

Edited April 6, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul

Martyn. Another set of good pictures. Not that I expect anything less from you.  can't remember the last time that I seen any common partridge. Me thinks they not so common anymore. Steve.  You at keele Sat ? 

We should be there 

Love the photos of the partridges, we get loads in Teesdale where I live. We get loads of these beautiful birds too black grouse I saw quite a few last year

Suz x

This is a little waterfall where I live

These are Harebells related to the Bluebell they only grow on poor nutrient/infertile grassland, taken last June at Wham, Teesdale where I live

Edited April 6, 201411 yr by suzannek

Jimmy Jimmy -  so good I named him twice.

Weekly visit to Leighton Moss. Seen my first swallows of the year.   And a solitary house martin. Heard my first ever ceti,s warbler,what a song couldn't believe how loud it was. Got some good peregrine and marsh harrier picture's , will post later. Steve

Edited April 8, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul