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.

 

Bullfinch love the seed heads of nettles, and the dried blackberry seeds on the brambles, there were a few about yesterday gorging themselves

 

435_028.jpg

 

435_034.jpg

Nice one Martyn. They seem to have gone from nemesis to models for you.

Steve

Nice one Martyn. They seem to have gone from nemesis to models for you.

Steve

Not really the light was poor Saturday, yesterday the light was perfect and the little  devils would not come out to a favourable position

 

Managed this female yesterday feeding on seed heads

 

Playing hide and seek with a Goldcrest 

 

They should get a little more obliging over the next few months.

 

Edited December 29, 201410 yr by martyn pitt

Willow tit

Bullfinch love the seed heads of nettles, and the dried blackberry seeds on the brambles, there were a few about yesterday gorging themselves

 

435_028.jpg

 

435_034.jpg

 

We moved into our new house in March, as soon as we had put our feeder up, we had a pair of Bullfinches regularly.  They had their chicks and brought them to the feeder, then they just disappeared at the end of the summer. We haven't seen hide nor hair of them, until yesterday.  They turned up on the feeder, it's maybe the cold snap that's brought them back? They are such beautiful birds.

A bit of a mixture to end the year, a Water Rail, a Marsh Tit and a startled Heron ... I was stood on the other side of a hedge, as soon as the Heron came over the top of the hedge and saw me it slammed on the brakes and sped off in the opposite direction ... 

 

Happy New Year to you all 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 201410 yr by martyn pitt

Bullfinches busy in my garden this morning too :

 

 

A bit of a mixture to end the year, a Water Rail, a Marsh Tit and a startled Heron ... I was stood on the other side of a hedge, as soon as the Heron came over the top of the hedge and saw me it slammed on the brakes and sped off in the opposite direction ... 

 

Happy New Year to you all 

 

 

 

I notice the willow tit has a ring on it.

I notice the willow tit has a ring on it.

Strange, I noticed the ice!!

I notice the willow tit has a ring on it.

There is a local ringing group operates at the reserve.

 

Back in September the ringing group went over to Portugal for a weeks bird ringing, the one chap caught a Blackcap that he had ringed earlier that summer in the Midlands 

Edited January 1, 201510 yr by martyn pitt

There is a local ringing group operates at the reserve.

 

Back in September the ringing group went over to Portugal for a weeks bird ringing, the one chap caught a Blackcap that he had ringed earlier that summer in the Midlands 

Martyn, how long have they been ringing birds now,and don't you think we should know their habits and it courses stress for the birds.

Martyn, how long have they been ringing birds now,and don't you think we should know their habits and it courses stress for the birds.

They have been doing it for years, not sure that it does cause stress for them, but we should have plenty of info on them by now.

They trap Snow bunting here in Norfolk and put rings on them,i know a few of them ended up in Holland.

Cannot believe how much interest there has been on this topic !! 

Here's something a bit different. A push me pull me

Steve

Here's something a bit different. A push me pull me

IMG_8907.JPG

Steve

Two Heads and no legs 

Two Heads and no legs 

You've met Steve then John   

 

Some odds and sods from yesterday

 

 

A Shoveler, 1 of 4 Little Egret now on the reserve, Mallard and a distant Kingfisher

 

 

 

 

Paid a visit to Leighton Moss today. Nothing of note. Sat on a bench (that someone had place some bird feed on the arms) having a coffee when a marsh tit landed less than two feet away from me. WOW.

Also heard the ping, ping sound of bearded tits calling ,didn't see them though

Steve

Edited January 6, 201510 yr by Winsford Soul

Heres a few from yesterday and today out and about

 

 

 

 

Could,nt get a uncluttered picture of the Water Rail unfortunately

 

Steve

 

Beautiful pics as usual, Steve !

 

What is the bird in the second picture ? It's the first time that I see it.

Edited January 6, 201510 yr by Philippe

Beautiful pics as usual, Steve !

 

What is the bird in the second picture ? It's the first time that I see it.

Thank you Philippe.

It is called a Water Rail.it's a very shy and secretive bird about half the size of a moorhen. It spends most of its time sulking about in reed beds and thick undergrowth next to lakes. Today was the first time I have managed to get a photograph of one. Very pleased with myself

Steve

Thank you Philippe.

It is called a Water Rail.it's a very shy and secretive bird about half the size of a moorhen. It spends most of its time sulking about in reed beds and thick undergrowth next to lakes. Today was the first time I have managed to get a photograph of one. Very pleased with myself

Steve

Not to be confused with a mono-rail

Beautiful pics as usual, Steve !

 

What is the bird in the second picture ? It's the first time that I see it.

 

Actually Philippe it is the 2nd time you have seen one ... post #1507 above   

Thought I had a brand new bird to tick off my list today. There's been confirmed sightings of a cattle egret on the Mersey estuary at Widnes and hale marshes, so went for a quick mooch and when I got near the marsh I could see a white heron like bird on one of the lagoons.Using my best fieldcraft I managed to get about 50 metres from it. Guess what. It was a little egret.

Still never mind, always nice to see.

Steve

Actually Philippe it is the 2nd time you have seen one ... post #1507 above   

  Ooops ! Right Martyn, I was more concentrated on the Marsh tit, what did he have in its beak ?

 

Steve, we have this bird in France it's called râle d'eau. I read that it lives in swampy zones, personnally I'm living "lost in the woods".

Edited January 8, 201510 yr by Philippe

Thank you Philippe.

It is called a Water Rail.it's a very shy and secretive bird about half the size of a moorhen. It spends most of its time sulking about in reed beds and thick undergrowth next to lakes. Today was the first time I have managed to get a photograph of one. Very pleased with myself

Steve

On one Norfolk Broad a water rail used to get on a pike anglers boat.Their is a picture of it in John Watsons book.

, I was more concentrated on the Marsh tit, what did he have in its beak ?

 

 

 A black sunflower seed I think ... there was a small pile of seeds on the table 

Ooops ! Right Martyn, I was more concentrated on the Marsh tit, what did he have in its beak ?

 

Steve, we have this bird in France it's called râle d'eau. I read that it lives in swampy zones, personnally I'm living "lost in the woods".

Philippe. I'm so jealous. I wish I was living lost in the woods. Instead of lliving lost in a suburban concrete jungle of Manchester.

Hope your safe and not in the forest that those two terrorists have been hiding in.

Steve

Happy New Year to one and all.

 

As we're in a new year, and because this thread is a whopping 31 pages long, I'm going to close this and open part two.

 

I intend to broaden the theme of that one to include more "general photography" as well as our feathered friends in the hope that more people might want to get involved. I'll start that one shortly and hope that you'll be just as happy to share your great photos there as the year unfolds and opportunities arise.

 

Thanks to everyone for contributing to what's been a rather amazing photographic thread - part 1!