Standing up for Nature
Tim writes: I found this Rock Pipit at Ingbirchworth Reservoir in South Yorkshire in early October. That is at least 60 miles from the nearest coast and is 850 feet above sea level but Rock Pipits are rarely found away from the coasts where they breed. Here is the UK distribution map so you can…
Tim writes: I know this isn’t a competition winner but it is an extremely difficult subject to photograph, especially carrying prey. I was out for a walk locally on 11 October when I saw something moving on the track some way ahead. A quick glance through binoculars and I’d identified it as a Weasel that…
Photographed on a Peak District grouse moor this week – but who knows how that large gap in the wing feathers on the left wing came about?
Tim writes: Spurn peninsula in East Yorkshire has been breached by the sea so the point is now an island at high tide. As I walked back along the breach in late September I spotted just a single wader on the beach, which was this Purple Sandpiper. I usually expect to see this species on…
Tim writes: while photographing Ring Ouzels in the Crowden Valley I was distracted by the sound of this Spotted Flycatcher snapping its beak as it tried to catch an insect. Now you can guess what Flycatchers eat as the clue is in the name, and even its scientific name Muscicapa means flycatching. So I had…
Tim writes: here is my best Jack Snipe photograph to date. I spotted this one sat right in the open and it froze completely while I watched it for about 20 minutes. I crept as close as I dared then squatted to get a low camera angle and took a series of shots. I then…
Tim writes: Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) usually defend a territory throughout winter, in which the pair will breed in spring. Birds that haven’t managed to find a territory form a nomadic flock and will take up any vacancies if any territory-holders die. But over the last few days I have noticed that all the usual…
Tim writes: I used to catch Bullheads (Cottus gobio) in a small stream near my home as a child, but I haven’t seen one for maybe 50 years. That is until two days ago when I watched this Little Grebe emerge from the water with one. These fish are also known as Miller’s Thumb and…
Tim writes: the 8th October started well for me as almost unbelievably this was the second species of bird I saw thiat morning after Moorhen. Numbers three and four were Little Egret and Jack Snipe. The Great White Egret flew into the Canal Scrape at Spurn at 7:10 that morning. When I started birdwatching Great…
Tim writes: this was a flock of Knot at high tide at Spurn in East Yorkshire taken in early October. I say Knot, though if you look really carefully there are at least eight Dunlin among them. Most of the Knot are in grey winter plumage but a few of them have orange mottling, remnants…