Starting the New Year

Firstly I would like to wish readers of the Blog a Happy and Wildlife 2009. I spent a fair amount of time over Christmas, organising and backing up last years photos to start with a clean slate for the New Year. I always treat the start of each year as a fresh start and already have some photography plans forming for the year ahead. Having said that I decided to start 2009 where I finished 2008 and headed out on my first session to try and get some more grey partridge photos. The forecast promised clear skies and sun and delivered on arrival, grey cloud and dull lightall day. The partridges were playing difficult to photograph as usual but I managed to get some photos.

and my favourite two images of the session

While trying for the partridges a couple of other bird species found their way in front of my lens including fieldfare and great spotted woodpecker

Male bird on a hawthorn trunk

Not a bad way to start the year, it was just a shame the light was not better. Sometimes you are forced to perserve under unfavourable preveiling conditions.

Last Session of 2008

I spent the day out and about with the camera yesterday to fit in one last session for the year. Despite some poor light conditions and some freezing temperatures a good number of species found there way in front of the lens and a most enjoyable way to finish an interesting year.

A bullfinch appearing very plump with its fluffed up feathers to try and keep the cold at bay.

Goldfinch feeding on teasel
The tiny and hyeractive Goldcrest which proved very tricky with the lack light
It is always good to see the rapidly declining Tree sparrow

A female Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering into a silver birch

A Fieldfare feeding on some apples

There were two main highlights to the day. Firstly a bird that is difficult to approach and photograph and also sadly disappearing rapidly the Grey PartridgeThe other highlight is a bird that I have not photographed for two years since one landed in my back garden back in January 2006, the Brambling.

Overall it has been a good year with 7 mammal species photographed, including a large library of brown hares, and 139 bird species ranging from the common to very rare such as the Ross's Gull that appeared back in the spring. I would like to thank all of you that have taken the time to read , support and comment on my Blog during this year and wish you all a wonderful and wildlife filled 2009.

Howling Winds

Its been a difficult week for bird photography with the UK being battered with high winds. Up until Sunday the week had been lean with only the dipper in the last post to show for my efforts. I went back out on Sunday morning and ended up at Crosby Marine Park as I had some reports of some unseasonal Litle Gull being present. I really wanted some flight shots but that was not going to happen in the raging winds.

However, I did manage to get a flight shot of a passing cormorant.

I went for a wander towards the dunes to see if there was anything there and nearly stepped on a Grey Partridge and managed to get my first shot of one before it rapidly disappeared.

Walking back to the car I noticed that one of the Goldeneye drake, that were so elusive the week before was close in. So using a litter bin for cover I managed to get some shots on the rough water,