Pennington Flash

Back to a bit of normality with this post and back to birds.

As much as I like photographing all sorts of things its birds that really do it for me and there's no better feeling when you go through your images back at home and you find that really nice shot you hoped for.

I didn't get that perfect shot today, but considering the little light we had I'm pleased with the results.

First pics are a Blue tit..

Second set of shots are a Robin..

And now the main reason that I went to Pennington Flash which was to photograph Bullfinch as I haven't got that shot that I really want, and still haven't, great excuse to go back again on a nicer day.

Other birds seen today where Magpie (pic below), Greenfinch (pic below) and Marsh Tit which to the best of my ability I just couldn't get a photo, I do have a nice set of twig photos if anyones interested :)

All photo's taken with Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm

You can click on any image to view the whole set in lightbox.

Hope you liked the photo's.

Mike.

Siskins return

A nice surprise this weekend.

On Friday my wife spotted a Siskin on the feeders, just the one so I didn't think much of it, but then Saturday we had anything between 4 and 10 on the feeders at any one time.

We haven't had Siskins for about 2 years now in these numbers and I hope they stick around for a few days more.

Here are the first couple of shots I got:

The other birds seen where Robin, Great & Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Goldfinch shown below:

Blue Tits are always great for a nice pic:

I will be so glad when we get a bit of decent light, as you can tell from these shots its still pretty dull at the moment.

I have also booked a break to the Carngorms which I can't wait for as I am determined to see and photograph a Crested Tit.

Hope you like the pics.

Mike.

Sky Lark

Another first...

I recently visited a relatively new RSPB site not far from the river Ribble called Hesketh Out Marsh, probably the wrong time of year to see a great deal of birds, but one that I did see I have wanted to photograph for a while.

Although still quite far off this is the closest I have been to a Sky Lark.

The next two images where the best from the bunch and still heavily cropped, but for a first I am pleased with them.


Hesketh Out Marsh will definitely be one to visit during Autumn and into the colder months.

Finally a Juv. Blue tit from my garden and apart from Juv Coaltit, Bluetits are one of my favourites.

All photos taken with Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm

I would love to say that I meant to take the Bluetit shot, but it was one of those nice surprises when the images came up on screen.

Hope you liked the shots.

Until next time.

Mike.

Nice light

I honestly didn't think I would get chance to post this weekend, one I have been working and two it is unbelievably dull at the moment, however just around 2.30 the sun came out.

Being really low in the sky still isn't the best but can sometimes like today give a really nice golden light.

I managed to get a few shots of my garden visitors before it started to go dull again.

Here are the shots I managed. First shot is a Bluetit.

Secondly a Goldfinch.

And finally a Nuthatch, we have had a pair coming and going all day.

All photos taken with a Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm

Nothing like the numbers of birds visiting which we have had in previous years, but theres still plenty of time.

Still no sightings of Waxwings locally :(

Mike.

Back to birding

Well it looks as though its back to birding and photographing birds as we come to the colder months (Yey!!!).

I haven't had any food out in my garden for a couple of months now (I know that's bad) so I decided to get out and get some seed. I filled the feeders up on Thursday and so far the visits to my feeders have been pretty good.

I have a good number of Goldfinch which have returned, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit and one of my favourite birds which I haven't seen around for a while a Nuthatch.

I sat in my conservatory this morning for a couple of hours and here are some of the shots I got.

Firstly a Blue tit.

Secondly a Goldfinch.

And finally my favourite of all garden visitors a Nuthatch, I took quite a few shots of the 2 birds which where around, these where the best of the bunch.

MORE IMAGES, CLICK TO ENLARGE

(All photos taken with Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm @ around 400mm)

Hope you liked the pics and hope there will be plenty more to come.

Mike.

Juv. Blue Tit

Here's some shots from this afternoon, the Juv. Blue Tits are by far my favourite.

I spent a good few hours hanging out of my conservatory window waiting for the Blue Tits to finally come down to the feeders, I have still only seen 2 so far though and still no Coal Tits.

I tried to get both birds together on the same branch, but whenever they got close to each other they decided to start a chase instead, until I put my camera away that is :) oh well I can keep trying.. Here's some of the pics I got.

Photos taken with Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm @ 420mm

Hope you liked the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them and fingers crossed more will show up eventually.

My next post will be back on the macro trail, i'm addicted...

Mike.

Flash birds

This post is about 7 days later than I would have liked to have posted it, but unfortunately I have been struck down by some sort of flu bug, which as wiped me off my feet and I haven't even done Septembers pic of the month.

So I apologies for not leaving any comments lately I just haven't been up to it.

So anyway now I'm feeling a bit better here are a few pics from Pennington Flash, this time showing the birds they have there.

1.) Chaffinch, 2.) Little Grebe, 3.) Bluetit.


Now I am sure I will get the ID wrong here, but the following bird is either a Marsh Tit or a Willow Tit, but according to my book and the bird not having a glossy head I will go for Willow Tit, a first for me so I was quite happy to snap it, even though they are possibly the quickest birds I have tried to catch.

Hope you liked the shots.

I have also been working for a while now on a new gallery site as my previous sites subscription was up, then I thought well blogger is free so I will see what I can do with that so here it is GALLERY you can also visit via the drop down menus above.

Hope you liked the pics and my new gallery.

Mike.

Dull garden

Well so far today the gardens been pretty dull, one minute the suns out then a down pour straight after and overcast.

The first shot was taken this morning and couldn't catch this little fella (Blue Tit) looking at the camera or in my direction, so this was the best of the bunch I'm afraid.

The second shot is a Great tit, I don't have many shot of these birds as they are so fast on and off my feeders, hope you like them.

You can see more of my Bluetits etc HERE.

Photos taken 06/07/2008.

Bluetit young.

Well the young around here at the moment are really making me work for my photos, they are on and off the feeders quicker than I can open my window to try and photograph them and they seem to know when I'm waiting there for them.

I did manage after work today to catch a young Bluetit and a fly it would appear, I just love the dark eye line on the young and they are more yellow than the adults which is really nice.


I couldn't leave the adult out especially when they will pose like this one did.

And this Greenfinch came to my favourite perch.

I keep missing the Woodpecker and Greenfinch young so fingers crossed I will photograph them.

All photos taken 20/06/08.

Bluetit

Just the one shot taken this morning, I wasn't going to post it but it looked so nice.

So here you are... shame about the twig on the left of the photo, but never mind.Photo taken 10/06/2008.

Back in my garden

I was convinced yesterday that we where going to have newly fledged Bluetit chicks in my garden, mum & dad where all over the place taking food back to my nest box.

It never happened and there's still no sign today yet, but surely it can't be long now.

There 1st 3 shots are the parents and considering what they are doing at the moment aren't looking too bad, they normally look a lot worse around this time.

Here's the culprit why all my seeds keep disappearing, but you can't hide from me.And this fly caught my eye, with its shiny green colour.

All photos taken 31/05/2008.

Garden & Drive

The first couple of shots where taken on my lunch today, I popped home and got the camera out determined to see the Blackcap, but no joy.

I was pleased though to get the Dunnock in the first photo, I think this is the first one not to over expose.
Second set of shots are of a lonely Wheatear my wife spotted whilst driving across Plex Moss this evening, we also saw something in the region of 40 Whimbrel and Curlew all mixed together, but where sadly too far away to get any shot.

All photos taken 29/04/2008