Birds of the British Isles
Barn Owl (Tyto alba) can spend a lot of time hunting from fence posts to conserve energy. With eye to eye contact, I felt a special connection here and without getting to close, the owl was comfortable in my presence. I eventually backed away as the owl continued to listen for voles.
Being mainly nocturnal, barn owls can be difficult to photograph in daylight and for many years I've wanted a worthy photo, eventually my patience paid off. This is the same owl as my previous photo and is probably a female denoted by the dark spots underneath it's wings.
Homing in on a vole
This image was taken soon after sunrise and in perfect light.
It's nice to see some backlighting through the wing feathers.
Hunting Barn Owl
To me, the Barn Owl is one of our most special birds, hunting silently over rough grassland listening for the sound of a vole.
Barn Owl hunting over reeds.
Short Eared Owl hunting for voles
Short Eared Owl, hunting for voles
It's always a pleasure to Short Eared Owls hunting in daylight.
We have seen a large influx of Short Eared Owls into the Eastern Coastal areas of Britain during November 2023. On one occasion five were visible to me at the same time.
Close up and eye to eye contact with a short eared owl
Composite image of a short eared owl as it dives for prey.
Nuthatch
Nuthatch, photo from our garden
Nuthatch with attitude, this is a typical pose for these little birds.
Nuthatch
Reed Warbler
Reed Warbler
A large flock of Widgeon on Elmley Marsh. This image was taken well before sunrise and without too much light. By reducing my shutter speed to 40th second, the birds become almost a blur but still recognisable.
Yellowhammer
Siskin
Great Tit on Catkins.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Crested Grebe.
Coal Tit with reflection.
Male Chaffinch on flowering gorse.
Blue tit reflection
Bearded Tit (or Reedling).
Red Tailed, once one of the most endangered birds of prey in the UK after being hunted to near extinction by the early 20th century, a successful breeding programme has seen numbers steadily climb.
Male Kestral, denoted by the grey head, whereas the females head is plain.
Kingfisher returns to a perch.
Female Kingfisher with a 'speared' catch.
Female Kingfisher, I photographed this early one morning as a shaft of sunlight illuminated the bird.
Male Kingfisher alights to a perch with a well earned meal.
Goldfinch, these delightful little birds were all photographed from a hide in my back garden. I used carefully placed perches located near to a feeder and with a little patience got some nice images.
Goldfinch on sloe berries
Goldfinch
Golfinches on thistle heads
Goldfinches on Teasels.
Goldfinch
We are fortunate to sometimes have flocks of Goldfinches visit our garden resulting in occasional battles.
Gannets fighting over a fish. These remarkable birds can spot fish several metres below the surface and can hit the water at around 60mph.
Gannets, this image was taken in May 2023. Fortunately this pair is recovering from Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) which has ravaged bird colonies throughout the UK. Traces of which can still be seen in the eyes.
Nest Building
Returning to the nest with building material, Interestingly, Gannets mate for life and renew their bond at breeding time.
High Key image, by over exposing my camera the cloudy sky turns almost white and allows details in feathers.
Male Gannet bearing gifts, note that he has the remains of Avian Flu as shown in his eye.
Low evening sun lighting up the underside of wings as this Gannet make a final approach.
Bempton Cliffs and a Puffin takes to the air.
Puffins spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land to rear one puffling which is incubated in a burrow.