'British Birds'

Front Cover - February 2011

I have just received my February copy of 'British Birds' and was really thrilled to see my Long-eared Owl, taken on Fair Isle during October 2010 on the front cover! I have been busy of late producing work for a forthcoming exhibition (Sea Pictures Gallery, Suffolk) as well as 2 large photographic commissions based on Shetland. I have also been bird ringing locally with Phil and we have had a good success rate catching Redpolls with approx 100 birds caught since the new year. This year a good mix of Mealies and Lessers as well as a few British controls. Phil also ringed 5 Waxwings from a flock of 50+ in Melton.

Arctic Dip . . .

I have managed to dip the Arctic Redpoll which has been showing on & off at the Haa & Utra on several occasions including this afternoon. In the face of defeat I concentrated on other key Fair Isle species including a perky Fair Isle Wren & more Mealy & Lesser Redpolls . Today saw the departure of our quiz master extraordinaire friend Martin & the Obs is now housing but a handful of birders, mainly staff & past ex-staff clinging onto a hopeful repeat of 2004 . . . . ;-) the autumn is surely not yet over . . . .

Fair Isle - Autumn 2010

'Spring Ash in the Air' 18.04.10

The last couple of weeks saw the departure of the last of the Lesser Redpolls at our local feeding station & the start of some serious nest finding sessions both locally and at Wicken Fen. Having been ill for the last few weeks with a flu type bug and chest infection, time out in the field has been sporadic to say the least! However I did get my first Wheatear (2) & Swallow (1) on the 4th April at Landguard, along with 2 fabulous Firecrest bathing in small puddle just before dusk. My first Sand Martins (2) and a Sedge Warbler (1) were on the 8th at Martlesham Creek. On the 7th April Phil had 2 Great-white Egrets over the car near the BT Building in Martlesham on the way home from work! I have also been photographing early spring insects . . . .

Catkin Action . . .more stock images taken at my Suffolk feeding station today before lunch when the rain and mist set in. 12+ Lesser Redpoll present still (several unringed and a very interesting control!) along with the usual suspects, Blue, Great and Coal Tit. I really love photographing these Redpoll's. Can't wait to get back up to Shetland in 2010 for some Mealy's to add to my growing Redpoll image collection . . . .

Weekend 'Cabaret' . . .

Spent more time at the feeding station over the weekend but the weather has not been the best for photography with dark skies and intermittent rain. The Lesser Redpolls are still present in smaller numbers (6+) as are the pair of Siskin and good numbers of Coal, Blue and Great Tit.

Arctic Conditions bring in the Redpolls . . .Suffolk

Over the past week or so there have been a number of Lesser Redpoll visiting my local feeding/ringing station, an exciting new arrival and a much wanted one photographically! 20 or so have now been ringed and 2 birds caught were British controls so we look forward to hearing where these birds were first ringed. I do not think I have ever been so cold in my hide as today and the subzero wind off the estuary was bitter and very strong. However, the couple of hours I managed this morning paid off handsomely and I returned home upbeat and keen to return in less breezy conditions in the morning for more Redpoll shots and to try for more Siskin which have also started to arrive . . . .