Snettisham.Norfolk.1st February 2010.

The only decent weather wise day to be fore casted over my days off work and so I headed to Snettisham, mainly to try and photograph the 2 shore larks there, but also the waders which I love to work with.

The tide was in on arrival, half hour behind due to a 40mph lorry-cheers, and quite choppy. I hadn't seen it in this far for a while and the waders were swarming everywhere, albeit further up the wash and over towards Lincs'. But still a great sight no matter how far away. Also did I say it was a bit chilly,no, well it was bloody chilly. Having to have my shutter finger free using mitts wasn't great, even with thermal liners. At one stage my nose actually hurt from the cold, must remember the scarf, you fool...

A merganser was busily hunting fish on the first pool and showed reasonably well, when it was above the water that is.

I never tire of waders and they always become obliging once you've taken your time to approach and work with slowly. Knots are so good to work with and one particular bird could of been a pet on a leash, it shadowed me along the waters edge at times so close I could not focus, but a wonderful experience and everything else around you just fades away to the sidelines.

All the while there I had of course kept an eye out for the shore larks, I came across them just the once and they soon flitted back along towards the chalets out of sight. But after a few hours working the same stretch, a birder gave me the nod and declared 'shore lark', in fact they were closer to me than him, I just couldn't pick them out.

And then they move and you are able to follow them. There were a few birders present so not wanting to put them both up I fired off a couple of record shots and then waited some time until a few of the birders had moved on before slowly edging closer to a more visible area. With the light behind me I inched closer and still feeding one bird actually came closer to me. Obtaining a decent set of images I left them to it. Happy with my first set of shore lark images in the bag, I was feeling a tad warmer now.

Stotfold.Bedfordshire.January 2010.

The large group of Corn Buntings, over 700, were drawing in people so I thought I should add to the list. The birds were split into quite a few groups, and actively feeding whilst some groups were happy to rest up in the trees and bushes. The noise was very evident, and the yellowhammers too were in good numbers, I don't think Ive seen so many at one time. Also very evident was the Merlin that carried out frequent sorties of the feeding areas, I have never seen such prolonged views of Merlin before and it was amazing watching this agile little predator, the aerial dogfight displays were awesome but on no occasion did I see it connect with a meal. A truly great experience indeed.

Eversholt.Bedfordshire. January 2010.

Took a trip to Eversholt to connect with the group of Goosanders there. On arrival they were all together at the opposite end so I only got a couple of record shots, unfortunately before venturing closer they upped and departed,the police helicopter low and nearby was probably not to their liking, not to return. I then located a large flock of siskin mixed with other species. The group numbered a good couple of hundred, and the noise was very evident even on the opposite side of the lake.

Broom, Bedfordshire. Jan 2010.

I visited Broom in the hope that the weather would break, but no such luck. The Black necked grebe was still present but I was only able to grab a few record shots before it headed out to the middle of the water. I gave it some time to see if it would move closer again but to no avail and so with sodden feet (from flooded track) and freezing hands I called it a day as it got even duller.

Beeston Bird Ringing.January 2010.

Well, a new year and my dad and I were back out with the Beeston ringing group. The weather was good and hopes were high. A decent group of birds were feeding near one set of mist nets with the chance of trapping a first for Beeston. But more of that later.

The green woodpecker in the hand is more spectacular than ever, the different shades of green and that bright red feathering.... stunning.

This male greenfinch exhibited some really bright yellow feathering, giving a lovely contrast on the primary edges, and when the sun shone on it, well it would of looked more at home in a cage acting as a canary!.

Thinking back over the sessions I couldn't recall ever photographing a coal tit so that was a bonus, and I love to see song thrushes, I think they are an underrated bird when it comes to looks, this one was certainly happy to pose too.

While on the subject of underrated, the dunnock must certainly be there, what a lovely little bird they are though, so intricate in the markings. And that brings us nicely onto the 2, yes not 1 but 2 new species to be ringed at Beeston... drum roll and scroll down.

The 1st, an awesome female bullfinch, so elusive in the wild and what a jewel in the hand, everyone was buzzing with this bird. I don't think anyone was bothered it wasn't a male, this was a great addition. The subtle pink tones and distinctive bill... lovely jubbly.

And last but not least.... scroll down.

A lovely delicate looking male linnet, and the 2nd new species to be ringed. The red feathering could be seen on breast and the lovely brown back feathering, well you cant just say brown its more rich to be just brown, especially contrasting with that grey hood. There were a small number seen near one of the netting sites and fingers were crossed from the word "go", how great not to be disappointed. And so to the end of a great morning, Kingfisher on our last visit, 2 new additions today... whatever next?

Bird Ringing at Beeston. November 2009.

I hadn't been able to get to previous bird ringing sessions so I was glad the weather had cleared enabling myself and my dad to attend.

It was definitely a House sparrow day, with a handful trapped and not one had been ringed before which was good news. They look so bull necked when in the hand, and the males are handsome little beasts when close up.

Always a delight to see are Goldcrests, and this one was a re- trap. Tiny and adorable little things.

A few finches were caught, with one stunning Goldfinch and a hand full of Chaffinches with two birds of continental origin. These were told by the longer wing measurements, wonder from where?.

This Blackbird was a surprise in the fact that it was a female, the amount of black in the plumage was uncanny, maybe a foreign bird?.

This Blue tit had found a bird sleeping bag, or was it a Blue tit samosa!.

The Great tit was in absolute spanking condition.

And the grand finale was the last bird ringed, what a stunner this Kingfisher was in the hand. You cannot marvel enough at the colours, one of my favourites for sure. I cant wait for next time to see what turns up.

Norfolk. October 2009.

Mid month Sarah and I spent a few nights in Norfolk for our first anniversary, staying in Blakeney we ranged from cromer to titchwell, enjoying the beach walks. The weather was not too good but on a couple of occasions it brightened up giving me the opportunity of some photography.

I love to work with the waders along the shoreline and with patience and careful stalking I am able to get fairly close, and they soon feel at ease with my presence. I sometimes find it frustrating when people come bounding up to where you are because they think there is something special to see or think that you can just walk right up to the birds as quick as you can and then wonder why they've flow away. After taking 20 minutes to approach just a matter of feet I am well chuffed when that happens, take your time and let the birds get used to you there.

I love to work with Turnstones, after careful approach and some time they become most confiding, feeding just feet from you. And for the first time I was able to get some feeding shots of these busy little birds.

Watching them find small morsels among the sponges was great to watch, amazing how they can pick them out tucked away in the pockets. And when one found food the rest soon came in.

There were a couple of grey plover around but one came close and seemed to be inquisitive as too who I was and would move along behind a mussel bed only to peer over and study me before moving along again stopping to peer over at me further down.

A couple of Eider ducks were hanging around the beds and shoreline, feeding and then resting. They too took little notice of my presence after a short time and came in a channel to feed closer before resting up on the beds. The colour on the adult bird was so pastel like but stunning especially the pale green nape.

Whilst photographing the eider my attention was drawn to a Herring gull feeding nearby. After finding a crab he proceeded to detach the legs before devouring the body meat, careful of those claws mind you.

A fight broke out between two curlew, and although a tad distant I grabbed a couple of images. They would wrap their necks snake like around the other avoiding those large bills.

And the last images captured were of a small party of Dunlin, that flew in just a matter yards away. Myself and Sarah edged closer a couple of footsteps at a time with Sarah directly behind me and mimicking my steps until we could just see a couple of them resting behind a small mussel bed. And here we stayed for some time, with the birds totally at ease sleeping and resting quietly, and a great feeling when more fly in and join them, silently interacting with them as if part of the group.

And with sights such as Hen harrier and snow buntings and a couple of swallows still feeding over the water before that long journey south, we headed home too happy after a glorious weekend.