Recent images

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First-winter male Snow Bunting (nominate nivalis), Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire (28th December 2011).

First-winter Snow Bunting (nominate nivalis), Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire (28th December 2011).

A Happy Christmas to all.

Snow Bunting, Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire (18th December 2011).

Male Bearded Tit, Cley, Norfolk (2nd December 2011).

Roe Deer, Burwell, Cambridgeshire (6th November 2011).

Juvenile Upland Sandpiper, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (16th October 2011).

Black Kite, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (16th October 2011).

Black Kites, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (16th October 2011).

Lesser Yellowlegs, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (15th October 2011).

Daurian Shrike, Brake, Shetland (6th October 2011).   Click here for more Shetland images.

Citrine Wagtail, Boddam, Shetland (4th October 2011).   Click here for more Citrine Wagtail images.

Citrine Wagtail, Boddam, Shetland (4th October 2011).

Adult Sabine's Gull, Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire (17th September 2011).

Adult Sabine's Gull, Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire (17th September 2011).

White-rumped Sandpiper, Snettisham, Norfolk (3rd August 2011).

White-letter Hairstreak, Suffolk (10th July 2011).

Grey Partridge, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (1st July 2011).

Stock Dove, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (12th June 2011).

Female White-throated Robin, Hartlepool, Cleveland (9th June 2011).

Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (6th June 2011).

Turtle Dove, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (14th May 2011).

Peregrine, Lancashire (21st April 2011).

Langdale Pikes at dusk, Cumbria (20th April 2011).

Setting sun behind Poplar trees, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (28th March 2011).

Brown Hare in frost, Norfolk (8th February 2011).

Brown Hares chasing in frost, Norfolk (8th February 2011).

Male Barn Owl, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (27th February 2011).   On another image taken in the same series as this one several numbers can be read from the metal ring on this bird.

Barn Owl Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (12th February 2011)

Barn Owl Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (12th February 2011)

Barn Owl Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (12th February 2011)

Grey Partridge, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (12th February 2011)

Immature Otter, Lake Windermere, Cumbria (2nd January 2011)   This was by far my best ever view of a WILD Otter!   Although, the image was taken in taken in poor light the result is very acceptable (600mm lens, 1/500 second, f4, ISO 640).   Note that the image has not been cropped.

Waxwing, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (27th December 2010)   A real thrill to find some Waxwings in our village.   This is the year to do it!

Waxwing, Stretham, Cambridgeshire (25th December 2010)   At last some local Waxwings.

Waxwing, Stretham, Cambridgeshire (25th December 2010).

A Happy Christmas to all visitors.   A particular welcome to anyone who was aboard the 'Akademik Sergey Vavilov' with me on a trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula during November and early December.   I've made a start on processing the many hundreds (probably thousands) of images that I took during the trip and I'll add links to more images as and when they are available.   click here for some initial Antarctica images.

Song Thrush, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (23rd October 2010).   Click here for more Scilly images.

Flock of Starlings at dusk, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire (16th October 2010).

Alder Flycatcher, Blakeney Point, Norfolk (25th September 2010).   A record shot taken in dreadful conditions (1000 ASA, 1/125 second).   The walk out to the Point was horrendous and the walk back wasn't much better.

First-winter Knot, Snettisham, Norfolk (12th September 2010).

Male Redstart, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (11th September 2010).

Female Holly Blue, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (8th August 2010).

White-letter Hairstreak, nectaring on bramble, Suffolk (17th July 2010).

Male Purple Emperor, obtaining salts from old jacket, Suffolk (15th July 2010).

Female Large Blue, Collard Hill, Somerset (27th June 2010).

A very pregnant female Common Seal, Cambridgeshire (20th June 2010).   Click here for more Common Seal images.

Glossy Ibis, Lesvos, Greece (May 2010).   Click here for more Lesvos images.

Tawny Owl, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (16th April 2010).

Pallid Swift, Kessingland, Suffolk (3rd April 2010).   A record shot of an interesting bird.

Muntjac Deer, Cambridgeshire (8th March 2010).

Adult Bewick's Swan, Welney, Norfolk (22nd December 2009).

Grey Seal pup, Lincolnshire (5th December 2009).   Click here for more Grey Seal images.

Male Grey Seals fighting, Lincolnshire (5th December 2009).

Adult Whooper Swan, Welney WWT, Norfolk (22nd November 2009).

Male Red-crested Pochard, St Ives, Cambridgeshire (15th November 2009).   The result of a duck feeding trip with Oliver!

Song Thrush bathing, St Marys, Scilly (20th October 2009).

First-winter Water Rail, Minsmere, Suffolk (11th October 2009).

Glossy Ibises, Sutton, Cambridgeshire (12th September 2009).   This flock of 7 was part of the recent influx into the UK.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, Norfolk (29th August 2009).

Redshank with worm (or with a large tongue!), Snettisham, Norfolk (22nd August 2009).

Female Common Lizard, Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire (9th July 2009).

Juvenile Little Owl, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (6th July 2009).   Click here for more Little Owl images.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (1st June 2009).   Click here for more Broad-bodied Chaser images.

Black-headed Gull, Dunwich, Suffolk (24th May 2009).   Back to reality!

Male Black-headed Bunting, Lesvos, Greece (May 2009).   Click here for more Lesvos images.

Collared Dove, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (April 2009).

Red Squirrel, Cumbria (29th March 2009).   Click here for more Red Squirrel images.

Female Reed Bunting, Cambridgeshire (22nd March 2009).

Common Frog, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (16th March 2009).

Paul Mason next to a 'Bog Oak', Haddenham, Cambridgeshire (28th February 2009).   This tree was one of 50 exposed in this recently ploughed field.   The event was covered by national radio and TV.

Fieldfare, Haddenham, Cambridgeshire (14th February 2009).   Click here for more Fieldfare images.

Fieldfare, Haddenham, Cambridgeshire (14th February 2009).

Adult Whooper Swan coming in to land, Welney, Norfolk (29th December 2008).

Female Green Woodpecker, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (27th December 2008).   This bird was photographed early on a frosty morning and had been attracted to an apple wedged into a fork in an apple tree.

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (December 2008).   This image was taken while attempting to photograph smaller visitors to our feeders.   It was impossible to fit the entire bird in the frame.   Suprisingly, it was more relaxed at the sound of the camera shutter than Blue and Great Tits.

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (25th October 2008).   This individual was thought for a time to be a Brown Shrike.   Click here for more images.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Sumburgh, Shetland.   Click here for more Shetland images.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Levenwick, Shetland.

Pied Flycatcher, Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (September 2008).

Small Copper in the garden, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (20th September 2008).

Juvenile Dotterel, Landguard, Suffolk (14th September 2008).

Red Admiral nectaring on buddleia, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (2nd August 2008).

Male White Admiral on Hazel leaf, Northamptonshire (20th July 2008).

Recently fledged Spotted Flycatchers, Cambridgeshire (24th June 2008).   Sadly, I seem to see fewer Spot Flys with each year.   Click here for more flycatcher images.

Teneral male Scarce Chaser, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire (15th June 2008).   This is one species in which the female and teneral male are more striking than the adult male.

Grass Snake, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (31st May 2008).   Discovering this snake in our pond this morning was a real thrill.   It easily matched the recent excitements in Finland.

Red-throated Diver, Oulu, Finland (May 2008).

Young Brown Bear (2 year old), Finland (May, 2008).

Brown Bears sparring (a 5 year old and a 2 year old), Finland (May, 2008).   More images to follow soon!

Male Reed Bunting perched on old reed mace stem, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (May 2008).

Barn Owl hunting in evening light, Cambridgeshire (3rd May 2008).

Adult Tawny Owl at dusk, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (20th April 2008).

Juvenile Tawny Owl, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (19th April 2008).

Juvenile Rabbit, Science Park, Cambridge (10th April 2008).

Male Peregrine, Dorset (April 2008).   This bird is flying flat out in level flight   A good test of the camera's AI auto focus.

Osprey in-off the sea, Portland, Dorset (April 2008).   What a fantastic sight to see an Osprey on migration.   It sent the local Herring Gulls wild.

Male Indian Peafowl or Peacock, Brownsea Island, Dorset (31st March 2008).   This bird was displaying amongst tables in the restaurant garden; incongruous but impressive.   It was one of 15+ free ranging birds including 9 causing havoc in the restaurant garden.   It took a group of National Trust staff to evict them.

Robin, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (23rd March 2008).   With the snow falling one of our garden Robins obligingly played the part.   Looks like the card design for next Christmas is sorted.

Barn Owl, Cambridgeshire (22nd March 2008).   This unusually confiding individual was not bothered by my car and allowed a close approach.   The appearance of some late evening sunshine was a real bonus.

Male Yellowhammer, Witcham, Cambridgeshire, England (15th March 2008).

White-crowned Sparrow, Cley, Norfolk (10th February 2008).

Lapland Bunting, Salthouse, Norfolk (2nd February 2008).

First-winter Grey Phalarope, Waxham, Norfolk (27th January 2008).

Male Pochard, Welney, Norfolk (29th December 2007).

A peaceful Christmas and happy New Year to all.

Fieldfare in the frost, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (23rd December 2007).   One or two Fieldfare and up to 20 Blackbrids have been feeding on windfall apples in our garden over the past few weeks.

Grey Seal pup, Norfolk (December 2007).

Desert Wheatear (first-winter male), Horsey, Norfolk (1st December 2007).   Click here for more Desert Wheatear images.

5 Bewick's and 2 Whooper Swans, Cambridgeshire (12th November 2007).

Blackpoll Warbler (first winter), St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (20th October 2007).   Click here for more Blackpoll images.

Red-flanked Bluetail, Mainland, Shetland (October 2007).   Click here for more Shetland images.

Bathing Knot, Snettisham, Norfolk (30th September 2007).   Click here for more Knot images.

Juvenile Long-tailed Skua, Shelford, Nottinghamshire (September 2007).   Click here for more skua images.

Green Sandpiper, Cambridgeshire (15th September 2007).

Lapwing (1CY), Cambridgeshire (11th September 2007). Click here for more Lapwing images.

Lapwing (1CY), Cambridgeshire (6th September 2007).

Female Mallard with ducklings, Chester, Cheshire (5th August 2007).   Click here for some images from Chester Zoo that were taken later in the morning for my nephew.   Jack, I hope that you like them.

Anse Severe, La Digue, Seychelles (July 2007).   Click here for more images.

Seychelles Magpie Robin, Cousin, Seychelles (July 2007).

Male Purple Emperor, Northamptonshire (8th July 2007).   Click here for more images.

Laughing Gull (3CY), Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire (24th June 2007).   A record shot of what is only the second record for the county.

Pair of Azure Damselflies, garden pond, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (9th June 2007).

Male Broad-bodied Chaser, garden pond, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (9th June 2007).   A small reward for constructing the pond.

Barn Owl at window of farm building, Cambridgeshire (1st June 2007).

Hedgehog eating cat food, Martlesham, Suffolk (May 2007).   Thanks to James and Jenny for the opportunity to photograph their Hedgehogs and to Jazz for supplying the cat food.

Nightingale, Cambridgeshire (22nd April 2007).

Red Squirrel, Cumbria (6th April 2007).   It took several frustrating hours before I managed to take any images that I was pleased with.   They are so fast!   Click here for more images.

Male Mandarin Duck, New Forest, Hampshire (April 2007).   Click here for more images.

Brown Hare in evening light, Norfolk (25th March 2007).

American Herring Gull (5th CY), Galway, Co. Galway (March 2007).   Click here for more gull images.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Thornham, Norfolk (3rd February 2007).   Much better results on this second visit.   Mud still as sticky as ever.

Pacific Diver, Farnham Gravel Pits, North Yorkshire (1st February 2007).

Male Pochard in flight, Welney, Norfolk (20th January 2007).

Female hybrid Aythya (possibly Tufted Duck x Scaup), Welney, Norfolk (20th January 2007).

Whooper Swan, Welney, Norfolk (20th January 2007).

Lesser Yellowlegs, Thornham, Norfolk (14th January 2007).   A very obliging individual which on several occasions came to within 6 feet.   Despite this I don't think that I did it justice.   The visit was also memorable for the sticky mud.   At one point I had to be hauled out of the mud, minus a welly, by Dave and Tim.   Click here for more images.

Red Squirrel, Cumbria (30th December 2006).   It is always great to see these animals at close quarters even if conditions are not ideal for photography.   These record shots were taken in light rain and dreadful light in between heavy showers.   The next challenge is to photograph one away from a feeder.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (17th December 2006).   Our regular visitor to the garden in a more natural setting.

Setting sun, Welney Bridge, Norfolk (December 2006).

Male Mute Swan, Welney, Norfolk (3rd December 2006).

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (2nd December 2006).   Click here for more images.

Long-billed Murrelet, Dawlish, Devon (13th November 2006).   An odd looking bird and a quite extraordinary record.   This is the first time this species has been recorded in Britain and is only the second record for Europe.   Click here for more images.

Whooper Swans in flight, Welney, Norfolk (11th November 2006), against a stormy sky.   You can see mud on their bills, from the field where they had just been feeding.

Little Auk, Snettisham, Norfolk (5th November 2006).   I was hoping to take something better than this standard portrait where the auk looks very like a child's bath toy.   This individual was part of a large influx along the east coast.   Sadly, many must have perished like the one that was found in a fish pond at the RSPB's headquarters at The Lodge.   Click here for more images.

Red-flanked Bluetail, Thorpeness, Suffolk (21st October 2006).  As always a delightful bird to see.   However, it was difficult to photograph as it was always on the move and often in deep shade or high in the canopy.   A lower angle would have been preferable, but I was fortunate to obtain an image at all.   Click here for more images.

American Golden Plover, Tresco, Scilly (October 2006).   This confiding individual was photographed in very windy conditions and spent most of its time hunkered down amongst the heather.   Click here for more images.

Red-backed Shrike, Stiffkey Fen, Norfolk (October 2006).   Click here for more Red-backed Shrike images.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire (September 2006)

Kingfisher, Norfolk (10th September 2006)   Technical details : 600 mm, f 8.0, 1/500 sec, ISO 200.   Click here for more Kingfisher images.

Swallow, St Agnes, Scilly (August 2006)   Technical details : 180 mm, f 7.1, 1/250 sec, ISO 200, fill-in flash.

Male Purple Emperor, Northamptonshire (July 2006)

Polar Bear, Spitsbergen (June 2006).   This 'arty' image was created by cropping a small area from what was a record shot of a distant Polar Bear and manipulating it in PhotoShop.   Click here for more Spitsbergen images.

Swallowtail, nectaring on Sweet William, Strumpshaw RSPB reserve, Norfolk (18th June 2006).   Technical details : 100 mm, f 8, 1/250 sec, fill-in flash.   This was the first time that I had seen this species nectaring and I was surprised to see that this individual fluttered its wings rapidly, almost continuously, like a moth.

Blackbird singing at dusk, Aldreth, Cambridgeshire (25th May 2006).   Taken shortly after moving house.

Stock Dove, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire (23rd April 2006).   A very attractive bird particularly when seen close-up.   Click here for more Stock Dove images.

Barn Owl ('Sparky', captive), Muncaster Castle, Cumbria (16th April 2006).   I don't like to see birds in captivity, let alone photograph them, but made an exception for this backlit Barn Owl.

Solar eclipse at the end of totality showing the diamond ring effect, Side, Turkey (29th March 2006).   At last, the full experience after the bitter disappointment of Cornwall in August 1999.   Never has 3.5 minutes passed so quickly.   Click here for more solar eclipse images.  Click here for other images from Turkey.

Brambling (female), Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire (4th March 2006).

Iceland Gull (2CY), Killybegs, Co. Donegal (19th February 2006).   Click here for more gull images.

Tree Sparrow, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire (28th January 2006).

Goldfinch, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire (21st January 2006).

Mediterranean Gull (3CY), Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (15th January 2006).   Click here for more Med Gulls.

Fence and reflection in an ice-fringed Blea Tarn, Great Langdale, Cumbria (1st January 2006).   Click here for more wintery images.