I've beens setting up a feeding station with photographer friends. It's really paying off during the cold spell we are having. Peanut butter is a firm favourite with all and the nuthatches particularly like peanuts pushed into holes drilled in a stump. Gets a bit cold waiting though.

The light at this time of year is so poor that a little balanced fill-flash is required. The nuthatches seem to love it and pose shamelessly.

Lakeland Red

Found the Lake District closed when I went on my hols this week. Police had closed the roads from the south and had to sneak in via flooded roads in the north. It was worth it though to get photos of Red Squirrels playing chase in the trees. They allowed me and my camera very near and even posed for a portrait.

Make Hay

This friendly Nuthatch must have taken and hidden a huge amount of sunflower seeds during the course of the two hours I watched it. It came every 30 seconds or so, filled up and shoomed off. Make hay while the sun shines!!!

The local kingfisher also put in an appearance so I took its portrait as well.

A Dull Day Brightened

Twas a dull, dull day. One of those drizzly, overcast and windy days you get in autumn. Poor light for photographers.

Then along came a party of Long-Tailed Tits to the feeders in the garden and out came my long lens. Fill-flash did not bother them, they were too busy fighting the Blue Tits for a place at the fatball. Managed to get a portrait of one of them despite the weather. They made my day.

Egret Time

4 Little Egrets at Old Moor now, they went up to 13 last year! This individual liked catching sticklebacks and was very good at it.

Hard Work

The birds were not in a co-operative mood today. Dull and overcast with a horrid scum on the water, I don't blame them. Got an interesting pic of the Kingfisher and another of an obliging juvenile Little Grebe.

Deli Wrap

Doing the garden, I noticed a female Garden spider really getting it on with local fly population, so out came the macro gear. She was spoilt for choice in takeway food. She caught and wrapped a wasp and then went on to catch and feed on a hapless housefly.

The pics were taken at 60th sec at F22 on a Nikon D2Xs and 105mm macro VR lens with balanced fill flash - if you're interested.

Shanks for the memory

Not a lot about at Blacktoft RSPB near Goole. Another dull day with occasional highlights, such as this Redshank. Fill flash had to be used but waders are never bothered by it and the bird continued to feed ravenously.

Feed me Mummy

A late Great Crested Grebe chick was ravenous today at Bretton Park. The parents could not catch fish fast enough.

Ah Grasshopper, you have much to learn

There I was, sat on the lawn when a gang of grasshoppers moved in from the fields behind the house. One was a real Star, climbing up the flowers to bask in what little sunshine was to be had. He loved having his picture taken.

Disgruntled Kingfisher

A very muddy day at Bretton Park after the rains. The river and lakes were a milk chocolate colour and very unfriendly for kingfishers to go hunting. This adult looked so forlorn on her perch, trying to look into the muddy water for fish. She must have had a good meal yesterday as she promptly regurgitated a large bolus of undigested fish bones.

Don't Badger Me

Late nights and loads of peanuts were needed to get these badger pics. This is a youngster who allowed me to take his portrait. He was totally obsessed by the nuts I put out for him and left the sett early to be first there, except when it rained. He did not like the rain at all. The sound of him crunching the nuts was sooooo loud. I felt really chuffed to be allowed to come so close to a superb animal as this in his own environment. Long live fieldcraft.

For the teccies amonst you, the photos were taken using a 105mm macro lens, Nikon D2Xs and SB800 flash. He was not bothered in the slightest by the flash but I had to keep still. Any sideways movement or sharp sound was a no-no but he took no notice of the camera shutter.

Hot foot to a Red-footed Falcon

A phone call from a friend alerted me that a Red-footed Falcon was at Pugneys Country Park in Wakefield. I hot-footed it down there and, sure enough, there was the falcon flying around above the reserve lake hunting dragonflies.

I got the camera out and spent a deal of time trying to capture this speedy little bullet as it hawked above the willows. One hour and a very stiff neck later, I had managed a couple of 'keepers'.

What a stunner the bird was.

Sparrowhawk Ahoy

Had a visit to the garden from our local Sparrowhawk. Chased and lost a Goldfinch and went to sulk in top of one of the birdtables. Grabbed a shot from the bedroom window.

Waxwing wonderland

Who would think Waxwings would set up winter quarters near Ikea and a petfood factory. Photographed these 2 stunners gorging on 'Sorbus' berries between Batley and the M62.

Real eating machines these. 5 berries in and a quick evacuate and 5 berries more, every couple of minutes for the three hours I studied them. Making quiet calls to each other continually, they were quite confiding and gave all who stopped by a spectacular show.

The light was terrible and the wind was as strong as a strong thing . The pics took some getting as the birds spent a lot of time in the middle of the tree with no clear views. Eventually, patience won and I got a few good images.

The Security guard at the Mars petfood factory came over and asked what the birds were. Apparently he had seen them for a couple of weeks around the factory and was surprised when I told him they were Scandinavian waifs seeking shelter from the cold.

A Bit of a Blow

What a windy day. Went to Newmillerdam for a walk round. Branches falling everywhere. One even hit a couple a glancing blow as it fell. Kept my eye on the old oak trees as I passed under....quickly!!!

In a little pocket of calm, a family of Long-Tailed Tits were feeding on the oak trees. Gave me a chance to photograph them. Had to keep hold of the camera and tripod at all times as the wind was vicious.

Called in at Bretton Park on the way home. A greedy magpie stuffed himself at the feeding station, taking all the goodies away to hide and coming back for seconds!! Very clever birds.

Tried out a new bigger beanbag for the camera today. It took nearly 8lb of birdseed to fill it! After years of using a 4x4 as a portable hide I've gone greener and bought a smaller car. Not as easy to use as a hide but I can get the tripod up inside-just. Easier to use the beanbag but the old one was too low, hence the new one.

Went to the local RSPB meeting last night - Geoff Trinder talking about his beloved Lincolnshire wildlife. The conservation work he has done is legendary.

Grebe gourmet

What miserable weather. Even the wildfowl at Pugneys CP are hunkered down and trying to sleep through it.

This hungry GC Grebe seemed to be getting a lot of fish in front of the hide. It averaged one fish every three dives.

Potteric Portraits

At last, a lovely sunny day at Potteric. Spent some time getting portraits of some of my favourite birds and watching for the reported redpolls in the area. Nice to be out on such a nice day.

Pugneys pugilist and RIP pike

Pugneys CP was the venue for 10 rounds between rival coot. Lots of low punches and kicking. It's amazing how violent the coot are at the moment. They have paired up and are copulating already and defending territory against all comers.

An industrious cormorant caught a pike tail first so it threw it up in the air and caught it head first to swallow.

Siskin surprise

Had a fantastic surprise yesterday. After a gap of 3 years, Siskin appeared in my garden. Well chuffed!!. I spent two very cold hours in my hide to get a good pic of the little stunners and managed a bonus Coal Tit as well. The Siskin loved the sunflower hearts and Niger seed especially. Remind me to make up a flask next time, and take a blanket, and a water bottle and ...................

Titivation

At Potteric today there was that most rare of species - the sun!! Spent ages looking for the Lesser Pecker but had to settle for Siskin and Water Rail.

The Great and Blue Tits were disporting themselves in the car park and begged to have their portrait taken.

Bittern a Tench

Another trip to Potteric resulted in 3 Bitterns showing from the same hide!.



One obligingly posed and then went off hunting. It caught a small perch and then a much bigger Tench. It had trouble swallowing the fish and repeatedly shook its head and neck from side to side while trying to swallow it.

They are such enigmatic birds and draw a great number of admirers. I have been told they breed in Holland and come here to overwinter. The Wildlife Trust (Yorkshire) is trying everything to make them stay to breed.

On the Rails

I love Potteric Carr - no dogs!! As a wildlife photographer, they are an annoyance. Owners let their dogs 'run free' and off they go chasing birds and weeing up against my bag hide with me sat in it!!! Urgh!

The feeding station at Potteric is a worthwhile place to spend a few minutes. You never know what will appear. This peanut-eating water rail kept coming back for more but was put off a bit by some of the other residents.