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UK Bird Pics Spring/Summer 2015

  Black Tern Black Tern, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire

19 September 2015

I went to Slimbridge for the Purple Heron which unfortunately didn't appear (my second twitching dip in a row!), but this bird was some compensation.

It was a most frustrating subject for photography -with its incredibly fast and erratic flight path combined with the restricted movement possible when sticking a large lens through a narrow hide window. Also most of the time the bird was against trees on which the auto focus would immediately lock!

When it came closer it was just too fast for me!

These two shots were the best I could manage.
Black Tern Black Tern, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire

19 September 2015

See above.
  Red Grouse Red Grouse, Grinton Moor, North Yorkshire

1 September 2015

I've previously had some success at this site using the car as a hide and it worked again today for awhile. Nice to have a bit of sun as well!

Click to enlarge
Red Grouse Red Grouse, Grinton Moor, North Yorkshire

1 September 2015

The flowering heather adds to the colour in these photos.
  Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

A great early morning session at this lek. By now the sun had risen and cleared the clouds on the horizon.

click to enlarge
Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

For this photo, the sun was just starting to make an appearance on the scene.

Click to enlarge
Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

Two birds squaring up.
Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

Near the top of a mound - most of the time they were in the dips between them.
Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

A displaying bird.

Click to enlarge
Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

I think there was another bird between this one and me!
Black Grouse Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

The earliest photo of a close bird, but at ISO 6400 at around sunrise when it was very dark! 
  Mandarin Mandarin, Cannop Ponds, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

At least three pairs were present and they were quite approachable - perhaps more during the week than at weekends?

Click to enlarge
Mandarin Mandarin, Cannop Ponds, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

I was surprised to find one pair emerging from the water and wandering across the path!

Click to enlarge
  Nuthatch Nuthatch, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

Despite close views, these birds were moving very fast and hardly stayed still for a second. This photo benefits from sunshine!
  Blue Tit Blue Tit, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

Posing nicely in an all too brief bright spell!

Click to enlarge
   Hawfinch, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

An early morning start was needed for this one - thanks to Mark (Early Birder) Chivers for this one!
Hawfinch Hawfinch, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

See above. Challenging light conditions for this one!

© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch

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