February 2007
I spent a couple of frosty mornings this month photographing common woodland birds.
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
The feeding station was quite busy, but there wasn't a huge variety. Almost all of the visitors were Blue Tits and Great Tits, but a couple of very fidgety Coal Tits were also regular.
 Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) |
 Coal Tit (Periparus ater) |
Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Great Tit (Parus major)
The variation in breast colour of the Great Tits was quite marked. Most were a bright lemon yellow (above), but a couple of individuals had a very pale, washed out tone to their breast and belly feathers (below).
Great Tit (Parus major)
A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers also put in occassional appearances.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
The local squirrels were also attracted to the feeders and made a nuisance of themselves by driving all the birds away.
Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Later in the month, on a beautiful, calm Sunday morning I paid a visit to Hilbre Island (just off the coast at West Kirby). Here, on the receding tide, about a dozen Purple Sandpipers were feeding on the rocks among a small flock of Turnstones.
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Just offshore, a few Grey Seals were taking an interest in a couple of kayakers.
Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Ray Wilson owns the copyright of all images on this site.
They may not be used or copied in any form without prior written permission.
raywilsonphotography@googlemail.com