A Happy New Year to everybody who reads or posts here!
I've loved walking around the Wetlands in the sunny, frosty conditions and although there aren't quite s many birds showing as usual, the birds that have to rely on the seeds of the Common Reed have been more visible than at any time in the last year. The most numerous and easiest to see has certainly been the Reed Bunting. i can well remember my first sighting of these a couple of years ago, when I found it difficult to get one decent view and there they were yesterday on open display within sight to the coastal path.
Another bird frequenting the coastal path and indeed the paths throughout the reserve is the Stonechat.
Finally the most sought after bird of the Wetlands is definitely the Bearded Tit and fortunately these have been easier to see this Winter then at any time in the previous 12 months and in numbers that give me hope that this years breeding season will be better than 2016.
Happy New Year John; the buntings and reedlings make for lovely photographs amongst the phragmites and its wonderful to see the Stonechat too. As you say its good to walk around on a sunny day despite the colder temperatures and when the light is better or photos.
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Regards, Hazel
Great set of photos. Good to see the small birds coping with the very cold weather.
Lovely photos John, great to see on a frosty morning that there is so much food to be had from those grasses, makes fabulous photos too. I like both the Reed Bunting and the Stonechat, they take such good photos, and it goes without saying that the Beardies are on everyone's list.
Lot to learn
A wonderful collection, John, of great photos of beautiful little birds--all three species are gorgeous! Fingers crossed that you are correct about a good season to come for the Beardies.
Kind regards, Ann
Thank you so much Hazel, Colin, Gaynor and Ann. The year has got off to a flying start as I have seen them already. What I have set myself as a target for this year is to try and get another set of photos and hopefully video of them in the snow. Of course that has got two elements to get in place so it's going to be a real challenge! My challenge last year was video of Wood and Garden Warbler.. I had enough footage for the Wood but only a tiny amount of the Garden o that's still on the 'to do' list.
Happy New Year to you also, beautiful photos John
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Thanks Catlady!
love these captures John, still to see a beardy but its gotta happen this year for me :)
I'm sure it will Nicky - it took me a good few months to see my first but once I did it seems I've always had several views a year, mainly during July when the adults are actively feeding and then the fledglings appear, although this last year December was the best month.