I went round to Bishop's Wood on the Gower Peninsula today, taking my newly-repaired trusty Canon 40D for a tryout. I was hoping to photograph a Marsh Tit, which can usually be seen coming to food here with commoner species. Of course, whenever I turn up with all my gear in good light, the quarry I came for is nowhere to be seen. Instead, I had to make do with shots of the usual woodland species such as this Coal Tit:
The most common and boldest of the birds were the numerous Nuthatches:
A few Blue and Great Tits popped down for some peanuts, but they were surprisingly timid, and seemed easily scared by my camera's shutter, so I didn't get any decent shots of them.
However, just before I left, a Robin appeared:
A few Chaffinches, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wrens, Jays, as well as one or two Goldcrests, were also around. I heard a Green Woodpecker calling from the woods, and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker; a Fox trotted though the trees about forty yards away at 3.30 p.m.
I managed a few shots of the sunset over nearby Caswell Bay, but I'll post those another day.
Outstanding photos of some real beauties!
ReplyDeleteTop photos fella, you must have the patience of a saint. i could never be a bird photographer. im glad ive got yours to look at..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. Shaun, not really very patient. I just like being in the countryside; mainly because I like the peace and quiet, and I'm an unsociable sod! Might as well take a few pictures while I'm there!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeremy for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteI think you know my doughter Yvonne from "Yvonaut.blogspot.com" Yvonne und Raphael. They were in South Africa last year. You have they written.
Your bird pictures are so cute.
Have a nice day.
Warm regards
Angela
They are so lovely birds and the photos delightful, especially that robin. Did your photos pass through some editing? By the way, thanks for visiting my site.
ReplyDeletewonderfull portrait pictures of these birds! The nuthatches was great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for another comment on my blog!, and there isn´t that cold yet, about -5, but in the weekend they say it´s gone be around -15.
Have a great day!
Regards
Fantastic these shots....so nice these birds and colors.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Joop
Das sind Raphael und YvonneWednesday, February 01, 2012 9:01:00 am
Wow, great shots Jeremy!
ReplyDeleteMany greetings and have a nice rest of the week!
Yvonne & Raphael
Fantastic Nuthatch photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful photos, Jeremy. I think the Nuthatch ones are my favourites, too. Thank you for your comments on my blog. Did you do the RSPB garden bird survey this year, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteP.S. An arresting new header!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful details, so crisp & clear! Fantabulous captures! =)
ReplyDeleteReally nice set of pics. I just traded my 40D in you do it more justice than I did that's for sure :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteAndrea - not sure what you mean by my photos going through editing. All the photos were sharpened (perhaps over-sharpened?) before posting. All in this post are full-frame, except the Coal Tit which was cropped a little.
Caroline, I didn't do the Garden Birdwatch - mainly because I don't have a garden! (I live in a flat with just a few pots on a balcony - the only birds I get on my feeders are Starlings!) P.S. - the header has been there a while - you need to look in more often!