Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Birds on a Fencepost

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.

14 comments:

  1. Outstanding photos of some real beauties!

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  2. Top 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..

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  3. Thanks 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!

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  4. Thanks Jeremy for your kind words.
    I 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

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  5. 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.

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  6. wonderfull portrait pictures of these birds! The nuthatches was great!

    Thanks 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

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  7. Fantastic these shots....so nice these birds and colors.

    Greetings, Joop

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  8. Wow, great shots Jeremy!
    Many greetings and have a nice rest of the week!
    Yvonne & Raphael

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  9. What 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?

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  10. Beautiful details, so crisp & clear! Fantabulous captures! =)

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  11. Really nice set of pics. I just traded my 40D in you do it more justice than I did that's for sure :-)

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  12. Thanks for your comments.
    Andrea - 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!

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