ROCK PIPIT-PURBECK COASTLINE-MAY 2011

The Rock Pipit is fairly widespread along the entire Purbeck coastline and beyond. Larger and darker than the other Pipits and has a song similar to the Meadow Pipit. A favourite shoreline bird to photograph. Most of the shots shown here were shot at Winspit with others shot at Portland.

TREE PIPIT- NEW FOREST-APRIL 2011

The Tree Pipit is a summer visitor and can be found in open woodland area. This bird is very similar in appearance to its cousin the Meadow Pipit but the main difference apart from favoured habitat is the beautiful song of the Tree pipit. A wonderful songster with drawn out notes as the bird 'parachutes' down from threes.

MEADOW PIPIT-MORDEN BOG-APRIL 2011

The Meadow Pipit is fairly common on open grassy areas such as Morden Bog and Hengistbury Head. A somewhat flighty ground bird which has a song that is delivered in flight but starts from the ground. The three lead shots were taken this year in Bushy Park, London. I was amazed to discover quite good numbers of these birds in a city park, and delighted to get some really close shots in reasonable light. They are too flighty to get this close in our local habitats.

WOOD LARK-MORDEN BOG-APRIL 2011

The Woodlark has a wonderful, yodelling song which is always a delight to hear and makes early morning visits to Morden Bog all the more worthwhile. Morden Bog is an open expanse of heathland surrounded by pine woods and younger conifer plantations which are favoured by this bird. I consider myself very fortunate to encounter a Woodlark perched in an old decaying tree, as they are normally found on the ground or in flight. On this occasion a male was happily singing away as I slowly got closer and closer until he was within camera range. I managed to get some reasonable shots with blue skies. The other shots are of a male on the ground who flew very close to my location.

WOOD WARBLER-ACRES DOWN NEW FOREST-APRIL 2011

The Wood Warbler has brighter oliver green plumage than the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, it is also slightly larger but I can only distinguish them by their wonderful song. A very tricky bird to see as they are generally to be found in mature woodland where the males will sing in the tops of trees. They are a real challenge to photograph, under the woodland canopy the light is generally poor. It took some time to identify some territories that had clearings to allow good sunlight to filter through. It was my first attempt to photograph these birds this year so achieving some reasonable shots was a real bonus. I would still like to get a good clean shot !!

WILLOW WARBLER-MORDEN BOG-APRIL 2011

The Willow Warbler is a fairly widespread and common visitor to the UK. They tend to favour birch woodland habitat but not exclusively so. The adult birds have an olive-yellow plumage with yellowish white underparts. Their flesh coloured legs distinguish them from the Chiffchaff. I generally hear the male bird singing endlessly at the beginning of the season. Best to see them shortly after they arrive when the males are establishing their territory. These shots were taken on Morden Bog a woodland and heathland area where I located male birds patrolling their respective territory.

CHIFFCHAFF-BLASHFORD LAKES-APRIL 2011

The Chiffchaff is a summer visitor to the UK. It is very similar to the Willow and Wood Warblers and distinguished by its song. One of the first spring arrivals and is widespread throughout the UK. Early season is the best time to see this small bird before the trees,shrubs and bushes become covered foliage. An active bird which is a challenge to photograph. I am still waiting to get a good clen shot of this bird.