07/03/2013 Old Moor RSPB

Yellowhammer: I decided to head up to Old Moor RSPB Nature Reserve on my way to Denby Dale for a job interview now I can drive.

Here they have a Tree Sparrow farm which is awesome, they have erected a number of nest boxes and have a funky screening with telephoto lens holes,  and it was here I saw this brilliantly bright yellow Yellowhammer.

Redwing: The Tree Sparrow farm was full of birds such as Green Finch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and tits I was surprised though to see this Redwing fly out of nowhere and start foraging right in front of the screening!

A nice NEW year tick for my list.

Brambling: I read on Old Moor's sightings online that they had a regular Brambling showing here too and was pleased to see this male feeding off the ground with a bunch of mixed finches.

Tree Sparrow: The star bird though has to be the sparrows, they were all over the place, many building nests and feeding in the farm.

All in all this was another great trip to this brilliant RSPB reserve and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who finds themselves on the other side of the Pennines.

See The RSPB: Dearne Valley - Old Moor website for more info

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/d/dearne-oldmoor/

10/11/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Brambling: I had this bird on a prefect branch overlooking the feeding station in perfect sunlight and as I lifted my camera and pressed the butted to capture the image there was no usual click....what! Oh no.....the battery went dead. I was fuming at my lack of organisation I knew it was running low.

I then ran to get my spare and by the time I got back the bird had moved of its perch and on to the floor, in the bloody shade.








Redwing: I wasn’t totally happy with the Brambling pictures, I guess I was still angry with myself for letting a super shot go due the battery so I tried my luck again later in the day. I didn’t see the Brambling but got this record shot of a Redwing and saw six of them flying over towards the Bunker Hide.

08/02/2012 Frodsham Mrah

Redwing: Frodsham Marsh on a cold and claer day. This stunning little Thrush was spotted in the horse feild near Marsh Lane feeding on the ground along with Blackbirds, Song Thrush and Robins.