PETER'S PORTFOLIO..............Bird & Wildlife Photography

Welcome to my Web Site which is a photographic record of my interest in Wildlife, particularly with Birds . Todate my wildlife images have appeared in various books and magazines including, Birdwatch, Birding World, Outdoor Adventure Guide, British Birds, The Birding Year Book, Birdwatching, American Birding Association, Birds Illustrated and Bird Art & Photography and also on numerous Web Sites including those of the RSPB. .

Friday, June 22, 2007

A Stroll around Ferry Meadows

Moorhen

Great Crested Grebe

Blackbird

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Little Bittern

A record shot of the Little Bittern

A quick dash to Tichwell resulted in good but brief views( perching in the reeds and in flight) of the recently arrived Little Bittern. Our luck was in since we only waited for about 30min to see this minutive Bittern but unfortunately the luck didn't hold for we got absolutely saturated by a fierce Norfolk squall on the way back to the car.

Father's day at Flamborough Head

Gannets at Bempton Cliffs

Gannet

Gannets

Gannet

As a surprised treat for father's day my son, Aran,organised a day touring around the cliffs at Flamborough. Firstly a 3 1/2 h boat trip from Bridlington on the Yorkshire Belle took us to the 400ft high cliffs to witness the Spaghetti junction of the bird world with Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Kittiwakes and Fulmars travelling at different heights between their nesting sites and feeding grounds---a spectacular sight. After retuning to port we then moved to Bempton Cliffs for an alternative view down onto the nesting sites.The day was brought to a welcomed climax when we connected , after 2h, with the Great White Egret at Tophill Nature Reserve, East Yorks.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

''CONGRATULATIONS''

Squacco Heron

BIRDWATCH MAGAZINE_JULY 2007
Squacco Heron

Squacco Heron

May I be the first to congratulate myself on reaching 300 British List Species, not with the beautifully coloured Squacco Heron twitched at Erith Marshes, London on 4th June but with a Rose-ringed Parakeet(Ringed-neck Parakeet) which flew over us as we approached the Heron site. This success coupled with good views of the Marsh Warbler at Rainham Marshes later in the day further increased my life list.

A day in Norfolk

Blackheaded Gull

Shoveller

Mandarin

Although no decent photo could be had of the Booted Warbler at Blakeney Point the above were taken along the North Norfolk coast on 2nd June.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Swallow

Swallow at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough on 24th May 2007

A Birding week

Sedge Warbler At Minsmere

Avocet at Minsmere

Barnacle Geese at Minsmere

Greylag Geese at Minsmere

Purple Heron at Minsmere

The week started well with a visit to Tichwell to see Little Gull, little Tern and ,eventually, Temmink's Stint. Next location was Lakenheath where after four visits in three years we obtained superb views of two Golden Orioles along with a tremendous number of displaying Hobbies,around twenty in number, however we did dip on the Cranes which were keeping a low profile due to the high winds. An early morning visit to Over Fen on the 20th May also resulted in disappoinment as the short staying Semi-palmated Sandpiper had flown overnight. My disappointment was short lived since a visit to Minsmere was successful in witnessing two Purple Herons on the ground and in flight; also my first Turtle Dove of the year

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Hoopoe

Hoopoe greedily feeding this wet day on the playing fields at Grange Paddocks, Bishop's Stortford, Herts---10th May 2007

A Trip to County Durham and Northumberland

The main purpose of this short visit to the North of England was to witness the Black Grouse lek at Langdon Beck and to visit the Farne Islands. The most impressive part of the two separate leks, each containing about 16 male Black Grouse, was the far reaching'bubbling' sound emanating from the birds which could be heard as soon as the car door was opened. The surrounding moors contained many nesting Curlews, Lapwings, Redshanks and Red Grouse; many with chicks. Before moving on to Seahouses, our base for the Farne Islands, we spent a good half day at Turnstall Reservoir in Weardale which is surrouded by ancient Oak and Beech forest. Our target birds were Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher anf Redstart all of which were eventually heard and seen.

Teesdale Moor

Lapwing

Lapwing Chick

Lapwing with Chick

Turnstall Reservoir

Pied Flycatcher

Tawny Owl

Mallard

The Farne Islands

Shag

A five and a half hour trip was made to the Farne Islands on 2nd May 2007 stopping at Staple Island for 2h and Inner Farne for 2h. The weather was bright and the sea calm which heralded for a good day. We were not disappointed. Fantastic sights of Feeding Puffins, Cormorants, Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones, Shags, Guillemots , Kittewakes, Razorbills, Gannets and Eiders. A few Pock Pipits, Wheatears, Artic Terns and Sandwich Terns were also in evidence.