Gallery

I have been sent this photo by Joss in Dorset. “What is this bird?” There is a possibility that it is related to an albino blackbird seen previously in the same area, or perhaps it is a hybrid - possibly a blackbird x song thrush. Nick Pomiankowski (Staffordshire’s Bird Recorder) put it on this forum http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1137495#post1137495 and it created some extensive debate. Result: possibly an aberrant Blackbird but it could be male or female . Whatever it is, isn’t it lovely?




		Tree Sparrows at Belvide (a West Midland Bird Club reserve, permit required)




	Tawny Owl at Baggeridge CP




		Collared Dove in the garden


		Birds of the West Midlands (UK)

	These shots taken with the Nikon 4500 attached to a Kowa ‘scope. (I don’t claim any skill with the camera but these are fine as a record for my own purposes)






		Above: Sparrowhawk in our garden. It appeared to have injured its left foot and was completely oblivious to us. It flew off after a while but allowed us to get these pictures without the need of the telescope - we just walked up to it! We hope it was still able to catch its prey while the foot recovered. Sparrowharks come through the garden every day, but they are not always successful at capturing their prey. However, we have to be aware that we are feeding the little birds that sometimes feed the big ones!

	Birds of Wales (UK)




	Above: Kingfisher at Venus Pool - a Shropshire Ornithological Society reserve 5mls south of Shrewsbury. Open to the public - well worth a visit at any time.

Below: three shots taken at Gigrin Farm Kite feeding station in January 2007
Some Red Kites can be identified by their wing tags - this is a juvenile from 2006, but there have been several tagged birds from other areas of the UK.
Middle: Over twenty Red Kites in this one shot - try the Welsh Kite website for some far better pictures of these fabulous birds and information about the feeding times at Gigrin Farm http://www.welshkitetrust.org/




	Above: Buzzards such as this will readily land to feed, but Kites rarely do so.


	Birds of the USA:- New Jersey






		Above: Common Grackles in a ‘Back Yard’ Right: Dark-eyed Junco - a very varied bird depending where in the USA you find them Below: Another common ‘Back Yard’ bird the American Robin. Being April, this bird was singing to defend its nest in a hole at the end of a broken branch. It’s song was not unlike a Mistle Thrush


	American Goldfinches - the State Bird of New Jersey, on a nijer feeder and displaying its unique method of feeding, hanging head down! So that’s why some of the feeders we see here have seed holes in odd positions. The female is much less yellow but still a very pretty bird.




		Right: Tree Swallows - they will nest in holes in dead trees, fence posts, barn eaves and, as in the picture, nest boxes (sometimes elaborate affairs in peoples front ‘yards’) They never seem far from water and always have that burnished finish to the plumage.






	American Nature Reserves are called ‘Refuges’ Below are three pictures from Refuges along the Delaware River.




		Green Heron




		Greater Yellow-legs


	A Field Sparrow sings its heart out in a ‘refuge’ near Cherry Grove, NJ




				Downy Woodpecker



	A pair of Blue Jays at their nest in Roebling NJ This shot was taken from a small playground looking towards the River Delaware and the slope of the land enabled a view into the nest.


	Miscellaneous Shots: UK


	This photo below of Pink Footed Geese was taken at Holkham on 27 Dec 2007 whilst on a “Birdwatching Magazine Christmas House-party”. Other sites visited were: Clumber Park, Titchwell, Summer Leys and Stanwick Lakes. Our hotel in Oundle was in the middle of the area known as Rockingham Forest where plenty of Red Kite were seen, even over the town.




		There must be over three hundred geese in this shot above - I haven’t yet tried to count them so e-mail me if you have the patience: williamsonclive@yahoo.com There were many thousands of these Pink Footed Geese and the sunset brought many more into the wetland at Holkham. An awe inspiring sight! The sunset on the right is also at Holkham and covers an area where Barn Owl were hunting.


	“Birdwatching” magazine is our monthly magazine of choice. We’ve been on three Christmas House-parties now and an August Break as well. We recommend both the magazine and the holidays (all ours have been lead by Trevor & Veronica Gunton). Trevor leads the group with a proficient manner ably assisted by Veronica. However, there is always a relaxed and jovial atmosphere that makes these holidays both fresh and relaxing - as well as a time for visiting areas less well known to us. We also meet up with friends we’ve made on previous holidays. For information about the magazine try this address: http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displaystore.asp?sid=329


	Birdwatching in the Midlands:




	Three Snipe concealed in reeds at the Christopher Cadbury Reserve at Upton Warren - the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust reserves. Below: Avocets have nested at this inland site for several years now, possibly attracted by the saline water in the ‘Flashes’ as well as the managed islands and anti-fox fence. The nesting waders still suffer harassment from the crows and gulls such as this Black-headed Gull.




	A ringed Common Tern at Kingsbury Water Park - take Jn 9 off the M42. There are several hides in the northern area of the park and good ‘tea rooms’ at both halves of the site. Parking charges apply however.

			A Jack Snipe at Upton Warren in May 2007






			Above: the ‘White’ Red Kite and right: here it stands out compared to the usual version