December 2025

Last month of the year started out wet and dismal but 2nd was bright and sunny so headed out into the woods and then for some raptor action

Began the day with a rather high up and skulky Nuthatch

None of the hoped for Hawfinches but one or two Brambling and a few Crossbills flying around

Complementing the beautiful autumn colours

Lots of Coal Tits collecting the beech mast

I paid attention to the mantle colour of these birds following the big irruption out of Scandinavia in the autumn but judging olive toned - grey and lead grey is tricky - flanks on this individual were quite washed out

Smart little birds and something I have seldom photographed

Golden crested wren

On the farm the Corn Bunting flock numbered at least 74 (in one image)

Winter food availability is clearly a key factor in the survival of this species with 99% of the barren arable landscape providing no food for passerines - these fields are thus a magnet

All shot with the Canon R6II and 200-800 lens

A rather tame juvenile Common Buzzard hunting voles

Light was beautiful

Kestrels do not like Buzzards

A distant 2cy male Hen Harrier

Juvenile Marsh Harrier

spotting a vole

This cracking male kept giving me a wide berth

a bit of confrontation