January 2026

Not sure where the new year’s photography is going yet - taking lots of images and deleting most of them - need a train of thought but here are a few that I have kept so far from the first five days

It has been cold and icy but have not managed to get anything much that reflects the weather so far - Black-headed Gulls resting on ice

First-winter now 2cy male Hen Harrier this afternoon but not the colour ringed bird I have been trying to nail for weeks

Cracking bird though

Little Grebe before sunrise in an area of open water amongst the ice

A young male Marsh Harrier dropping onto something in the reeds - a slightly different take

a classic hunting male Marsh Harrier - we have about 4-5 males around at present but only this one adult

The light has been great the last few days

a male Sparrowhawk that flew rapidly past the hide and I didn’t quite get the bird 100% sharp which was a shame as it was a nice adult

female Bullfinch munching on sea buckthorn berries

and Blackthorn buds a favourite on Waters’ Edge

male House Sparrow in the garden - the cold snap had brought 10-12 spoggies back to the feeders but we have also had Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits fairly regularly which is something that has not occurred for many years

Long-tailed Tit in dappled winter sun

Part of a pre roost gathering of Magpies - there were at least 50 in the gathering at dusk

After seemingly disappearing from the local park for two years it was good to find a Nuthatch back at the end of 2025 and add it to the patch year list on the 2nd

always high up but the 100-500 is a great lens for this type of bird photography