Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – I caught this one intially taking a few sips of water from my birdbath. I was looking through my patio window, and thought to myself I bet I won’t have time to swap over lenses, will I? I had my macro lens on, and I half expected the bird to fly,… Read More Caught Napping
Blackbird singing out the day from a lofty perch …
The garden bird feeder is quite busy at the moment. These Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus are certainly taking advantage of it and they are welcome too. May 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
This evening I heard a bang whilst watching some tv. It sounded like a bird had hit the patio window, and when I went to investigate I found this little fella lying sprawled on the decking. I feared the worst, but it had its head held up and looked dazed. I kept my distance for… Read More A Happy Ending
Trying a long shot at full stretch 300mm, earlier this evening with the new 18mm-300mm lens where the light was a little better. Blackbird Turdus merula, May 2018, neigbour’s lawn, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
Coming home from work this afternoon I spotted this single Pencilled Cranes-bill Geranium versicolor, the first of the season, and just had to takes its picture. May 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
My neighbour has a large cherry tree and one or two Starlings have been perched in it of late in the high branches. They make the most varied and curious bird song I have ever heard, which is quite fascinating. Starling Sturnus vulgaris, April 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
April 2018, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. © Pete Hillman
I spotted this little Robin when I peered out my window this morning as the rain fell from darkened skies. Because of the low light, distance and because I took the shot through the windowpane, I did not think it would turn out very well. Even when viewed on the PC I thought there was… Read More The Robin Always Braves The Rain
I have seen Blue Tits, Great Tits and Long-tailed Tits visit the garden, but never one of these, a Coal Tit Periparus ater on my nut feeder. Double click on images to enlarge. December 2017, rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
Blackbird Turdus merula male December 2017, rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
December 2017, Rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
This beautiful female Greenfinch stopped by to feed on the sunflower hearts on my feeder the other day. A Blue Tit can be seen dropping by in the background. December 2017, Rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
Looking out the back window the other day I spied this beautiful Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea, which is the first time I have seen visit the garden in all the 25 years I have lived here, and was quite a lovely surprise. I have only ever seen it down by the local river, and here… Read More A First For The Garden
Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) taking a moment on my birdbath, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. September 2017.
Dunnock (Prunella modularis), September 2017, rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) juvenile, September 2017, rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
This little young Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) was discovered pm my decking. It appeared to have got itself in a bit of a bother, and may have either been attacked by a cat or hit my patio window. But when I ventured to see how it was it took wing and flew into the treetops, so… Read More All In A Feather
As I was pottering about in the garden this morning this little one suddenly appeared out of nowhere close by me. It is a young Dunnock (Prunella modularis.) It appeared quite inquisitive and didn’t fly far. Rear garden, Staffordshire, England. June 2017.
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) male, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. May 2017.
This Blackbird was singing so beautifully from my rooftop aerial this late afternoon when it decided to take off. Blackbird (Turdus merula), Staffordshire, England. May 2017.
I am thrilled with this visitor to my bird feeder. I first saw this Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) on my peanut feeder yesterday morning before leaving for work. I have seen them on occasion in my local woods, but never expected one in the garden, so you can imagine my delight and excitement! I… Read More A First – Woodpecker Visitor
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) juvenile, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. May 2017.
I remember this particular Woodpigeon was trying to figure out a way of getting food from the hanging feeders. They can be clever birds when they want to be, and sometimes they figure out a way as can be seen in the image below, but other times they just can’t seem to make up their… Read More The Jiggy Woodpigeon
I filmed this delightful Blackbird feeding on berries in my front garden through my study window a few years back now. He was so engrossed in his feeding that he paid no attention to the folk passing nearby on the pavement. For more information on this wonderful bird please click on the image below:
Photograph of Blackbird (Turdus merula) female, taken January 2014, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2014. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
On this Christmas Eve I was fortunate enough to be treated to this lovely little chappies bird song from a tree at the bottom of my garden. It certainly was music to my ears. Photographs of Robin (Erithacus rubecula), taken December 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon… Read More Singing His Little Heart Out
This afternoon the Robin has returned to my garden. He sat in a bush at the bottom and sang a little tune before flying off. Photographs of Robin (Erithacus rubecula) taken November 2016, front garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
Art thou the bird whom Man loves best, The pious bird with the scarlet breast, Our little English Robin; The bird that comes about our doors When autumn winds are sobbing? Verse from the poem “The Redbreast Chasing the Butterfly” written by William Wordsworth in 1802. Robins have to be one of my favourite birds,… Read More More of Super Robin
This male Chaffinch was a regular visitor to my feeder during the summer, but I hadn’t seen him for the past few weeks, until today. The last time I saw him I noticed he had a problem with one of his feet, which looked like it was covered in a growth of some kind. It… Read More An Old Friend Returns
I was sitting in my garden earlier having some lunch, and I suddenly heard such sweet bird song coming from a nearby tree. It was very breezy, and amidst the cacophony of rustling leaves I managed to pinpoint the source of this delightful singing. And there, perched on a tree limb, was this most beautiful… Read More Super Robin!
Photographs of Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Columba palumbus The Woodpigeon is a large bird with grey back plumage, a pinkish breast, and a bold white patch on each side of the neck. Dark band on tail feathers, and white bands on front edge of wings. The juvenile has no white patches on its neck, and is somewhat duller in colour. It… Read More Woodpigeon
Columbia livia The Rock Dove is the wild ancestor of the Town, Domestic or Feral Pigeon. The true Rock Dove is a rarity, and it is the domestic pigeon featured in these images. The wild Rock Dove has pale-grey plumage, with a purple-green sheen on its neck. It has two distinct broad black wingbars and… Read More Rock Dove
Photograph of young Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Our little Robin friend here was tempted by what my feeder (which is just out of shot) might offer him. Whilst at the same time keeping a close eye on me. But the feeder was a lot more interesting than me. You got some on the end of your beak there … Photographs of juvenile… Read More Little Robin
This is a little juvenile who has been paying me a visit for the past few days. He or she appears very inquisitve, and it has often flew near me when I have been out in the garden. Here it has landed nearby on a garden chair. Photographs of Robin, taken in September 2016, rear… Read More Little Tiny Robin
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) I photographed this magnificent bird through the glass of my bedroom window when I spotted it feeding on what appeared to be the remains of a Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). They sure do not waste anything. The Sparrowhawk has bounced back in recent years after almost becoming extinct in some eastern counties of… Read More The Kill
Photographs of Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), taken August 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Carduelis carduelis I photographed this adult and juvenile Goldfinch on my feeder over the past couple of mornings. The sun wasn’t quite up so the light wasn’t as good as I would have liked, and I would have liked to have gotten closer to them, but that’s how it goes sometimes. This is a bold… Read More Goldfinch
