Les Cater

I have posted this photo of the Turkestan Shrike we had for eight days at Dunwich heath, only to show how you can get the best out of a poor light day. This was taken when it was cloudy right at the end of the day the light goes flat and this enables you to get a better expossure with natural light.

It seems the Turkestan Shrike might have finally gone, no more reports today. I think all of us hope he gets home or as close as he can safely. I really have enjoyed watching a Shrike doing what they do when catching prey. He gained a great deal of repect and affection from me 😊

One of those moments when you get the chance to do something different, today was that day. Turkestan Shrike Dunwich.😊😉

Saved some of my best images from three days at Dunwich Heath to last, although there are more, I will not put anymore up for a while after these. I cant think I have had better days with such a wonderful bird like this rare Turkestan's Shrike. This is one stunning bird to see and photograph😊

Cheers Jon, and what a first, we are very lucky to have it here in Suffolk 👍

Later in the day after nearly everyone had gone, the Turkestan Shrike flew off from where it had been all day. I got to a small gorse bush out of sight not far where it had been hoping it would return, it did and I had it for at least an half an hour quietly on my own. Magic 😊

Hi Jon, cheers for that, I am slowly going to post more to see how it goes. 😉👍

With a very early start I got to see my very first Turkestan Shrike today on Dunwich heath. A stunner and not one to get to close to, so just enjoyed the fact I saw it. I decided not to crop this image much, as it as good as it gets under the conditions we had today. Just Enjoy

Crested Tits from last years crested tit workshop with @PeteWalkden1973
Going back this year to see these wonderful birds for the third time. Beautiful ancient woodlands with these magical birds is something not to be missed. Got to be one of my favourite birds to see every year.

Thank you so much 😀

Cheers Mart, much appreciated 😉👍

This has to be one of my favourites from this years Bittern watch/observations. From under the hide at Island mere @RSPBMinsmere
early spring, shows the beautiful blue lores on a male Bittern ready for the breeding season, albeit he was a young bird he is an excellent example😊👍

Red Footed Falcons hunting over Carlton Marshes Suffolk, a few weeks ago. Stunning species and these views are my very first of one.

Many thanks for that 😀

Many thanks for your kind words 👍

A male Dartford warbler on a fozen gorse bush, a first for me and finally got this image after many years of trying.

This lovely male Dartford warbler popped up onto a bramble stem.

This was captured at first light, and was a lovely moment as the sun was just rising.

This male Dartford was singing from a stem of a partly desd gorse bush to say, here I am and this is my territory.

At the end of every year, I take the oppertunity to go over to the Heath and from around December to February I observe and photograph the Dartford Warblers. As this is pre season to the year ahead breeding time, this alows me to see and photograph them safely before they seek out females to mate.

Male Bittern making it's way through the reeds.

This male Bittern, came out into the cleared area the RSPB do every year for the bitterns to feed in front of the hides.

Male bittern making it's way along a water channel to a clearing to feed.

This male Bittern, made a dash to the safety of the reeds where they hide most of the time.

I am now back to my Bittern studies of bittern behaviour during the spring mating period and right throug the summer. The time commitment is high and here are some images from a week under a hide watching these male bitterns emerge from the reed beds to feed, and one male was booming in front on me.

Thank you Keith 👍

Thank you Daniel, thats kind of you 😀👍

Excellent Jon we have now found each other. Still on twitter for the time being. Hope to see you again this year.👍

Bearded tits at RSPB Minsmere captured in the sunlight on a frosty cold day. Using the the freedom of the light, the back ground, and by standing to one side as the bird climbs the reed stem it then bends away from the reed bed. This isolates the single reed stem over the chosen back ground nicely.

Many thanks Dave 😀

male Bullfinch

Love this time of year, it's when you get the best views of Bullfinches in their beautiful plumage. This male Buffinch I have now seen twice at RSPB Minsmere over this last week feeding on the dried out Blackberry fruits from last years summer.

Thanks Gi for all your hard work and enthusiasm as editor in putting together a wonderful piece of suffolk birdidng news.

Suffolk Bird Group magazine cover, The Harrier No.219.

The latest @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social The Harrier is now out with members and will be my final one as editor after 7 years! Thanks to all the contributors over that time, including @lesjwc.bsky.social who provided the front cover image for this edition. #SuffolkBirds

Thank you Keith 👍

We are very fortunate to have them here on the east coast of east anglia, it is all down to habitat management 😀👍

I have added to my ongoing thread about Bittern behaviour at RSPBMinsmere on my web site mywildlifeimages.com On the web site you will find my own observations, my own personal views about Bitterns and records gathered. Also there is an substantial info collection as well from my past encounters.

Finally got around to getting a few more photos done from our holiday in Scotland back in July this year. We had some very wet weather, and these fantastic little Siskens visited the feeders every day while we were there, allowed me to photograph them from the cottage door 😊

While on duty yesterday @RSPBMinsmere
I managed to get good views of the White Rump Sandpiper, albeit from a great distance and in appalling weather conditions. So, photos not great, but enough to identify it as it seems. To think it comes from Northen America/Canada apparently.