Gardenbird

It's hard to believe that a year has now passed since the two-barred crossbill was a Stokesly, North Yorkshire. Mark & I spent four hours in the damp and cold waiting for the male bird to drop into it's chosen garden to feed on a peanut feeder. Roll on one year, and another morning has been spent photographing garden birds - this time in Northumberland and of a more common variety - blackbirds. Their numbers have increased over the past few weeks, no doubt boosted in number by continental birds set to winter.

Had to use fill flash as the chosen "feeding station" was in deep shade. Lens was the 100-400mm handheld.

Two-barred Crossbill

Early"ish" start today for a wasted journey north to Holy Island with Mark, where yesterdays bluetail had clearly departed. After a whole 5 minutes on site and some wise advice from BB, the car was pointed south for an attempt to see the male two-barred crossbill at Garfit Farm near Stokesley in North Yorkshire.

Dipping was looming after almost three hours wait in the cold damp... until it was located in the tree above the ever-increasing crowd. The fact that it was in the bird was in the tree above the crowd did not really help - it was a pain to pick out... the crowd moved outwards to the farmhouse and most people were able to get satisfactory views. Then the bird pulled a treat - flying down to the feeder in front of the masses, providing rather closer views than expected! Cracking bird. Great performance from the 1DIII too - images above were taken at ISO800 - 1000.