Archive for February, 2024

There are not many birds that look better in their winter plumage compared to their summer plumage but the drake Long Tailed Duck is one. Unfortunately you have to go to the very north of Scotland to see them in any numbers in winter. They normally feed in the open sea but when conditions are rough they retreat to one or two harbours where they can feed in calmer waters. Until last week I had never been lucky enough to time my visits with their harbour feeding but all that was to change. Three magnificent drakes provided me with the photos I could only previously dream of.     www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

While high in the Cairngorm mountains last week I was able to film a flock of up to fifty Snow Buntings that were feeding in the snow.No small bird breeds closer to the North Pole than the Snow Bunting and we are lucky that in Winter some will migrate south to Britain. They make amazing subjects for the camera.

When you are keyed in to wildlife you never know when a photo opportunity will arise.
Last week I was sat in my car outside a Corn Mill in Accrington awaiting for an employee to give me a bag of sunflower hearts that I had just paid for.On a spillage of grain by the car was a Wood Pigeon .Suddenly, in a split second, a female Sparrowhawk grabbed the Pigeon and commenced to pluck it. It paid no attention to me so I took some photos with my phone from less than five feet away!! You never have your proper camera when you need it!