The first breeding bird of the year is usually the Heron. It is always a delight in February to spend time at my local Heronry and capture on film the comings and goings of our local birds. Some sticks are picked up from the ground while others are broken off nearby trees.    www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

One of the delights of our recent visit to the Dee valley was the discovering of a garden that had dozens of Yellow Hammers coming to feed on the ground under some bird feeders.It is a bird that I have only ever filmed some years ago on Islay.
When I was growing up in Bury and then Rochdale the song of the Yellow Hammer was one of the signs of Spring. Now they have all gone, along with their song, and of course their spectacular eggs which gave the bird the name “the Scribbler”.

www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

An advantage of going to Rivercatcher in the Dee valley is that vast pine forests of Wales are all around you.One of the most colourful inhabitants of these forests is the Crossbill. They can be hard to find but last week we came across some fabulously coloured female birds but no red males. Perhaps an excuse to go back? www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

Where else but Rivercatcher, on the river Dee in North Wales,could you sit in the bubbles and steam of a Hot Tub and watch a Little Egret feeding below you? Last week-ends superb weather was made full use of by a long weekend at Rivercatcher – Many more photos to follow!!               www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

When you have been filming birds for more than 55years there are not many species that you have not got on film. However, whilst in the hills the other week I came across a large gathering of Jackdaws that were about to go to roost. Its called a clattering of Jackdaws and I could not resist a few record photos before they dropped into the forest for the night – and I added another species to my list. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

Last October tens of thousands of Waxwings were waiting in Scandinavia to cross the North Sea to Britain. We were promised one of the best invasions ever and all birders waited with baited breath. It never happened!!
It took me over 40 years before I saw my first Waxwing. It was instantly elevated to my favourite bird and still remains so.How can you ever forget seeing more than 300 Waxwings in one tree in Stockport? Sadly that was in 1996 and this winter has drawn a blank for the sixth consecutive time. Can I wait until next winter or do I cross the Pennines into Yorkshire where there are a handful present? www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife