Author Archives: sarahthurlbeck

This winter I have noticed many more redwings about. These are types of thrushes which overwinter here from Scandinavia with a particular penchant for hawthorn berries. Up close the red patch just below the wings becomes more noticeable. They also have bold white stripes above the eyes. As well as feeding on berries redwings areContinue reading “Redwinging It”

This cold snowy spell is bringing the wildlife nearer to our homes as animals and birds search for food to survive. We’ve had deer footprints in the snow in our front garden and have now got a much chomped shrub in front of our window. It saves us pruning! This morning I saw a piedContinue reading “In the Snow”

Last week I was walking with my friend and we spotted a Kestrel perched at the top of a pine tree in a neighbour’s garden. We both pointed our cameras at it but alas it flew off just as the shutters were about to be pressed. Although it flew around a bit we had missedContinue reading “Kestrel Capture”

The very first photograph I took with a longer lens was of a robin. They pop up everywhere I go on walks, sometimes almost following me and posing for a photo. They are so common and familiar that I almost overlook them at times as I strive to photograph more unusual birds. But here areContinue reading “Cheery Cheeky Robins”

“Birds of a feather flock together” so the saying goes. I’ve noticed that in winter some wooded areas seem to be totally devoid of birds but then you find a patch where there is a whole flock of birds hanging out together. Recently I observed this with a flock of about 16 Goldfinches and nearbyContinue reading “Birds of a Feather”

Swans have been in the news lately after one was rescued by the Fire Brigade on Hogganfield Loch. Apparently after that the RSPCA received loads of calls from the public about swans stuck on the ice but they say that most are perfectly strong enough to break thin ice and fend for themselves. This morningContinue reading “Skating on Thin Ice”

There are a lot of roe deer about where I live but they blend in so well sometimes you only see them when they move across your path or take off when they sense you coming. See if you can spot some in the photos below. Sometimes if you’re lucky they appear on the pathContinue reading “Happy New Deer”

Even on a dull winter’s day there’s a lot of interest to be seen on my local pond. It often has an amazing the variety of ducks on it. There are the usual mallard ducks but at the moment they are outnumbered by other types such as tufted ducks. There is another black and whiteContinue reading “Christmas Quackers”

Today hubby and I went a cycle ride along the Forth and Clyde canal. There were plenty of swans to be seen. Some were in pairs, some in small family groups and some were on their own trying to establish new territories or hold onto existing ones. At Auchinstarry basin I watched a man withContinue reading “Swan Patrol”

It seemed on a recent walk that all the wee birds were hiding but then I came upon some acrobatic birds busy finding grubs to eat on tree branches. Not only were there busy tree creepers but nuthatches were working the same patch of woodland. It’s not often I see a nuthatch the right wayContinue reading “Woodland Acrobats”