Long-tailed Tit perched on diagonal twig rising from bottom right to top left of frame, a shaft of sunlight breaks through the newly emerged leaves to illuminate the head and half the body of the bird and part of the stems. The background is mainly of shades of green of the hedgerow.

Spotlight on a Long-tailed Tit, I'd like to say that I planned the lighting for this snap, but...................
Haybridge NR
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Female Pied Flycatcher in dappled light perches on a small branch that rises across the frame from lower left to mid right. The background is predominantly the pale blue of a diffuse sky.

In the spirit of equality, here's the female Pied Flycatcher.

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Male Pied Flycatcher perched on a lichen covered branch that is in direct sunlight, the background is in shadow making the bird "pop" from the frame.

Pied Flycatcher at Haybridge this morning.

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@sarahdalgulls.bsky.social

Can't hear them now, even with the hearing aids turned up to 11

In fact, very spotted.

Willow Warbler clutching a near vertical willow stem against a clear blue sky, head held high and beak open as it belts out its song. Either side of the bird are blurs of out of focus catkins.

Willow Warbler in full song this morning on the Duddon Estuary, on the way back three hours later, still belting it out.
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Pied Wagtail standing on a rock protruding from a sandy beach. it is gazing down at an angle of 45 degrees.

Pause for thought.
Had to wait several minutes for this Pied Wagtail to come out of its trance like state before I could continue on my way.
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Willow Warbler perched on a willow twig against a blurred background of lichen covered branches, the yellows of which complement the tones in the bird.

Warbler in the willow at South Walney today.

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A male House Sparrow stares directly into camera from within the circular entrance of a nest box, "Spuggy" is a local name for Sparrows.

Spuggy staredown

This House Sparrow is not amused.
#ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #UKbirding #ukbirds A male House Sparrow stares directly into camera from within the circular entrance of a nest box, "Spuggy" is a local name for Sparrows.

A flock of Redshank flying low over a flooded saltmarsh, near centre of frame is a Spotted Redshank clearly showing the longer dark bill and legs, fuller body and belly with black patches as it comes into breeding plumage.

Had a nice find on the Duddon Estuary today, Spotted Redshank. Best pic I managed to get.
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Two female Blackcap on the edge of a bramble thicket, the higher bird is clearly visible, but the lower one is partly obscured by stems.

Last of the Walney snaps, waited over
an hour for these female Blackcap to emerge from the bramble thicket.
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A Lapwing standing in a meadow, the sun lights up the plumage showing the greens and reds of its wing and back.

Just finishing the ones from South Walney yesterday.
The iridescence of a sun kissed Lapwing.
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A delicately patterned Meadow Pipit perched on a weathered fence post, the out of focus background is a tangle of dead bramble stems.

Last one tonight is this charming Meadow Pipit, although locally common, can't resist taking a snap.
South Walney
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Male Wheatear in an almost horizontal posture perched atop of a wooden fence post , the bird, post and rusty barbed wire stand out against the blurred pale green background.

Wheatear from South Walney today, clinging to the fence post in the face of a fairly stiff breeze*
*The definition of "breeze" may not be the same as for other locations.🙂
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A male Shelduck coming into land on the top of a bund, neck and legs are extended downwards in parallel, just below the males feet, the head of a female is visible. On the extreme right of frame is the head of another female.

"Keep your head down Sheila!"
Shelduck are pairing up and appear to be investigating nest sites.
South Walney.
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Went to one of his gigs once, some amazing footage that was not used in the programs, and a really nice guy.

I rarely do a RIP, but on this occasion.....

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I missed it as well!

Backlit Linnet perched on dead vegetation facing to right of frame, the light coming in to highlight part of the left side and provides a small highlight in the single visible eye.

A luscious Linnet at South Walney today, although the storm had passed there was still a 40mph breeze. Have you ever tried to get a shot of a passing Sparrowhawk with a 40mph tailwind?
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Wheatear in its usual erect stance on a grassy patch amongst the shingle

The weather has finally calmed down a bit. so took the opportunity to go out on the Duddon Estuary, pleased to see wheatear are heading North
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Thanks for reminding me of this one, I must admit to a certain amount of chuckling as they scurried in to line up.
Pete.

A Turnstone on a shingle shore heading from right to left of frame, the head is almost horizontal with the body and turned slightly towards camera and appears to be looking down at something it has spotted.

May as well pop this one out whist I'm playing the, "why did I take so many pics" game.
Turnstone just spotted the next morsel.
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Pied Wagtail perched on a small piece of driftwood laying on short grass, the body of this black and white bird faces right of frame, but the head is turned to the left with one eye showing.

Pied Wagtail just above the tideline, South Walney.
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Thanks Sue

Adder facing away from camera, only the back of the head in focus showing clearly the pattern that makes identification of the individuals possible.

Another first of the year, Adder basking in the first real warmth we've had.
*Note: Cropped image taken with 600mm lens from a track at 3 metres. As with all wildlife try not to disturb.
A picture is basically worthless, wildlife priceless.
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Two male Ringed Plovers facing up to each other with bills open.

The leftmost bird is now on the wing and bearing down upon the other

The right hand bird has now taken to the wing as the other lands and is now bearing down on it.

Both birds are now grounded and face in opposite directions

One of the main reasons I was out on the Estuary today was to check the Ringed Plover nesting area, and yes, there is a bit of competition going on between the males. A female was to right of frame.
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Thanks

Little Egret coming in to land from left to right of frame, legs are fully extended and almost perfectly aligned. Dappled reflected sunlight from the water lifts the shadow beneath the tail and horizontal wing. The background is a calm blue sea with a few stems of the saltmarsh poking through.

Landing gear down.
Little Egret coming into the saltmarsh, high tide Duddon Estuary.
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Chiffchaff perched on a twig surrounded by white blackthorn blossom, twigs between the camera and bird have softened the image.

First Chiffchaff pic of the year for me today at Haybridge, buried deep in the blackthorn. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #UKbirding #ukbirds