Stonechat - Saxicola torquata

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Beautiful Stonechats seen and photographed on Ashdown Forest in the Summer 2010.

Stonechats are robin sized birds. Males have striking black heads with white around the side of their neck, orange-red breasts and a mottled brown back. The females lack the male's black head, but have brown backs and an orange tinge to their chests. Birds are frequently seen flicking their wings while perched, often doing so on the tops of low bushes. As its name suggests, birds utter a sharp loud call that sound like two stones being tapped together. They breed in western and southern parts of the UK, but disperse more widely in winter.

Robin - Erithacus rubecula

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The Robin - Erithacus rubecula

Arguably, the UK's favourite bird - with its bright red breast it is familar throughout the year and especially at Christmas!

Males and females look identical, and young birds have no red breast and are spotted with golden brown.

Robins sing nearly all year round and despite their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial and are quick to drive away intruders.

This Robin photo was taken at Warnham Nature Reserve in December 2010



The Robin on the right and below - photos were taken in the Summer of 2010 at Pulborough Brooks RSPB site.

Juvenile Robin seen at Sevenoaks

Robin - Pulborough Brooks West Sussex November 2010 

Nikon D300S  - f4, 1/250th sec, ISO 800

Robin Warnham Nature Reserve January 2011

Robin at Warnham Nature Reserve January 2011

Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus

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Another photo of the Bohemian Waxwing - one that is just landing on the top of a 'berry tree' (sorry but not sure of the name of it! The Waxwing's do like Rowan but I am not sure this one was a Rowan.

Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus

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The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a member of the waxwing family of passerines. A sleek bird, 18–21 cm long with a pointed crest, it travels in large, nomadic groups with a strong, direct flight. It breeds in coniferous forests throughout the most northern parts of Europe, Asia and western North America. These beautiful crested birds come to Britain in winter from Scandinavia.
This photo was taken in December 2010 at Jacobs Well, which is close to Guildford in Surrey. It snowed shortly afterwards and in typical English fashion took us three hours for a 40 minute journey home due to no gritters being out!
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