Birds of the Month: Your photos

“I was at North Hide at Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve in Somerset. I couldn't believe my luck as this bird flew towards me, with the sun behind me, perfect conditions, and so close.” 

“I took this photo at one of my favourite local beauty spots, Newmillerdam, which is close to Wakefield. I love to go there to take photos of birds and wildlife. I like the photo because of the details it shows, such as the way the light highlights the iridescent green of the Mallard’s plumage and the water droplets on its beak.”

“The photo was taken at RSPB Snettisham in Norfolk during a high tide 'spectacular'. I had watched the incoming tide force the birds to exit the shoreline and roost on the banks opposite the Knots Landing Hide. 

“I was taking photographs of the Knots when I noticed two gulls surrounded by Knots. I was informed by a knowledgeable gent in the hide that they were Mediterranean Gulls. I like the way the gulls seem to be talking to each other 'I think we're outnumbered' kind of conversation!”  

“This image is taken with a Nikon Z9 and a Nikkor 500mm f5.6 PF lens with a 1.4 converter attached. It was taken in February in excellent late afternoon winter light in the Peak District. It’s a location I have been to on many occasions sometimes you see them and sometimes you don’t. This was on my last of eight visits this year over three months. 

“This is a squabble between the two, the bird on the right had picked up a vole and the second one wanted it, which led to this battle in the sky. I managed to rattle off around 10 images as they darted around the sky. This one is my favourite.” 

“This photo was taken at Clayfield Copse, just to the east of Reading. We are seeing an increase in Firecrest numbers in the area. Previous to this year, I’d only experienced a couple of sightings, but they’ve appeared in a number of different sites now."

“It was early spring so there were a couple of pairs doing what birds do in spring – chasing each other and displaying – hence the crest being evident. It is unusual to get a clear shot like this, as they normally keep well within the vegetation.” 

“I took this photo at Rutland Water. We did stake out the Osprey nest there for quite some time but saw little movement, maybe because the female had recently laid her second egg.

"Fortunately though, once we had moved over to the Anglian Water Bird Watching Centre, Osprey Male 33 made a wonderfully low and slow flyby.” 

“I have two nestboxes with cameras. This photo is mum tempting the last chick (of 11) to leave the safety of the nest by offering it food and then taking it away and calling the chick until it flies out to eat. 

"The parents often look like this due to the demands of raising chicks. They also pluck out their chest feathers to make better contact with the eggs when incubating. As this was the last chick, it was the weakest and I was on the edge of my seat hoping it had the strength to fly to safety and not crash to the ground. I needn't have worried!"

“This is the Cuckoo who treated us to a lovely clear song as we were walking our dog in the High Ash area of Thetford Forest, Norfolk. He was some distance from us and we only had a mobile phone to try and get a picture. Lovely memory we'll keep!”  

Diane and Martin Lane with Tucker the Cocker Spaniel. 

“I enjoyed reading about Swallows, Swifts, House Martins and Sand Martins in Notes on Nature, and hope you like my photo of a Swallow on a metal cattle feeder!

"I watched a pair of Swallows repeatedly landing and catching flies around the feeder on farmland near my home in Shelf, Halifax.” 

“I saw Sandwich Terns in April, at the mouth of Afon Dwyfor where it runs into Tremadoc Bay in North Wales. I was photographing Grey Seals and then spotted what I thought were a couple of gulls about 100 yards away at low tide.” 

“I took this photo on 12 June at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. The fledglings were pointed out to me by the RSPB rangers – I don’t think I’d have spotted them without their help!” 

“This photo was taken near Loch Turret, on the edge of the Highlands in Southern Perthshire. Having spotted a 'blackbird', my friend Julie and I spent several hours looking for confirmation that it was a Ring Ouzel.

"Eventually we identified two pairs of adults and three fledged young. By watching the adults, we soon worked out where one pair was nesting.  This photo was taken while one adult was close to the nest, hidden in dense bracken. It was taken at a distance to avoid disturbance. Whilst not of great quality, is a record shot of finding this uncommon, upland bird!” 

“I took this photo in our back garden. Our neighbours have a nest in their bush and the Blackbirds come backwards and forwards to our feeders and wildlife pond. We have a Mr Blackbird that comes to our pond most days to bathe and drink!”