BIRD OF THE MONTH
Above Frozen ground means food such as
worms and insect s cannot be dug for, so
supplying food can be a lifesaver.Right If you haven’t got a garden then visit
your local park and put out fruit in the same
way – the birds will fi nd it. This shot of a male
blackbird was taken from my car in a local
park by doing just that during a sp ell of
hard weather a few years ago.Above As well as the commoner blackbirds you never know
what might arrive to eat the food. The fi eldfare, from the
thrush family, is a winter visitor that also loves fruit.February 2018 Outdoor Photography 85Burton Mere Wetlands
As mentioned in the main
text, the RSPB’s Burton Mere
Wetlands site is one of a few
locations that have seen a catt le
egret fl edgling. These are not
the only st ars of the centre,
though: litt le egrets roost here
and can be seen throughout
the year, black-tailed godwits
overwinter, hen harriers regularly
hunt over the wetlands and
water rail can potentially come
out into the open to look for food
when the ground is frozen.
To aid your birdwatching
experience there are two hides –
as well as viewing from the main
reception building – which will
allow you to observe the site’s
reed beds, fi shery pools and
farmland. A number of nature
trails will lead you around the
centre, which also includes a
short woodland walk, and a path
up to Burton Point headland,
which off ers views across the
Dee Est uary into Wales. Note
that some of the paths can get
muddy when wet, so waterproof
boots are a good idea in winter.
Gett ing there Burton Mere
Wetlands is just under nine
miles north-west of Chest er,
st raddling the England/
Wales border. Leave Chest er
on the A540 and continue
for approximately fi ve and a
half miles until you reach the
crossroads junct ion with the
A550. Continue on the A540
for a litt le under half a mile and
turn left on to Puddington Lane,
signed Puddington. Follow the
road for two miles and then
make a left just before Bishop
Wilson primary school.
Entry fee Adult £4; concession
£3; child £2 (under 5s go free, as
does the fi rst child of a family).
Opening times Every day except
Christ mas Day, 9am until dusk
(up to 9pm in summer).
Website rsp b.org.ukSTEVE’S FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS LOCATION OF
THE MONTH
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TIP
Winter is a great time to photograph
garden birds by baiting them with food
that they may need to see them through
any sp ells of hard weather. For thrushes
such as blackbird, fruit is a perfect
enticement, with apples and pears high
on the list of favourites. At this time of
year the natural falls will be well eaten,
so it means buying your own fruit to put
out for the birds, but the photographic
rewards can be well worth it.© Paul Brady (rsp b-images.com)Above The perfect habitat for a winter fl ock of twite. This individual
posed nicely on the shoreline, looking for seeds.To p A slightly diff erent portrait of a bird
perched on a gorse bush.
Above Although not shy, twite can take
fl ight easily when ‘sp ooked’.Among the fl otsam and jetsam of our shorelines in
the winter months will be small fl ocks of diminutive,
nondescript fi nches called twite. Similar in size and shape
to the commoner linnet, this sp ecies breeds in the UK in
northern areas on moors, but during autumn and winter
fl ocks gather along coast lines where they search for seeds.
With a yellow bill, st rong buff underparts and a pink rump,
the twite is an att ract ive bird, which can be approached with
care. However, as they are usually in fl ocks it only takes
one bird to be alarmed and they will all fl y.84-85_ON_THE_WING_227_SW.indd 85 18/12/2017 16:02