Lisa G Saw • April 2, 2023

The Bird Feeder Show

SWT Woods Mill

There’s a hint of spring around the nature reserve, with Daffodils already past their best, Wood Anemones carpeting the woodland floor and the promise of Bluebells yet to come. I can hear the soft hum of the bees buzzing around a beautiful row of Blackthorn trees awash with their pretty white flowers. Buds and catkins can be seen on the deciduous trees, and plenty of lichen decorate the branches and trunks, but the leaves are yet to appear. We didn’t arrive early enough to see any butterflies on the wing, though I’m sure the afternoon sunshine and warmth would have been enough to entice a few.

It’s wonderful hearing all the birds singing as we walk around. The recognisable trill of the Wren conjures up fond memories from my previous visits. It’s as if I’m being welcomed back by friends. I’ve been away too long. Life has been busy. Now, I can slow down and breathe deeply, inhaling the fresh air. I can just feel myself relaxing as we slowly amble through the reserve. It’s so good to be walking along the familiar paths once again. The calm of nature is so alluring.At the start of September, I returned to Boat of Garten in Scotland, where I’d visited back in March. This time I was on my own and staying in different accommodation – a lovely comfortable, warm chalet at the holiday park. I enjoyed the familiarity of the location, but mostly made a point of exploring new places and having different experiences.

After our walk, with little tempting my camera into action, we decide to rest a while in the hide that overlooks the bird feeders. Maybe there’ll be more activity here! We slide along the wooden bench and sit next to a stranger already poised with his camera facing the feeders. Soon, I’m doing the same, excited about what I’ll see. It’s like we’re sitting in the front row at a theatre about to watch a show, only I realise I’ve missed the start, as birds are already coming and going frequently. It’s the last frenzy to feed as the day draws to a close. Much of the scene in front of me is cloaked in shade, at the edge of the woodland. Only small shafts of light still manage to penetrate through the trees. Ever so slowly, these golden pathways change as the sun continually lowers. Even in these last hours of light, there’s much to enjoy.

I’ve photographed the Great Tits many times before. I enjoy watching them, but only when they perch in a picturesque spot do I bother to capture the moment. As weird as it sounds, I think my lack of love for them has something to do with their appearance. They look so harsh and stern with their black head and belly stripe. I chastise myself. I know I should love and appreciate all the birds!

The Great Tits and Blue Tits are dominating the show. They fly to a perch in close proximity to the feeders, glancing all around to check the coast is clear. Then swiftly, they fly in and out, grabbing something to eat and disappearing into the trees in a heartbeat. Sometimes they loiter, when it’s quieter and feels safe. Other times, they scarper, as if threatened by something dangerous nearby. I’ve photographed the Great Tits many times before. I enjoy watching them, but only when they perch in a picturesque spot do I bother to capture the moment. As weird as it sounds, I think my lack of love for them has something to do with their appearance. They look so harsh and stern with their black head and belly stripe. I chastise myself. I know I should love and appreciate all the birds!

Now, the Blue Tits on the other hand, I love. Their gorgeous blue and pale yellow colouration and feisty character warms my heart. In a way, they’re like the underdogs when it comes to the hierarchy of the bird feeder. But today they’re faring well. I was hoping to capture a shot of one perched on a branch in the last of the sunlight, rather than on the feeder, but I kept missing them. They’re so quick. The opportunities are fleeting. One time, I stayed focused on one spot in anticipation of a Blue Tit landing there, and for ages none did. I waited and waited. I started thinking, I’m never going to get the shot I want! Briefly, my attention was diverted to a Blue Tit in another good spot. I quickly shifted my focus and just then, it flew to where I had been focused on. Damn! I missed my moment!

It was lovely to see some of my other favourite birds frequenting the area. Early on, a Nuthutch was feeding – a gorgeous masked bandit – but, it didn’t stay long and never returned. A few Long Tailed Tits came to join the show early and again later on. One very kindly perched long enough for me to grab a shot of it looking cute and fluffy. I even took one on the round bird feeder. I particularly liked the way its distinct shape was slightly silhouetted with the bright light shining on the vegetation in the background.

Surprisingly, skirting the main stage and only hiding in the wings, there was a male Blackbird. I expected it to wade in and at least collect some seeds on the ground, which had fallen from the feeders above. A Robin did exactly that, but didn’t linger. A Grey Squirrel was also skulking around, a little uncharacteristically. We thought it might have been injured, as it didn’t move as deftly as expected. It lacked a spring in its step and the confidence I’ve seen in others. It crept up tentatively, and fed from the ground, before sloping off again.

There were two species that took centre stage on the ground. It started with the Reed Buntings. Not a species I’ve seen before at feeders. The first one looked a little shabby, as if it had forgotten to put on its best feathers for the occasion. Moulting, it wasn’t quite in its full breeding plumage yet. However, it was joined by a much more handsome fellow who was sure to attract the attention of the females soon. The two of them enjoyed a good feast, but they kept to the shaded spots virtually the whole time, often choosing to stand with their back to me. I kept willing them into the shaft of light on the ground, so I could see their eyes and beak. Of course, I didn’t want any of the vegetation to get in the way either or for it to be distracting. Is that so much to ask? I chuckle to myself. Sometimes the quest for photographic perfection means you miss the beauty in the present moment.

The star of the show was an unexpected interloper – not even a bird. A gorgeous little Bank Vole stole my heart for the hour. There were actually two of them. Though we only saw them both at the same time very briefly. I think they sniffed each other and then one scarpered. The Blue Tits may have been quick, dashing in and out of the scene, but the vole was lightning fast. It hid in a clump of tall grass. Every now and then it poked its head out. Then in a flash, it grabbed a seed and retreated. Its very survival depends upon its speed, so it was no wonder it was hard to capture a photo. Only when the coast was clear, did it loiter for more than a few seconds. I was so grateful for the opportunity to take a few lovely photos, especially when the vole was kind enough to pose in the light for me too.

There were two species that took centre stage on the ground. It started with the Reed Buntings. The first one looked a little shabby, as if it had forgotten to put on its best feathers for the occasion. Moulting, it wasn’t quite in its full breeding plumage yet. However, it was joined by a much more handsome fellow. The two of them enjoyed a good feast, but they kept to the shaded spots virtually the whole time, often choosing to stand with their back to me. I kept willing them into the shaft of light on the ground, so I could see their eyes and beak. Of course, I didn’t want any of the vegetation to get in the way either or for it to be distracting. Is that so much to ask? I chuckle to myself. Sometimes the quest for photographic perfection means you miss the beauty in the present moment.

The star of the show was an unexpected interloper – a gorgeous little Bank Vole stole my heart for the hour. There were actually two of them. Though we only saw them both at the same time very briefly. I think they sniffed each other and then one scarpered. The Blue Tits may have been quick, dashing in and out of the scene, but the vole was lightning fast. It hid in a clump of tall grass. Every now and then it poked its head out. Then in a flash, it grabbed a seed and retreated. Its very survival depends upon its speed, so it was no wonder it was hard to capture a photo. Only when the coast was clear, did it loiter for more than a few seconds. I was so grateful for the opportunity to take a few lovely photos, especially when the vole was kind enough to pose in the light for me too.

I could have watched the Bank Vole for hours. But, it was growing colder by the second as evening approached. We were leaving before the show was over, but felt we’d enjoyed enough of the main event to be ready to depart. There was no big grand finale, but just before we left, we took one last look at the stage and saw a female Mallard hoovering up the leftover seeds.

It was a wonderful way to spend an hour. Nature is the gift that keeps giving!

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Autumn in Scotland 2025

By Lisa G Saw • November 23, 2025

This autumn Bob and I returned to the Highands, two years after our last trip to the area. With his son Matt and fiancée Emily now living there, it was a great opportunity to see them, enjoy some wildlife watching and spend time out in nature. The weather forecast for our time away was less than ideal, but we were determined to make the most of our visit, even if that meant wearing waterproofs most days! We stayed in two different self-catered accommodation in the Aigas Valley near where Matt and Emily live, on the west side of Loch Ness. It was lovely staying somewhere new and very picturesque, especially during the autumn. The only downside about the holiday was that I managed to hurt my back the day before leaving. It was very frustrating, but I didn't want it to ruin the holiday, so I tried to focus more on enjoying the experience of where we were and not worrying too much about the photography. That being said, I did use my camera on the first morning as a little test. On that first day, and on two subsequent days, we explored Glen Affric. It looked beautiful with the autumn colours (top and below). On every visit, we stopped at Dog Falls, where the picturesque River Affric tumbles and cascades over the rocks. For a stretch, a path runs alongside it, providing us with plenty of opportunities to stop and look out for any Dippers. As luck would have it, I did spot one very early on. It flew across the river to the far side and proceeded to bob up and down, periodically diping its head into the water looking for food. It was wonderful to have some time watching it, and keeping up with it as it worked its way down river. But eventually, it flew off and we lost sight of it. Unfortunately, it was to be our only Dipper sighting the whole time we were in these parts and none of the photos were worth keeping.

A Day at Minsmere

By Lisa G Saw • July 6, 2025

Bob and I had just experienced a wonderful four days in Norfolk in search of the Swallowtail butterfly , which I'd never seen before, and we decided to head home via RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk. Both of us had only ever been to this reserve once before, many years ago, before we knew each other. That first visit for me was a memorable occasion because it was the first time I saw Eurasian Otters in the wild and my first ever sighting of an Eurasian Bittern. Aside from it being a lovely nature reserve to visit anyway, it was the lure of the bittern that was calling me back. We'd already had two lovely sightings of this shy and elusive waterbird in Norfolk, but I had higher hopes for a better, closer sighting at Minsmere having seen some fabulous photos on social media from a few weeks prior. So, whilst we were sad to be leaving Norfolk, I was eager for the day ahead and what we might see. Things were off to a great start as we followed the woodland trail to one of the hides and saw a small cluster of people on the path ahead looking up. Someone had spotted a Tawny Owl high up in the trees. There was even a scope set up pointing towards it. The gentleman who owned it kindly invited us to have a look. It was fabulous to see the owl nestled close to the tree trunk and with its eyes shut, having a few winks. They sleep a lot in the daytime since they're mostly nocturnal. After looking through the scope, it was a case of trying to locate it it with my bins and see if I could take a photo. I was pleased with the image I was able to capture. More people came along the path and some people were struggling to spot it. Bob and I both ended up helping others try to locate it. It can be very difficult describing to others which line of trees and branches to follow with their eyes!

Swallowtails in Norfolk: Part 2

By Lisa G Saw • June 30, 2025

In the first part of this blog post - Swallowtails in Norfolk - I wrote about our first two days spent mostly at Strumpshaw Fen, where I successfully saw my first ever Swallowtail butterfly. Following this, we had two more days exploring the area. I still hoped I'd see more of this beautiful native species at some of the other reserves. DAY 3 The forecast for this day wasn't great, but at least dry. There wouldn't be much chance of any sunshine until the afternoon, when it would warm up a bit. So, we decided to head to Buxton Heath, on the other side of Norwich. Bob knew it was a good site for the Silver-studded Blue butterfly. It's a species we have in just two locations within Sussex - both of which we've been to. It's a species that thrives on heathland and can be found in good numbers in the right habitat if it's managed well - with grazing or periodic burning in patches. It turned out the forecast wasn't very accurate. When we arrived, it was already brightening up and our chance of finding roosting butterflies disappeared very quickly. However, it was lovely exploring somewhere new and aside from one other couple and a man working there, we didn't see anyone else for the three hours we were there. We left the car park and headed towards the northern corner of the heath first and in next to no time, Bob spotted one flying. I stopped and looked down and saw there was another right beside me. I used my bins to take a closer look and suddenly noticed there were ants crawling around it. Instantly, I knew this was something special. The butterfly had only just emerged. I quickly took some photos but was having real issues with my camera. I was so disappointed not to get any good photos. The butterfly is out of focus but the ant is sharp!!! Hmmm! Not what I was going for! This close relationship with ants occurs with a few of the blue species of butterfly, such as the Large Blue, Adonis Blue and Chalkhill Blue. It's the first time I've ever seen the ants in attendance of a new emerged butterfly, so I was thrilled at least to have seen it.