Ray Wilson Bird Photography - Diary (May 2009)

May is always a busy month for wildlife photographers, and this year was no exception!

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) - Anglesey, Wales

The month got off to a bit of a slow start with some cold, wet, and windy weather, but it started improving from mid-May and just got better and better.

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) - Anglesey, Wales

Breeding season is in full swing by mid-May with many of the residents already feeding young that are close to fledging, as was the case with the Tree Sparrows below...

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - East Yorkshire, England

The high amount of rain at the beginning of the month meant that water levels at many reserves were a bit high and most of the wader scrapes had little or no mud exposed to attract migrant waders. Longer-legged shorebirds like Avocets were, however, still present.

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) - East Yorkshire, England

At least the high water levels meant the Gadwalls came close to the hides...

Male Gadwall (Anas strepera) chasing a Mayfly - East Yorkshire, England

The wind was in the wrong direction on the afternoon I visited the Gannet colony at Bempton Cliffs. All the birds were flying nice and slow only when they were facing away from the sun, but zipping past at about 30-40mph when facing the sun. It made keeping them in frame a bit of a challenge!