My
Field Guide
British Birds
With so many different species of birds to photograph around Devon it can overwhelming where to begin... This is my field guide of the birds that I have been lucky enough to encounter along with a little about them and how I captured the image. I’ve also included audio samples for each bird to help identify their bird calls, as this is a key feature when learning how to spot and observe wildlife.
Kingfisher
Alcedo attthis
Kingfisher Call:Probably one of the most difficult birds I have photographed. They are lightning quick and also actually very tiny only measuring around 16-17cm (about the same size as a house sparrow) which makes them surprisingly difficult to spot even with their bright blue and orange colours.
Kingfishers typically live for around 5-7 years and are extremely territorial birds. Which means once you do eventually spot the Kingfisher at a location they are likely to keep coming back to the same spot. Although that said, getting a good photograph of one is then another challenge. It still takes a lot of time/patience and learning your field craft to know when and where to setup and wait for “a chance” of getting good a photograph and even with all the knowledge/planning, there are still no guarantees that the Kingfisher will stop and perch in that particular area or spot that day.
You can find Kingfishers along many of the rivers and wetlands around Devon and the photograph you see here I captured at Stover Country Park. Although even here finding the Kingfisher is by no means an easy task…. Stover covers 114 acres with a mixture of woodland, lakes, marsh, heathland and grassland to explore. I heard from a friend that the Kingfisher was around so I spent over 5 hours one morning walking around the river trying different spots. I had times where all I saw was a flash of blue swoosh by, times where the Kingfisher was always looking away and not to mention all the times where the Kingfisher would fly off just as I was about to take the shot! Eventually though it all paid off and I managed to capture this photograph.
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian Jay Call:The Eurasian Jay is quite a large bird around 34-35cm (about the size of a crow). You’ll know when you spot one of these magnificent looking birds as they are light brown in colour with a white and black head and have a stunning bright blue feathers on their wings.
That said, however… the Eurasian jay is a notoriously difficult bird to get images of, often perched high in the trees waiting for opportunities to swoop down to the ground only when it’s quiet. They will more than likely fly away if they spot you getting anywhere near close, so patience is the real key to photographing this one. I was lucky enough to capture this photo when one flew down to pick up some seed that had been scattered on the ground.
Dartford Warbler
Sylvia undata
Dartford Warbler Call:What can I say… the Dartford Warbler could well be my favourite. They are a very unique looking bird and have a very distinctive raspy call that you just cannot mistake. Only a little larger than a Blue Tit at around 12cm, they have a Grey coloured head and wings with a rusty coloured body, that gives a lovely glow in the morning sunlight.
You can find these on the commons where there is plenty of gorse and heather, for them to hide and nest in. You’ll usually have a great chance of photographing them during spring on a nice sunny morning, as they like to perch up high, but you have to be quick as they will fly off quick if they notice you.
I’m lucky enough to have a place really close by to see these, which really helps as we don’t get too many warm sunny mornings to be able to plan a trip ahead to photograph these.
It’s always a joy photographing this one!
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
Long-tailed Tit Call:The Long-tailed Tit is one of the smaller birds I have photographed and are a tiny round bird, pinkish-brown in colour with dark marks on their white coloured head. They are only around 9cm tall and have a long tail really makes these stand out from the other species of Tit.
These are another bird that are very tricky to photograph, always fluttering quickly between branches and hardly ever staying still long enough for photos. Your best not to chase them around trying to get a shot, instead observe the area where they keep landing and just wait!
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
Great Spotted Woodpecker Call:Great Spotted Woodpecker Drumming:Another one of my favourites and a rare one to spot... The Great Spotted Wood Pecker. You’re more likely to hear this one drumming away at the trees in the distance long before you spot one. They measure around 22-23cm (about the same size as a blackbird) although these are rarely seen on the ground. You’ll often spot them high up in trees or climbing up tree trunks.
Unless you know a spot where the Great Spotted Woodpecker is regular found you’ll have a hard job just stumbling across one. Your best bet is to listen out for their calls or drumming as this will give you a great indication of the rough location to head towards.
I photographed this one at Stover Country Park, in a spot where I’ve had encounters on multiple occasions, so I already knew where to go, at the best times for a chance of seeing this one.
White-throated Dipper
Cinclus cinclus
White-throated Dipper Call:The White-throated Dipper is always fun bird to watch and photograph. They are 18cm dark brown with black wings and an unmistakable white breast and throat.
Around February/March is a good time to see these birds out and about along fast moving streams. Although they do blend in extremely well with the surroundings, so there not always easy to spot unless you're really looking for them, but when you do you’ll instantly be able recognise them as they do a little bob up and down while perching on rocks before dipping under the water. You’ll normally know if you are in the right area as their white droppings will be covering the rocks.
Although with that said there’s a chance with these that you might get wet trying to get eye level with them, so bring your wellies and waterproofs!
Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Pheasant Call:The Pheasant is a large bird measuring around 53-89cm. Although they are not technically a native species to Britain, they were brought here by the Romans in the 11th century as ornamental birds before becoming the game bird we know of today.
The males are a brilliantly coloured with an iridescent, copper coloured body, a metallic looking green/blue head and neck with a red face, along with a very long tail ginger in colour with dark bars.
You can find these in the open countryside, often around thick hedges and woodland. Although photographing them is very tricky as they almost never stay still and will run off the moment they catch a glimpse of anyone coming towards them.
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Song Thrush Song:The Song Thrush is a brown coloured bird with a golden colour brown and white speckled tummy, so you’ll definitely know when you spot one of these. They are around 23cm quite similar to a Blackbird in size and often hide in the trees waiting for the opportunity to spot snails, caterpillars, earthworms and other insects on the ground.
Your mostly to hear them singing their song in the trees before spotting one, so it’s well worth learning what their song sounds like. that said they will usually perch still to let you get some photograph them providing you don’t move quick and frighten them. This little chap posed perfectly on this old tree stump while I took some photographs.
Robin
Erithacus rebecula
Robin Song:The Robin, probably one the UK’s most loved birds. You can find these almost everywhere from your own back garden to all around the English countryside. They are a small bird measuring around 14cm and are pretty unmistakable with their bright orangery-red breast and you’ll have heard their song while out and about multiple times, even if you not familiar with it.
They can be quite a tame bird when it comes to photographing them and will often will perch long enough for you to be able to get some fantastic images, which makes the Robin an ideal bird to practice your wildlife photography on.
