More of the Reef Heron

Some more photos of the Western Reef Heron from Wednesday.

This is Britain's first ever recorded individual of this species, making it one of the most significant rare bird sightings in the UK this year.

We enjoyed a full morning of often very close views, and at one point this smart, elegant bird came down to just ten metres from us — with only three of us there to witness it — quite amazing.

It's tempting with showy birds to take far too many photos, and the Western Reef Heron was no exception. I came away with plenty to go through, including these shots that really show off this bird's distinctive plumage and elegant style.

Gann Estuary in Pembrokeshire is a fantastic wildlife destination in its own right, judging by the number of rare birds that have turned up there previously, and the surrounding landscape made for a beautiful backdrop.

Certainly my bird of the year so far — and it's going to take something very special to top it. I'll be sharing more photos over the coming days.

Western Reef Heron at last

 

Not long back from a long day in south Wales with Kit Day and Josh Jones, searching for the Western Reef Heron currently at Gann Estuary in Pembrokeshire. Having missed this first for Britain, in north Wales a few weeks ago, it was great to enjoy a full morning of often very close views. I have plenty of photos to go through and will share more over the next few days, but for now here are a couple of flight shots.

Treecreeper

 

I have rarely bothered trying to photograph Treecreepers. Their very nature of climbing tree trunks quickly, and usually above eye level, doesn't make for particularly pleasing photos. On one of my visits to a nearby woodland, searching for Crossbills earlier in the spring, this Treecreeper actually came down to ground level — using a tree beside a pool to launch itself from and catch flies over the water. I'd never seen a Treecreeper flycatching like this before, and it also provided a wonderful opportunity to photograph these unusual-looking, tiny birds.

Hot Barn Owl

I've been out watching owls this week, and it's been a bit of a mixed bag. Barn Owls failed to appear at all on Wednesday or tonight, but yesterday one appeared and successfully hunted for its nearby nest. After the owl flew around for 15 minutes or so, it did a fly-by, tracking across the fenland crops in the sunset — quite idyllic, and a scene I'm very fortunate to be so familiar with.

However, it was 23°C at 9pm (and worse tonight — 26°C at 10:30pm!), and the hunting was clearly exhausting for this owl as it tried to provide for its young. On reviewing the wildlife photos, it was very clearly panting. It's worrying to think of the young of all species still in the nest during a week like this. Let's hope the cooler weather coming this way is more favourable for all.

Immature Crossbill at the Woodland Pool

It's been a really good spring for photographing some local specialities, and this immature Crossbill is a perfect example of why.

In May, my friend found a small pool in a wood near Peterborough that was pulling in several families of Crossbills to drink and bathe. I've photographed Crossbills before, but never at a pool like this. Over the following weeks I got out as many early mornings as I could, and slowly I started to recognise individual birds.

This particular immature bird is likely from a brood last year. Photographing it was a genuine pleasure, but also a genuine challenge. Woodland floor light at a pool like this doesn't just shift hour to hour — it changes by the minute, dappled and unpredictable, gone one second and back the next. Getting a clean, well-lit frame meant a lot of waiting, and a lot of missed moments too.

Crossbills are seriously characterful birds, and this won't be the last you see of them here. More to come from this pool, even though it's long gone.

Emperor Dragonfly

 

Maxton Purple Ron

Earlier last month, my friend Hugh found yet another great bird on his patch at the Maxey–Etton Gravel Complex. In terrible conditions, he found a first-summer Purple Heron looking even more fed up with the weather than we were! A fantastic reward for the countless early starts and sleepless nights that patch-watching often brings.

Stretch!

More from the Coombe Abbey cutie!

While I probably should have been sitting in the sunshine with a cold beer, I spent the best part of an hour lying on the grass watching this little kit go about its business — and it did not disappoint.

At one point it stretched right out along the ground and started pawing at the grass with the kind of focused determination you'd usually only see from a cat. Completely relaxed, completely unbothered, completely unaware of the camera a few metres away. It's the sort of behaviour you only get to see when you've been still long enough to stop being a threat — and when that moment comes there really is nothing better.

Don't worry — this won't be the last you see of this little one. There's more to come.

Cute Rabbit kit

 

This cute Rabbit kit was very obliging at Coombe Abbey last week. 

Reflective Blackbird

 

Scarce Chaser season at Deeping Lakes

Last year the first Scarce Chasers were found at Deeping Lakes, so I took a walk along the Welland yesterday afternoon. To my surprise, they have quickly established themselves as the most common dragonfly I saw on my walk. 

Golden Hour Goosander

Back in April, I spent a few evenings virtually standing in the river during the golden hour, hoping for a few close encounters. This female Goosander was a brilliant surprise as she quietly cruised past in the warm evening light, seemingly completely relaxed by my presence.

I’ve recently added one of these images as a greetings card on my Etsy page too, alongside plenty more of my British wildlife photography and nature prints. www.justwildimages.co.uk

Mute Swan from Lincoln

This Mute Swan was ringed as a cygnet in November 2024 on the River Witham at Lincoln, last recorded there in January with its siblings and parents.

Fast forward to now, and I found it resting on the 2nd May 2026, on the River Welland at Deeping Lakes, where the Maxey Cut meets the river.

Thanks to Jenny at the Lincoln Swan Project for sharing this individual’s history.