bird Archives - Page 2 of 13 - Craig Rogers Photography

A Pair Of Blackcaps Foraging In The Rain

3rd February 20213rd February 2021Craig Rogers

I don’t normally pick a camera up when it’s raining (unless its a photo of the weather of course!) but we are currently in the process of revamping the gardens around the Quinta. This is bringing in bird life to forage through the mess and I noticed a Black Redstart this morning so grabbed the camera (D850 armed with 80-400mm), however, my attentions were soon diverted to a pair of Eurasian Blackcaps who really didn’t seem bothered by my presence as they happily sifted through the gravel and dead leaves coming within a few metres of where I was sat. The female was constantly checking where her male was, so these will soon be nest building nearby.

Although the light levels with the persistent drizzle was terrible I couldn’t help myself but to share a picture of each.

First is the male and you can instantly recognise why it’s called a Blackcap. Often people are confused with the similar Sardinian Warbler, but that has a white breast and also a red ring around the eye.

Common Chiffchaff and Meadow Pipit

17th January 202117th January 2021Craig Rogers

Luckily, before the accident yesterday I did get some shots of Common Chiffchaff that I was photographing for this months Algarve Resident article.
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Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Blue Tit Side-lit By The Late Afternoon Sun

22nd November 202022nd November 2020Craig Rogers

I was taking a break and having a late afternoon beverage (A Sagres Bohemia) and grabbed the camera as there were plenty of Common Chiffchaffs darting in and out of my Oak Trees. They didn’t stand still long enough to get a photo but I heard a Blue Tit calling behind me that was being lit from the side by the late afternoon setting sun.

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Blue Tit Side-lit By The Late Afternoon Sun

A First For Me – A Garden Warbler Passing Through

17th October 202017th October 2020Craig Rogers

The Garden Warbler is does not breed in the southern half of Portugal but can be seen in trees and bushes as a passing migrant. This morning I was trying to photograph some very eluding Robins that have arrived in the garden for the winter (for this month’s Algarve Resident article) and I spotted a bird foraging through the branches of an Oak Tree. Eventually, it popped out on to an exposed branch and I grabbed a quick shot before it disappeared.

The Garden Warbler is well known for being a bit plain-looking with no features and I wasn’t sure but thanks to friend and bird guru Frank McKlintock (Birding In Portugal) for the confirmation.

It’s always a good feeling when I get a first spot along with a photo. I’ve also spotted a pair of Black Caps in the garden too. I’ve seen many of these, but again, never in the garden. This year, I have thinned a lot of bushes and shrubs which have seemed to have attracted more birds.

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Garden Warbler - Felosa-das-figueiras - Sylvia borin

It’s That Time Of Year Again – Common Kingfishers

10th June 202010th June 2020Craig Rogers

If you have been following me for a while you will know how lucky I am to have Kingfishers living on a stretch of the River Odelouca that runs through my land. Over the last few years, I have been lucky to bring you some beautiful photos of Common Kingfishers and I hope that the adults have successfully bred again this year.

To get everyone in the mood, here is a fresh, previously unpublished photo of a juvenile female from last year. I will soon be looking for some locations to shoot from.

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Common Kingfisher (Juvenile Female) - Guarda-rios (juvenil femea) - Alcedo atthis

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Hiding In The Shadows

8th June 20208th June 2020Craig Rogers

This is an old photo from April 2019 that I discovered today whilst looking for other photos of these tiny Woodpeckers. I hadn’t processed for some reason so it just goes to show that sometimes looking through old photos can bring up a surprise. It is a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, identified by the red crown as the female doesn’t have it.

It was half in the sun and half hidden by a large branch of this Cork Oak it was making a nest in. Unfortunately, this old tree has since fallen down, it was already dead and it didn’t survive a strong storm.

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Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Hiding In The Shadows