LATEST IMAGES - DARTMOOR5
During our stay on Dartmoor we found time to try and photograph Cirl Buntings which we knew were nearby. We visited Labrador Bay RSPB Reserve where the RSPB have invested lots of time and money to encourage Cirl Buntings. Winter stubble is left for the birds which can be seen from the car park and on the nearest trail. We spent half a day trying to capture images of these rare and colourful Buntings. They very rarely gave us a clear view when they perched in the hedges, preferring to perch on the field side which we couldn't get to or deep in the hedge. Maybe it would be easier in the Spring when the males are singing. We also spent time in a car park near Paignton where the birds are fed over the winter. They come down to the ground to feed on the grain and are obviously used to cars, so we used our car as a hide. The two big problems were trying to get an image of the Cirl Buntings without loads of grain in the picture and, one we hadn't expected, making sure all the learner drivers using the car park for practice didn't crash into our car,. it was the most nervous we had been taking images for a long time!
MALE CIRL BUNTING
FEMALE CIRL BUNTING
MALE CIRL BUNTING1
MALE CIRL BUNTING2
FEMALE CIRL BUNTING1
DUNNOCK