Another month of staying local so I was spending most of my time at locations in South Oxfordshire/Bucks. Lockdown restrictions are to be slowly relaxed with normality being reached in June. Not sure which June though! LOL.

February was a very cold and wet month with all the rain and snow which then froze. Things were that bad at Otmoor I was considering buying a dinghy! It was a challenging time for the wildlife but they adapt in dire conditions. I tried to make the most of the snowy conditions photographing the birds foraging in the snow. The smaller birds are given a helping hand with seed being scattered 3 times a week.  Common reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)Common reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
RSPB Otmoor, Oxon.

Reed bunting at RSPB Otmoor.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula)European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
RSPB Otmoor, Oxon. Who can resist a snowy robin picture?

Common blackbird (Turdus merula)Common blackbird (Turdus merula)
RSPB Otmoor, Oxon. Mrs Blackbird not impressed with the falling snow.

I also paid a few visits to Tring reservoirs mainly for shots of the sunrise and frosty boatyard. There was plenty of wildfowl which are regularly fed by visitors.

Mute swan checking its reflection on a frozen Tring reservoir.

Bulborne Canal WorksBulborne Canal Works
Grand Union canal, Marsworth, Herts. A frozen Bulborne Canal Works
Grand Union canal, Marsworth.

Over the past week the weather has warmed up considerably and the water levels have dropped. There is a hint of Spring in the air with buds on the trees, flowers in the hedgerows and birds singing for a mate. Also I can stop dressing up like an eskimo to brave the elements! 

Brown hare (Lepus europaeus)Brown hare (Lepus europaeus)
RSPB Otmoor, Oxon. Brown hares will become more active in the coming weeks

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
RSPB Otmoor, Oxon. Grey heron collecting nesting material at RSPB Otmoor.

Female marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)Female marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
RSPB Otmoor, Oxon. Female Marsh harrier displaying. Once a rare bird in the UK. Thanks to conservation efforts their numbers are increasing.

As I'm writing this I had a notification from the Bird Photographer of the Year officials. One of my entries has made it to the final stage of judging!!

This is the first time I have entered this competition and I never expected to do this well never mind reach the final stages. There are thousands of entries from all over the world so fingers crossed I can go all the way!

Thank you all for reading my latest blog and thank you all for your support and kind comments over this difficult period we are all experiencing. It makes it all worth the while in the end.

Please continue to upload your photographs to my Photo's Page. There are some great photographs being posted.

Many more of my images can be viewed on my flickr page and Instagram.

Thanks

Steve