Wildlife Painter and Photographer. Landscape and Portrait Commissions undertaken. Olympus and Lumix Micro Four Thirds system user since Jan 2011. MASTER YOUR OMSYSTEM CAMERA & TELEPHOTO LENS IN 3 COMPREHENSIVE SESSIONS: Email: tom.whiley@live.com MASTER YOUR POST PROCESSING TECHNIQUES FOR A VISUALLY COMPELLING IMAGE: Email tom.whiley@live.com

Tuesday, 9 June 2026

20260609 Western Reef Heron, Caernarfon

 

20260609 Western Reef Heron
Signalling 1st for Britain...
A crippler.

20260609 Western Reef Heron
Bird flew up from loafing position into Little Froyd Bay,
landing in front of the 4th day twitchers..!!

20260609 Western Reef Heron

20260609 Loafing site in Foryd Bay.
All creatures great and small scampered to see this 1st for Britain...

20260609 Western Reef Heron
Leaving to roost in Caernarfon Harbour this evening.
Of the 2500 images taken over 4 days is this the most visually compelling...?

20260609 Western Reef Heron
Feet dipped in cadmium yellow...

20260609 Western Reef Heron
Longer and deeper bill than Little's.

20260609 WRHeron
Pale grey in tibia.

20260609 Foryd Bay
At high tide in silvery evening light.
OM 9-18mm F4, at F8 all is sharp to horizon....
The bird had flown up high to the North with one Little Egret to roost in trees at Caernarfon Harbour.

20260610 Black Swan
Of Foryd Bay...

20260610 Western Reef Heron
Alongside Little Egret at Caernarfon Harbour.

20260610 Western Reef Heron
Balancing exposure on both morphs in the field was tricky...

20260610 Western Reef Heron
Cannot resist a shot of Grey Heron... this one will be permanently etched in the minds eye.

20260610 Western Reef Heron
Throat bulging appeared to be a proximity threat.

20260610 WRHeron

20260610 WRHeron
Sun came out for the seaweed shot.

20260610 Caernarfon Castle
And the harbourside carpark. 
Twitcher JR of Anglesey reckoned about 1000 here on Sunday...!
Also mentioned that the BBRC are happy with the bird... already??!

20260610 4th day Twitchers
A relaxed affair with a few flash points.

20260610 WRHeron
Shot from the South side of the harbour with the light.
Processed for a true colour balance.


20260610 Grey Heron & Caernarfon Castle

20260610 WRHeron
MC20 once again pulled back to 1600mm...?? ISO 10000
Within the reach of the MC14.
MC20 can only be used in well sunlit targets.


Sunday, 31 May 2026

20260531 Gull-billed Tern, Minsmere

 

20260531 Gull-billed Tern
Swooping by Island Mere Hide.
Focus not quite locked on... 1/3200th sec subject detection.

20260531 Gull-billed Tern
Hawking dragonflies over Island Mere.
Black trailing edge to primaries.
Compact and forked tail.

20260601 Gull-billed Tern
Darker inner primary wedge as in Common Tern.

20260601 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

20260502 Gull-billed Tern
Glinting in the midday sun.

20210518 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Blakeney Point.
E-M1 mkII, 300mm +MC20


Friday, 15 May 2026

20260515 Stone Curlew, NE Norfolk

 

20260515 Norfolk Thicknee

20260515 Stone Curlew
 Well marked upperparts.

20260515 Stone Curlew
Whiter uniform underparts.

20250515 Stone Curlew


20260515 Stone Curlew
In much favoured habitat of ploughed but flinty field.
Minimal black margins on covert bar and pale legs suggest this is a female...

20260516 Stone Curlew
Nest on Pig Farm, SNorfolk.
Rare use of MC20 to give 2400mm, with afternoon heat haze.
Nest below electric fence line in very active section of farm.
 Had failed a week latter as overrun by the hordes of Pigs...

20260527 Stone Curlew
NNorfolk enjoying the early morn warmth before the real heat of the day...


Tuesday, 12 May 2026

20260512 Great Bittern, Strumpshaw Fen

 

20260512 Great Bittern
Arguably the top flight shot in 50yrs...

20260512 Great Bittern


Monday, 11 May 2026

20260511 American Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh

 

20260511 American Golden Plover
1st summer bird...
Expected an adult summer bird at this marsh.

20260511 American Golden Plover
One spangle shows in upper scapulars.

20260511 American Golden Plover
Flap following bathing.
Tinted brown underwing coverts and axillaries!
Long tibia also revealed.

20260511 Northern Lapwing
Photo ops at Frampton...

20260511 Pintail

20260522 Eurasian Golden Plover
Eye Field Cley.
Bird with damaged wing, another here with a broken leg.



Saturday, 9 May 2026

20260509 Temminck's Stint & Little Stint, Cley Marshes

 

20260509 Temmink's Stint
4 on Pats Pool.


20260509 Temmink's Stint

20260509 Little Stint

20260509 Little Stint


Monday, 27 April 2026

20260427 Whimbrel & Whinchat, Cey Marshes

 

20260427 Yellow Wagtail
c30 flock in and out West, Eye Field.


20260427 Whinchat
Early morn, against murky light.

20260427 Whimbrel
Eye Field flyby.

20260427 Whimbrel
Overall a darker brown than ECurlew.