The Garden Bird Collection

Just in time for Christmas comes The Garden Bird Collection.

The Garden Bird Collection

This is a limited edition set of 6 iconic garden bird pictures set in glass fronted frames and depicting Britain's most loved and common garden birds: the robin, starling, wren, blue tit, blackbird and chaffinch.

The collection is made up of original photographs by Phil Gower, consisting of two 10"x 8" prints, two 7"x 5" prints and two 6"x 4" prints. This edition is limited to 100 sets.

To find out more or to place an order go to:

http://www.philgowerbirdphotography.com/new-products/

Trip to Mount Batten Point - 23rd September 2016

I took my birding buddies Pete Blanchard and Dave Soons down to Plymouth on a hunt for the recently reported Lesser Grey Shrike. The Lesser Grey Shrike breeds in South and Central Europe and Western Asia in the summer and migrates to winter quarters in southern Africa in the early autumn, returning in spring. This one had obviously lost it's way!!

After almost a three hour drive, we arrived at Mount Batten Point. We were rewarded with splendid views of Plymouth Sound (including a submarine and othe navel vessels). After 20 minutes or so searching, we were further rewarded with some striking views of the Shrike, just off the coastal path heading towards Jenny Cliff Bay.

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Lesser Grey Shrike after a successful hunt...

Buoyed by our success, we decided to head into Cornwall to visit Davidstow Airport, where a Rose Colours Starling, American Golden Plove and Buff-breasted Sandpiper had been spotted a couple of days earlier.

We regretted this decision. There was nothing to be seen other than some twitchers chasing starling flocks around! This one trip demonstrated the highs and lows of the life of a bird photographer. Still, we had the 4-hour trip home to look forward to.

On the way back, we stopped off at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB near Topsham. We sighted a large flock of Curlew, a distant Osprey carrying a fish and being mobbed by Gulls and a Peregrine ineptly flushing Redshank, Greenshank and Godwit...a great sight but no pictures.

Another great day of bird photography!

Trip to Gilfach Nature Reserve, Powys, Wales - 30th April

Travelled to Gilfach Nature Reserve on Friday evening with my son Charlie. Charlie is beginning to take an interest in bird photography, although his attention was grabbed more by the rib-eye steak he devoured on our arrival.

It's was our first visit to this site and what a joy it turned out to be.

We walked the Gilfach valley from the entrance car park to the visitor's centre and back again and spent a hour in the purpose-built Otter Hide.

No otters but some great shots of Willow Warblers, Pied Flycatchers, Dippers and Common Redstarts.

Great birds, great scenery and very special company for the "old boy!"