Tuesday 15 May 2012

Nightingale





A bird that is surrounded by folklore and was made famous by a 1940`s song, the Nightingale is perhaps one of Britains most well known birds. Known to be a bird with a tremendous song, but this bird is notoriously difficult to see well as it tends to sit deep inside a bramble bush and belt out its tune. The bird is quite plain in the plumage department, being a warm brown with a reddish-brown rump and tail, grey-brown underparts and a paler throat.

We are lucky in the Peterborough area in the fact that we have a number of breeding sites of these summer visitors, one of which I visited at the weekend, where I encountered the above bird, perched inside a bramble bush, but easy to see. Contrary to common belief, they do sing in the day, as the above digiscoped shots show.

36 comments:

  1. Great captures of the singing Nightingale! /Susanne

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  2. Terrific shots! What was it singing? ;)

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    1. Thank you Karen. It was singing a tuneful ditty! ;)
      J

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  3. Great pictures John and great sighting. I was talking to a chap at the weekend who was going to visit Wisbeach NR a Nightingale hotspot and I said something about being early and he said they sang all day.

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    1. Thanks Mike. Yes, they do sing all day, although the best song is at night, or maybe it is then you can truly hear the song as no other birds are making a noise!
      J

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  4. You're right as soon as I read the caption I thought of the song. But with a voice like that maybe a flashy plumage is unnecessary. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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    1. Hi Gary,
      Exactly, with the ability to make such a tune, who needs gaudy colours!
      J

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  5. What wonderful captures!
    You did well to have seen it and photograph it singing as well.

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    1. Hi Carletta,
      Thank you. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time, I suppose!
      J

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  6. Stunning images John you really have mastered your art.

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    1. Thank you Andrew,
      I think I am a long way off mastery, as yet!
      J

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  7. I don't think I have ever seen a Nightingale and only rarely have I heard one. Even though it's rather plain, your pictures enhance it's appearance; it's a modest little chap!
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. Hi Bazza,
      Not an easy bird to see, but go to a known site and you can hear them readily enough. I have got some photos of another bird that is facing the other way, showing his chestnut coloured back, I will post those soon.
      J
      (I bet you can hardly wait!) ;)

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  8. Thats the first picture I have seen of a nightingale with its mouth shut. Excellent shots .

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    1. Thanks Mike,
      I try to be a bit different!
      J

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  9. Fabulous shooting John of this very elusive species. Difficult enough with a DSLR and even more so digi-scoping. Brilliant.

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    1. Thanks Roy,
      As ever, you are too kind!
      J

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  10. Great photos and a bird I have often read about.

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    1. Hi Mick,
      Thank you. A bird that has got a permanent place in a library somewhere!
      J

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  11. Interesting information brilliantly illustrated!
    ;-)WBW!

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    1. Hi Springman,
      Thank you. I am glad you find my waffle interesting! ;)
      J

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  12. Amazing captures!Thanks for sharing and have a great day!

    Shantana

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    1. Thank you Shantana, the same to you!
      J

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  13. Great pictures you show of the nightingale.
    Wishing you a good day.
    Hanne Bente / hbt.finus.dk

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    1. Thank you Hanne, too kind. The same to you.
      J

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  14. How I wish I could hear one again! Lovely shots.

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    1. Hi Arija,
      Thank you. The sound they make gladdens the heart!
      J

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  15. I missed your last post :-( cracking photo of the Whitethroat though!

    As for these photos, just wonderful!!! I'm very envious having never managed one. When my parents were courting they cycled miles one evening to a place where Dad knew a Nightingale sang so that Mum could hear it, I think that's rather romantic :-) Another of my blogland friends has one singing at the bottom of his garden every evening at the moment....sigh!

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    1. Hi Jan,
      Thank you.
      A very romantic story of a bygone age. I am jealous of your blogger friend having a Nightingale at the bottom of his garden, what a treat!
      J

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  16. Back from Wales, and wonderful to catch up with your birds. This nightingale, singing its heart out, is a wonderful catch!

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    1. Hi Susan,
      Back from the land of our Fathers! Hope you enjoyed your trip on this side of the pond and thank you for your kind words.
      J

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