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Les Cater

@lesjwc.bsky.social

420 followers 260 following 100 posts

My passion for wildlife and photography has come together in a professional form after many years of using cameras and field craft skills. RSPB volunteer, and photo contributer. Web site mywildlifeimages.com

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 1d

Saved some of my best images from three days at Dunwich Heath to last, although there are more, I will not put anymore up for a while after these. I cant think I have had better days with such a wonderful bird like this rare Turkestan's Shrike. This is one stunning bird to see and photograph😊

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 2d

Cheers Jon, and what a first, we are very lucky to have it here in Suffolk 👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 3d

Later in the day after nearly everyone had gone, the Turkestan Shrike flew off from where it had been all day. I got to a small gorse bush out of sight not far where it had been hoping it would return, it did and I had it for at least an half an hour quietly on my own. Magic 😊

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 4d

Hi Jon, cheers for that, I am slowly going to post more to see how it goes. 😉👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 4d

With a very early start I got to see my very first Turkestan Shrike today on Dunwich heath. A stunner and not one to get to close to, so just enjoyed the fact I saw it. I decided not to crop this image much, as it as good as it gets under the conditions we had today. Just Enjoy

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 5d

Crested Tits from last years crested tit workshop with @PeteWalkden1973
Going back this year to see these wonderful birds for the third time. Beautiful ancient woodlands with these magical birds is something not to be missed. Got to be one of my favourite birds to see every year.

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you so much 😀

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 5d

Cheers Mart, much appreciated 😉👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 5d

This has to be one of my favourites from this years Bittern watch/observations. From under the hide at Island mere @RSPBMinsmere
early spring, shows the beautiful blue lores on a male Bittern ready for the breeding season, albeit he was a young bird he is an excellent example😊👍

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · May 18

Red Footed Falcons hunting over Carlton Marshes Suffolk, a few weeks ago. Stunning species and these views are my very first of one.

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Mar 31

Many thanks for that 😀

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Mar 31

Many thanks for your kind words 👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Mar 30

At the end of every year, I take the oppertunity to go over to the Heath and from around December to February I observe and photograph the Dartford Warblers. As this is pre season to the year ahead breeding time, this alows me to see and photograph them safely before they seek out females to mate.

A male Dartford warbler on a fozen gorse bush, a first for me and finally got this image after many years of trying.

This lovely male Dartford warbler popped up onto a bramble stem.

This was captured at first light, and was a lovely moment as the sun was just rising.

This male Dartford was singing from a stem of a partly desd gorse bush to say, here I am and this is my territory.

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Mar 30

I am now back to my Bittern studies of bittern behaviour during the spring mating period and right throug the summer. The time commitment is high and here are some images from a week under a hide watching these male bitterns emerge from the reed beds to feed, and one male was booming in front on me.

Male Bittern making it's way through the reeds.

This male Bittern, came out into the cleared area the RSPB do every year for the bitterns to feed in front of the hides.

Male bittern making it's way along a water channel to a clearing to feed.

This male Bittern, made a dash to the safety of the reeds where they hide most of the time.

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Jan 17

Thank you Keith 👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Jan 15

Thank you Daniel, thats kind of you 😀👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Jan 15

Excellent Jon we have now found each other. Still on twitter for the time being. Hope to see you again this year.👍

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Jan 14

Bearded tits at RSPB Minsmere captured in the sunlight on a frosty cold day. Using the the freedom of the light, the back ground, and by standing to one side as the bird climbs the reed stem it then bends away from the reed bed. This isolates the single reed stem over the chosen back ground nicely.

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Jan 13

Many thanks Dave 😀

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Jan 12

Love this time of year, it's when you get the best views of Bullfinches in their beautiful plumage. This male Buffinch I have now seen twice at RSPB Minsmere over this last week feeding on the dried out Blackberry fruits from last years summer.

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Dec 18

Thanks Gi for all your hard work and enthusiasm as editor in putting together a wonderful piece of suffolk birdidng news.

Reposted by Les Cater

GiG @wildlifegig.bsky.social · Dec 16

The latest @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social The Harrier is now out with members and will be my final one as editor after 7 years! Thanks to all the contributors over that time, including @lesjwc.bsky.social who provided the front cover image for this edition. #SuffolkBirds

Suffolk Bird Group magazine cover, The Harrier No.219.

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Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Dec 13

Thank you Keith 👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Dec 12

We are very fortunate to have them here on the east coast of east anglia, it is all down to habitat management 😀👍

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · Dec 12

I have added to my ongoing thread about Bittern behaviour at RSPBMinsmere on my web site mywildlifeimages.com On the web site you will find my own observations, my own personal views about Bitterns and records gathered. Also there is an substantial info collection as well from my past encounters.

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