Shooting birds...

There's nothing 'glorious' about the 12th of August for the beautiful Red Grouse - traditionally this is the day when furious hunting of these wild and farmed birds, amongst other 'game' birds, begins.

Many people think of the hunting shooting fishing way of life a mix of gentile country strolls and clean shoots that help to manage a thriving over-population of birds.

The reality is sadly very different...

Millions of game birds are reared in squalid inhumane conditions, all so that boozed up shooting parties can have fun blasting them out of the sky. And the blasting doesn't even mean a quick death, as even the most experienced gunman finds it hard to hit a bird and kill it instantly. Birds fall to the ground injured and in agony - often even not to be collected - just left to die.

And as part of the process to run these shoots, natural wildlife, that may conflict in any way with the farming of the birds, is routinely killed (poisoning of Buzzards, for example).

All these facts are what this £billion(!) industry don't want you to know - because, as usual, it's all about profit.

If this outrages you as much as it does me, please support the work of the League Against Cruel Sports. You can find out more here.

And for now - here's how I like to shoot birds - in the wild and in my garden - with a camera. When I see their beauty, ingenuity and delightful culture it astounds me how their lives can be destroyed in such cold blooded terms. To me it's far more fun to feed them and watch them - I could do it for hours!

This beautiful Cock Pheasant came to our garden at 5.30pm every day this summer for some food - along with his 'hareem' of hens!

This is my favourite ever shot of him in the wild grasses down by the river - just the flash of red showing through to give him away.

Here's one of the beautiful shy hen Pheasants - the way they run across open ground is comical - but the male protects them and their call is very recognisable. Hen pheasants make a very gentle cooing type of sound when they are feeding - it's gorgeous.

We all love the cheeky chappie Robins don't we?! They are brave birds and everywhere I've lived they have followed me round the garden curiously watching what I'm doing. They can be very territorial though and males fighting are quite vicious!

Blue Tits are another familiar friend to most gardens - although I didn't see as many this year, far more Great Tits.

Here's one of the many Great Tits we saw this year - although based on this year's survey, their numbers are in slight decline.

Chaffinches were in abundance too - they are one of my favourite little birds - quite cheeky in expression!

Another of the Finch family - this stunning Greenfinch is cracking open a sunflower seed. Husks everywhere - but who cares when you get to see them like this?!

I love our handsome Blackbirds too - a bit misty this shot as it's taken through a rainy window - but that's when the Blackbirds come out to get all the worms coming up to the surface on the lawn!

When the water got low this year I managed to spot and click this lovely little Moorhen on the exposed gravel bank - I'm sure there was a family but never got to see them all!

And well done Dave for this fabulous shot of one of our Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. There are several in our garden - sometimes fighting! And we have the Lesser Spotted too - but never a camera when they are around!

And now the Lesser Spotted Hen! This was our lovely Phoebe on a forage...

A wonderful rescued ex-bat who loved to help out in the garden.

Finally, the ever photogenic Jane - looking at me as if to say 'not another bloody photo mum!'

THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY...

There are plenty I didn't capture. This year we have seen:

Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Long-tailed Tits, Marsh Tits, Coal Tits, Tree Creepers, Grey Wagtails (who were stealing the reed from our thatch!), Jays, Starlings, Housemartins, Swallows, Dunnocks, Nuthatches, Pigeons, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Swans, Ducks, Kestrels and Buzzards. Plus some others I can't identify!!!

And I have heard, but not seen (yet): Owls, and the illusive Grasshopper Warbler.

If you've enjoyed seeing these photos - then that's great! But what if I could only get half the shots?.....

It's a sad fact that certain species of birds in our country are in rapid decline. Please look at the work of the RSPB and get involved in the Big Garden Birdwatch every year so that we can track progress and work towards better conservation efforts.

Thank you.

Chantal xx