Whenever you see a Heron flying past, with a stick in its mouth, you know that the breeding season has arrived. Also, in the garden the Long Tailed Tits are now pairing off and will soon make a start on their spectacular nests – my earliest ever was on the 28th February.

There are not many times when you get the chance to photograph a Sparrowhawk on a hot-tub!
This male failed to catch so he perched, momentarily, on next doors hot-tub roof. There was no one using it at the time!

At long last with freezing temperatures and winter sunshine conditions were perfect for filming the winter thrushes on whatever berries were left.
In a neighbours garden the crab-apples were being eaten by Blackbirds, Redwings, Song Thrushes and one solitary Fieldfare. From the bedroom window I had a perfect hide from which to film the berry feast.By the following day it was all over!

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It is always difficult to choose the best photos from a year, especially a year that was dominated by perfect photographic weather! During this last year I also photographed two subjects that I had never captured before – Red Necked Grebe and a Weasel so they had to be included in the list.
As always my Spring was dominated by moorland Owls so Barn, Short-Eared and Long Eared are included. The highlight has to be a Long Eared Owl taking off with a vole in its mouth on a rather wet Pennine evening.
I don’t usually enter many photographic competitions so the Kingfisher photo, taken in Bowland, was a pleasing result as it won their annual competition!
What will 2026 bring along? We can only pray for good subjects, good weather and good health.
So all the very best to all our readers. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

Having stalked our garden all winter this male Sparrowhawk finally paused briefly, during the week, so I was able to grab some quick photos in appalling light. He is a magnificent specimen and may be he will come on Christmas Day, in the snow, to make my day?

The big question is where are they? This is the first Autumn when I have not yet seen either a Redwing or a Fieldfare. Instead, in a local bog, I encountered 5 Jack Snipe that had just arrived from Finland for our Winter! Is it all down to Global warming?