Phil Gower Bird Photography

Phil Gower Bird Photography All my bird images are of species found in the Western Palearctic.
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As an amateur bird photographer, I aim to showcase the wonder, beauty and diversity of the natural world to inspire people to connect with nature and commit to its protection.

Answers to Bird ID Tester Nos. 626, 627, 628 and 629.626: Long-tailed Tit (URN: 5010)The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos cau...
07/09/2026

Answers to Bird ID Tester Nos. 626, 627, 628 and 629.

626: Long-tailed Tit (URN: 5010)
The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a tiny, round-bodied bird with a very long tail, pale underparts, and pinkish-brown upperparts. Its head is mostly white with a dark stripe through the eye, and its long tail can be almost twice the length of its body. They are particularly agile feeders, often hanging upside down from branches and twigs as they search for food. I photographed this one hanging from a branch while feeding, showing just how acrobatic these little birds can be.

627: Water Rail (URN: 6101)
The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a secretive wetland bird with blue-grey underparts, rich brown, black-streaked upperparts, and a long, slender red-and-black bill. It has long toes that help it walk across soft mud and wet vegetation, and these oversized feet are particularly noticeable in young birds. I photographed this Water Rail chick running away, with its comically huge feet making it look almost like it had outgrown its legs before the rest of its body!

628: Little Swift (URN: 5082)
The Little Swift (Apus affinis) is a small, compact swift with a dark brown body, a distinctive white throat and rump, and short, broad wings. It has a rapid, powerful flight and spends much of its time on the wing, catching insects in the air. I photographed this one in flight in Morocco, where Little Swifts are a widespread resident of suitable habitats.

629: Eurasian Oystercatcher (URN: 2720)
The Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) is a striking black-and-white wader with a long, bright orange-red bill and pinkish legs. Its broad wings show a bold white wing stripe and white patches in flight, making it particularly impressive when seen overhead. I photographed this one in flight, showing the bold black-and-white pattern across its wings and body.

Bird of the Day: Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)I've had some fantastic opportunities to photograph Woodchat Shrikes ov...
07/09/2026

Bird of the Day: Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

I've had some fantastic opportunities to photograph Woodchat Shrikes over the years, including in Lesvos, Hungary and Spain. They are such striking birds, and whenever I come across one, I always enjoy trying to capture that distinctive combination of colours and their characteristic hunting behaviour.

The Woodchat Shrike is a small but very distinctive songbird. The adult has a black-and-white body, a chestnut crown and nape, and a bold black mask through the eye. Its strong, hooked bill is a reminder that this is a predator, despite its relatively small size.

Like other shrikes, the Woodchat Shrike hunts from prominent perches, scanning the surrounding grassland for large insects, lizards and occasionally small birds or mammals. It can then drop quickly onto its prey from its lookout point. Shrikes are also famous for impaling prey on thorns or spikes, creating food stores that can be used later.

Have you ever seen a Woodchat Shrike? I'd love to hear where you spotted one and see any photos you've managed to capture.



Thank you for being one of my top fans! It’s fantastic to know that there are people who enjoy seeing these beautiful birds as much as I enjoy photographing them.

Answers to Bird ID Tester Nos. 622, 623, 624 and 625622: Little Stint (URN 2100)The Little Stint (Calidris minuta) is a ...
07/09/2026

Answers to Bird ID Tester Nos. 622, 623, 624 and 625

622: Little Stint (URN 2100)
The Little Stint (Calidris minuta) is a tiny, active wader with a short, straight black bill, black legs, and a compact body. In breeding plumage it can show rich chestnut and rufous tones on the head and upperparts, while in winter it becomes much plainer, with grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. . It is a regular passage migrant to the UK, particularly in autumn, and can occur in small numbers at suitable wetland sites. This image of a flock was taken in Lesvos.

623: Collared Flycatcher (URN: 2397)
The Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) is a small, striking flycatcher with black-and-white plumage, a white collar, and a prominent white patch on the wings. The male is particularly bold in breeding plumage, while the female is browner and more subdued. It is a passage migrant to the UK but is more regularly encountered in eastern and southeastern Europe. I photographed this one in flight in Lesvos, where the island provides an important stopover for migrating birds.

624: Garganey (URN: 0903)
The Garganey (Spatula querquedula) is a small dabbling duck with a distinctive dark brown head and broad white stripe above the eye in the male, while the female (pictured here) is more subtly marked with a dark eye-stripe and pale face. Both sexes have a blue-grey forewing, which is particularly noticeable in flight. It is a summer visitor to the UK and a passage migrant, with most birds seen during spring and autumn migration. I photographed this one at Slimbridge, one of the best-known wetland sites in the UK.

625: Crag Martin (URN: 1036)
The Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) is a stocky swallow with brown-grey upperparts, paler underparts, and broad wings with a short, square-ended tail. Small pale spots on the tail are visible in flight, especially when the tail is spread. It is usually found around rocky mountains, cliffs, gorges, and steep hillsides, where it catches insects on the wing. Unlike many swallows, it can remain in parts of southern Europe throughout the winter. I photographed this one in Spain, where Crag Martins are a familiar sight around rocky landscapes.

a big thank you for following me. Every bird has a story — sometimes we just need to be still enough to hear it.

Bird ID Tester No. 641 - this bird was photographed on Salisbury Plain, UK but what bird is it?Difficulty Level: 🟢 WARM-...
07/09/2026

Bird ID Tester No. 641 - this bird was photographed on Salisbury Plain, UK but what bird is it?

Difficulty Level: 🟢 WARM-UP — A good one to get you started

The more we learn about nature, the more there is to appreciate

Lesser Whitethroat (URN: 1683)The Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) is a small, rather secretive warbler with grey-br...
06/09/2026

Lesser Whitethroat (URN: 1683)

The Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) is a small, rather secretive warbler with grey-brown upperparts, pale underparts, and a distinctive dark mask through the eye. It has a white throat, a relatively short bill, and a longish tail, with males and females looking very similar. It is usually found in scrub, hedgerows, bushes, and dry open habitats, where it feeds on insects, berries, and other small food. I photographed this one in Jordan, where Lesser Whitethroats can be encountered during migration as they move between their European breeding grounds and wintering areas further south.

Answer to Bird ID Tester No. 621

Bird ID tester No. 639 - this bird was photographed in the UK but what bird is it?Difficulty Level: 🟢 WARM-UP — A good o...
06/09/2026

Bird ID tester No. 639 - this bird was photographed in the UK but what bird is it?

Difficulty Level: 🟢 WARM-UP — A good one to get you started

Rock Bunting (URN: 6068)The Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) is a medium-sized bunting with a distinctive grey head marked wi...
06/09/2026

Rock Bunting (URN: 6068)

The Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) is a medium-sized bunting with a distinctive grey head marked with dark stripes, warm chestnut-brown upperparts, and pale underparts with fine streaking. The male has particularly striking head markings, while the female is generally duller. It is usually found in rocky, mountainous areas, dry hillsides, and open scrub, where it feeds on seeds and insects. I photographed this one near Estepa, Spain, as it foraged among the rocks, where its earthy colouring blended beautifully with the dry landscape.

Answer to Bird ID Tester no 620

Sand Martin (URN: 2134)The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is a small, slim swallow with brown upperparts, white underpart...
06/09/2026

Sand Martin (URN: 2134)

The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is a small, slim swallow with brown upperparts, white underparts, and a distinctive dark brown band across the upper breast. It has a short, slightly forked tail and narrow, pointed wings, giving it a fast and agile flight. It is usually found around rivers, lakes, gravel pits, and wetlands, where it catches insects in flight and often nests in burrows in sandy banks. It is a summer visitor to the UK, arriving in spring before migrating south for the winter. I photographed this one flying in northern France.

Answer to Bird ID Tester No.619

Ringed Plover (URN: 2730)The Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small, compact wader with a short, stout bill, or...
06/09/2026

Ringed Plover (URN: 2730)

The Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small, compact wader with a short, stout bill, orange legs, and a distinctive black-and-white head pattern. Adults have a broad black breast band and black markings around the eyes, while juveniles are duller and less strongly marked. I was lucky enough to photograph this one in France.

Answer to Bird Id Tester 618

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