Birds

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I have been fascinated by birds for as long as I can remember - one of my earliest memories is of lying in bed listening to a woodpigeon lamenting 'I don't want to go' over and over until I fell asleep.

There is no mystery about why we find them so intriguing - flight, beauty, variety, elegance, dexterity and charm. And photographing birds is hardly original, but no one should care about that. I take photos of birds because it is partly an excuse to watch them, partly because I take joy in capturing a little of their spirit in a photo. I'm not going to trouble any competitions, and that's fine. Of all the living creatures they remain my most consistent obsession. I would encourage everyone to have a go - start with the birdfeeder, as it is a fantastic way to learn how fast a shutter speed you need, and how to keep the depth of focus as shallow as possible while always having the bird's eye as sharp as possible. But I have nothing to offer on capturing birds in flight successfully - I have a lot to learn!

Sadly, bird populations are crashing. Intensive agriculture, pollution, overfishing, bird flu - all down to us, whether deliberately or a side effect of some other intervention. In the UK we spend more on bird food per capita than any other nation (a mixed blessing - need to clean those feeders...) - so we need to protect the nature that is most visible and probably most loved. Time is running out.

From the top left to right: 1. House martin, Northumberland; 2. Dunnock, Strumpshaw Fen NNR; 3. Stock Doves, Wetland Centre; 4. Collared Dove, Strumpshaw Fen; 5. Marsh Harrier, RSPB Rainham Marshes; 6. Peregrine nestbox, Poole; 7. Magpies, RSPB Rye Meads; 8. Great Tit, Strumpshaw Fen NNR

From the top left to right: 1. Cormorant, St James's Park; 2. Great black-backed gulls, Tarbert; 3. Ring-necked parakeet, St James's Park; 4. Hooded Crow, Tarbert; 5. Chiffchaff, RSPB Rainham Marshes; 6. Starling, Poole; 7. Kittiwake nest, Tyne Bridge, Newcastle; 8. Meadow Pipit, Islay

Collared Dove, Strumpshaw Fen NNR

Gadwall (male), RSPB Rye Meads

Herring Gull, River Liffey, Dublin

Great Crested Grebe, St James's Park

Male Stonechat, Morden Bog NNR

Lapwing, RSPB Rainham Marshes

Robin, Strumpshaw Fen NNR

Little Egret, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve