Brimpton man's reward for watching the birdie

Villager wins RSPB photographic competition prize

A BRIMPTON birdwatcher has scooped first prize in a photographic competition.

John Walker submitted this photograph of a turnstone to the contest held by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at the Tichwell Marsh nature reserve in Norfolk.

The judges liked the natural behaviour being exhibited by the turnstone, remarked that the colouration of the bird’s plumage and legs is very clear and admired the fact that Mr Walker managed to get a good shot without disturbing the bird.

Smaller than a wood pigeon, turnstones have a mottled appearance with brown or chestnut and black upperparts and brown and white or black and white head pattern, while their underparts are white and legs orange.

They spend most of their time creeping and fluttering over rocks, picking out food from under stones