EIGHT DAYS IN

Well,  it's eight days into the new year and I thought it was about time that I did a post ( I don't know how some of you guys manage to post almost every day, I wish I could be as organised!)

So far it's been a good year for getting out and about and teaming up with Keith I've managed to visit, and squelch my way around in the mud and the puddles, a good few of the local birding spots.

The mostly dull and damp conditions have not been good for photography but here are a few of the better  images that I've managed to capture.

Nuthatch

Robin

Some of the stunning Waxwings seen in the car park at Central Milton Keynes shopping centre

Common Snipe

Water Pipit

Blue Tit

Dunnock

Marsh Tit

My personal bird count for the year has now reached  66 species seen and I hope to add a good few more tomorrow when  Keith and I plan to visit RSPB Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire and (time permitting)  RSPB Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk. The weather prediction is for a cold and sunny day so hopefully I'll see, and photograph, a good selection of birds.

NEW YEAR - AND A FEW NEW IMAGES

For some reason I've been rather lazy and lethargic for the start of the new year, especially in getting around to doing some new posts, I guess if I was a famous author I could say I'm suffering from 'writers block'!

However, I have managed to get out and visit a few local parks and lakes including...Tring Reservoirs where I was fortunate enough to see a couple of Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe (alas, too distant for photo's) and where the long staying Snow Bunting is still showing well...Stockgrove Country Park where a host of, well fed!, small birds can be seen at close quarters (photo's below) and I also saw, not one, but two Goldcrest bathing in a small puddle (sorry, NO photo's below, once they saw me they were gone!!)...Caldecotte Lake, on a pleasantly sunny day, where the highlight from amongst the forty different species noted was seeing three, well showing, Goosanders (a female with two males) I also had a pleasant chat, via mobile 'phone across the length of the lake, with Keith from Caldecottelake

A few images and a short video ( I'm still getting to grips with the editing!!) from my visit to Stockgrove Country Park.

Blue Tit

Coal Tit

Jay

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Stars of the week

A selection of photographs taken whilst out and about making the most of the beautiful early spring weather in various locations across the Three Counties during the early part of this week.

Chaffinch

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Nuthatch

Treecreeper

Treecreeper

Yellowhammer

 

The Weekend

Just a few pictures to brighten up the weekend which, in this neck of the world, looks like being grey, wet cold and miserable. I was woken at 4 o`clock this morning by the rain beating on the bedroom window, so much for the weekend lay in!

Enjoy the pictures.

Blue Tit

Tree Sparrow

Robin

Carion Crow

Long-tailed Tits

Nuthatch

Reed Bunting

Mallard (female)

Wherever you are and whatever you`re doing this weekend, have a good one.

Freezing Cold Friday

Yesterday dawned  frosty, overcast and grey. I set out from home at about 9:30 a.m. and drove to Woburn in Bedfordshire with the intention of trying to spot the flock of Waxwings that had been reported feeding there over the last few days, but alas the only birds I found feeding at the reported site were a flock of about 30 Starlings. With no joy in Woburn I decided to drive a couple of miles down the road to Stockgrove Country Park. This park covers about 80 acres and straddles the borders of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire and is managed by the Greensand Trust, it consists of a variety of wildlife habitats including ancient oak woodland, conifer woodland, meadows, marshes and a lake and has been in use since medieval times.
When I pulled into the car park the temperature gauge in the car read -4* Celsius. Loaded up with camera gear and a big bag of bird food I walked the short distance to the lake where I knew there should be some birds to photograph (many people feed the birds in this area). The lake was completely frozen over apart from a small  section by the footbridge about 10ft x 3ft. which was occupied by 12 Mallard.

Stockgrove lake with the remains of the boathouse which burnt down in 1963. Incredibly (stupidly) there were human footprints in the snow covered ice going across the whole width of the lake !! 
The birds must have been finding the icy conditions very difficult, as they started to gather before I had begun to put any food out.

Blue tit

Great tit

Coal tit

Willow tit (note the crossed beak)

Robin

 This Robin has a large lump of ice on it`s right leg, It looks like the ice has formed over the ring that was put on when the bird was young, the good thing is it didn`t seem at all troubled by it.

Nuthatch

Blackbird (young female ?)

Dunnock

Carrion Crow

This character was feeding on the seeds that had fallen out of the bird feeders by the visitor centre and was being very vocal about it, but seemed very happy to pose for a photograph after I had put some food down for him!

After about three hours my hands were so cold I could no longer feel the camera and with the light fading fast I decided to call it a day and head on home.
All in all, after the disappointment of not finding the Waxwings, I had a most enjoyable few hours.

Photography notes :-  75-300mm lens, ISO 800/1000, f 7.1 to f10, RAW.


And finally.....

.......a grumpy Robin.

Sightings List

Wood Pigeon
Carrion Crow
Rook
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Magpie
Blue tit
Great tit
Coal tit
Willow tit
Nuthatch
Blackbird
Mallard
Moorhen
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Robin