Feeding Station 2018

Rather belatedly this winter I decided to set up the winter feeding station out in the Wolds on a grey, wet and cold Monday 19th February, accompanied by my able and willing assistant.  Despite the gloom a flock of rooks was noisy and busy high in the trees in the back meadow.  Although it is a long time since rooks nested here, they keep trying and, hopefully, one year they will be successful.  It was also good to see a buzzard soaring overhead, its wild mewing call echoing through the wood.  Once recovered from the barn the hide was soon erected in a slightly different position and the feeders filled up.  Time for tea and cake.

I returned a few days later on Saturday 24th to top up the feeders.  Fortunately the weather had changed and was now bright, sunny and cold.  Sitting in the hide made me realise how much I had missed just being here and watching the bustling activity as birds fed hungrily.  As expected there were large numbers of blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits as well as blackbirds and chaffinches feeding on the ground.  The carpets of aconites and snowdrops were in their prime.

By Tuesday 27th the weather had definitely taken a turn for the worst and the woods had donned their winter mantle as 'The Beast from the East' headed our way.  It was bitterly cold with snow showers and I had somewhat of a problem driving out with the icy roads.  The wood was quiet and muffled under its mantle of fresh snow.  Virtually all of the food had gone.  Quickly setting up one or two situations for photography I set up the camera and settled into the hide.  Activity was brisk and the birds were soon back.  As expected all of the species from the previous week were there as well as robins, pheasant, nuthatch and male and female woodpeckers.  As usual the nuthatches and woodpeckers were heard calling before they came down to feed.  Previously when woodpeckers visited they were very shy and wary, but these birds seemed much more confident.  I was delighted to see the female as only a male had visited in the past, although many years ago I had photographed a pair at the nest.  After a very enjoyable and successful session it was time to get home before I became snowed in.  On the way back to the car I disturbed a sparrowhawk on its kill.  After the rush of the raptor flying off with its prey all that remained was a cluster of downy feathers and blood-speckled snow.

Robin

Great spotted woodpecker, female

Great spotted woodpecker, female

Great spotted woodpecker, female

Nuthatch

Robin

Robin

Robin

For the remainder of the week winter set in with a vengeance and it was impossible to get out until Sunday 4th March despite the need to check on the feeders.  I expected to find the hide collapsed either under the weight of snow or the pressure of the gale force easterly winds of Storm Emma.  After seeing to the food I had 10 minutes in the hide and as well as the usual birds I was pleased to see a wren visit.  The wood had taken on a grey, misty air of mystery today and the snowdrops were now looking rather sad.