A Session at the Feeding Station.

 Unusually it was pleasant and mild as I walked through the wood to the feeding station. I was soon set up and settled in the hide and enjoying my go to lunch of Heinz tomato soup and my Christmas Cake. I had even treated myself to a packet of salt and vinegar crisps on the way - such decadence. It was a very pleasant session with all of the usual suspects turning up apart from the woodpecker pair. I was suprised but pleased when a wren arrived and even more suprised when it posed for a photo before whizzing busily off again. Before leaving I collected another bag of wild garlic for soup, quiche and badger breath pesto.

The Wood

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Great Tit

Grey Squirrel

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Pheasant

Pheasant

Pheasant

Wren

Winter Feeding Station Photography.

 Another overcast day with some drizzle today but as the feeders needed topping up I decided to stay and photograph. The light was not good but I was pleased I stayed as I had 3 visits from the woodpeckers: female twice and male once. The male was also drumming nearby. Annoyingly I was unprepared each time and missed the best shots. Plenty of other birds were visiting including at least two nuthatches.

The snowdrops and aconites are nearly over now but arum leaves and wild garlic are just coming through; it will soon be time for  wild garlic soup and pesto. Dog's Mercury is in flower now.

Blue tit

Blue tit

Blue tit

Chaffinch

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Great Tit

Great Tit

Great Spotted Woodpecker, male

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

Feeding Station Photography

 Another beautifully clear and sunny day; at only 5C chilly in the hide, though.  It was very spring-like today with much bird activity and song.  It was fairly busy at the feeding station and I had three or four visits from the nuthatch.  I had set up a moss-covered log in the hope of capturing some typical nuthatch poses.  I'm pleased to say the tactic was successul.  I had also made up a patent fat mix using pulverised peanuts, meal worms and lard.  This was a definite success, especially for the long-tailed tits which love it.  Still no visit from the woodpecker, although i was delighted to have visits from wren and goldcrest.

To view large, please click on a thumbnail image.

Blue tit

Blue tit

Great Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Robin

Robin

The Wood

The Wood

Snail

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Snowdrops and Aconites

Snowdrops and Aconites