Slimbridge

The top image I could not resist, even if it is not a wild bird, I had to include it as I thought it beautiful. They are in order top to bottom, Bewick swan portrait, Water rail, pintail and a Bewick in flight.

Black necked grebe

One of todays images at Priory country park, also present was a ferruginous duck.

Our garden birds during the cold spell in January

The blackird tucking into the apple was one of twelve we had in our tiny garden whilst the snow was about, we had put out a lot of fruit, fat balls, seeds and fat to entice them and how it worked!
The fieldfares eventually took notice of the apples and two came down to knock the blackbirds off of their place at the top of the pecking order. We were delighted to see a regular blackcap male which was only the second in 25 years here. A pair of  chaffinches also took up temporary residence, itself a rarity for us but the best was the appearance of three reed buntings which was a first for us. We also had our regular flock of house sparrows which I reckon to be at least two dozen strong but as they are never all there at once it is hard to say. The starlings have been making their nest for the last three weeks in our 'swift box' which the poor old swifts have never had a chance of using, the robin, dunnocks blue and great tits have also been regular and a pair of goldfinches and a single greenfinch have also graced our little plot, and lastly the wood pigeons and the collared doves complete the ensemble. Our regular wren has not been seen this year so we fear the worst there.

Amwell jan 26th 2013

The top picture is of one of the Bitterns that ken, Tim & I saw sunbathing, two pictures  of a female Kestrel and a distant image of the Scaup that was present. All images were digiscoped

Hawfinches at Bramfield

These pictures were taken at Bramfield in Hertfordshire, in the churchyard today. The bird was quite high in a yew but these are the best efforts I have managed in the UK. we also saw two red kites, a siskin and some nuthatches. It seems a very area for scarcer woodland birds, I would not be surprised in the slightest if I saw a l.s. woodpecker in the area.

Welney Whooper and Pochard

The water was very high here at Welney, and these were the best pictures I obtained. we had distant views of ferruginous duck and cranes and they were the highlights.

Priory country park

A few pictures of the highlights of a visit to Priory Country park in Bedford to see the Slavonian grebe and a bonus of some grey wagtail shots. Amazing eyes on the grebe, and I quite liked the picture of the wagtail preening it's tail.