Sandon buzzard & prey

I was on my way back from what I thought was a wasted journey to photograph the raptors in the Sandon region ( as thick cloud had just obscured the sun )when I came across this Common buzzard at 'dead man's hill'. I was mildly surprised that it did not fly off immediately and sat quietly while it decided if I was a danger. It continued to peck at what looked like a rabbit. Then as a car passed me and blocked out the bird I opened the window enough to put the camera out and did just that when the next car passed. The clicks of the shutter made it uneasy again and it flew a few yards away which afforded me the chance to get some nice shots of its flight feathers. I then left it to its supper.

Winter visitors to our garden

The redwing and the pied wagtail have been regular visitors to our town garden for the past three days, the redwing was a new species for our garden (40th) but it has obstinately refused to pose for the camera, with this poor effort being my best but I will update it if given the chance.

Coal tits

They posed quite nicely whilst I photographed them from the relative comfort of my car (it was a freezing cold day)

Nuthatch

Pictured in some mid winter sun.

Waxwings

I just cannot resist taking pictures of these, surely the most photogenic winter visitor to our shores

Winter evening

The bottom image is a female blackbird filling up on Yew berries for the long winters night and the top one is taken against the late winter sun

Grey partridge

Taken today in the Sandon area, I have seen a very healthy population of these in recent weeks, let us hope that they evade the guns....................