After a treacherous wobbly walk along an icy footpath, I reached the lake where the local avifauna posed in anticipation of free food. Alas, I forgot to bring any along, thus one could say today's outing was a guilt trip ...
Showing posts with label Blue Tit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Tit. Show all posts
13 February, 2009
02 May, 2008
Wood Warbler @ Octagon Farm Spinney
The two Black-winged Stilt found at Willington yesterday evening had departed for Abberton Reservoir, Essex, so another chance to photograph Wood Warbler at Octagon Farm Spinney was second prize. This one, however, was not so easy !
A walk past the Sandy Warren heath restoration area at the Lodge produced nothing too exciting - so Robin and Blue Tit will have to do !
17 April, 2008
Dunstable STW
17th Apr:
A Barn Swallow takes a rest from feeding in the keen easterly wind - the hirundines were keeping very low above the water taking advantage of the insects on the leeward side of the plantation.
16th Apr:
The first Sedge Warbler of the Year for the site was keeping low at the front of the lagoon.
A pair of Blue Tit were foraging in the dead stuff above the Sedge Warbler.
A small 'charm' of Goldfinch fed alongside a pair of Linnet.
A Green Sandpiper was, suprisingly, the first this year at the site. The Whooper Swan 'on patrol' chases off a Canada Goose.
A pair of Grey Wagtail wait to feed - the male showing a black throat patch.
01 January, 2008
New Year's Day and Partridges
A local mooch didn't produce much, but at least it stayed dry and the light was better than of late.
First up was a rather dark Common Buzzard just outside town.
This Muntjac Deer was feeding just outside the Paris House Restaurant, Woburn.
On to the 'Potsgrove Loop' where a couple of beds birders alerted me to five Grey Partridge behind a hedgerow. The birds had moved further in to the field when this shot was taken. A flock of twenty Meadow Pipit proved more difficult to approach. They're seen in most years at this spot.
At my regular local patch this Lesser Redpoll dropped down to feed briefly in deteriorating light. Six Red-legged Partridge stayed low in a nearby field, while a Blue Tit stopped en-route to some nearby bird feeders.
First up was a rather dark Common Buzzard just outside town.
This Muntjac Deer was feeding just outside the Paris House Restaurant, Woburn.
On to the 'Potsgrove Loop' where a couple of beds birders alerted me to five Grey Partridge behind a hedgerow. The birds had moved further in to the field when this shot was taken. A flock of twenty Meadow Pipit proved more difficult to approach. They're seen in most years at this spot.
At my regular local patch this Lesser Redpoll dropped down to feed briefly in deteriorating light. Six Red-legged Partridge stayed low in a nearby field, while a Blue Tit stopped en-route to some nearby bird feeders.
12 March, 2007
Atlas Work
Next year sees the start of the 3rd national breeding atlas project run by the British Trust for Ornithology. As a county, Bedfordshire are starting a year earlier. Familiar to many folk, the Blue Tit should be easy to mark down as a confirmed breeder.
Two Eurasian Treecreeper were very active chasing one another around old 'crack' Willows in the water meadow. Four 'adaptations' can be seen on this bird. A long, decurved bill to get food from bark crevices, long claws help negotiate the surfaces on the tree, a stiff tail used for support and balance, and camouflage - dark above for predator defence and pale beneath while looking for prey.
Typical this time of year- one female Mallard with an entourage of attending males.
Two Eurasian Treecreeper were very active chasing one another around old 'crack' Willows in the water meadow. Four 'adaptations' can be seen on this bird. A long, decurved bill to get food from bark crevices, long claws help negotiate the surfaces on the tree, a stiff tail used for support and balance, and camouflage - dark above for predator defence and pale beneath while looking for prey.
Typical this time of year- one female Mallard with an entourage of attending males.
