super, smashing, great

"now let's see what you would have won...!"

I haven't had to travel far for my birding recently, in fact the view out of the office. 

In 2009 I had regular visits from a pair of bullfinch at the back end of the year, particularly September but sadly not a lot since and I have come to realise this may because of the change in feeders. DOH.

Anyhoo, at the beginning of February 2013, I nearly dropped my jaw as I saw two bullfinches and male and female and rather than risk disturbing them took some hasty images  through the double glazing – not good. Light levels are particularly bad and the weather not great either (note rain drops)... anyhoo here are some images and there will be at least one more post of these gems. And to top it all, I have had four, two pair, two males and two females in at the same time and at different times. I have my suspicions they bred locally (especially as sightings in earlier years included a juvenile) and I am hoping they will again this year. Fingers crossed.

'time for bed' said zebadee

I don't want to say too much, I first saw this beauty a couple of years back and fleeting glimpses since, along with lots of non sightings!

Another motor driving past (I doubt they even saw the bird) woke him/her up a bit but quite happy sitting there for some considerable time, looked at me for sometime, turned his/her back on me for sometime, ignored me for sometime, took a look, sat there and ten minutes later decide another post over a ditch across the field might be more suitable... 

so close I have the colour of the eyes!

I still haven't got over the experience!

and I refuse to put a down side to the experience but half and half, white and shade has taught me a valuable lesson.

a Smorgasborg

... I've been busy – so look at the pretty pictures (or not as the case may be).

Bewick Swan with Mute Swan and Whooper Swan (out of focus)

Years in the making, Kestrel on a kill

Coal Tit 

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-Tailed Tit

Bullfinch (male)

Nuthatch

Barn Owl – golden hour fly by

What a grey day

said Larry, for those that remember

Grey Wagtail, enough said except, I was trying to get a reasonable reflection – which had me wondering... do they see their own reflection?

We know Blue Tits and Blackbirds and others often go beserk at their own reflection in a car wing mirror, primarily around breeding time, so I wonder if birds see their reflection in water at other times.

And nearly another car crash as I slammed on the brakes, as it was windy and wet just for a change when I came across three friends (or relations) sat on fenceposts out of the corner of my eye – trapper result!