some of our common friends

and one not so common but what a garden visitor... and one or two some of us may perhaps prefer not to have

(again still stuck in October 2012)

more bull and... and...

I've been checking up on the local bullfinches and they have been around, it takes me about an hour to catch a glimpse, here and there and managed this image of a male, all others are similar to the original post and...

Last year I spent some time in the company of a single and then a pair of grey wagtails over an extended period, if you want to be bothered click on Grey Wagtail in the left sidebar listing to see those images;  ... well the 'and' is one has returned and I am hoping for further views and photo opportunities over the coming weeks; it has been a bit too cold hereabouts for too many insects, but the forecast for the coming days looks better and...

I have so many images I haven't archived properly and certainly haven't used on the blog, so here are a few of our more 'common' birds taken hereabouts.

Bullfinch (male)

Grey Wagtail has returned

Great Spotted Woodpecker (female)

Chaffinch (male)

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Reed Bunting

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Coal Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Gold and Gold

the heady day that was summer... 

golden prarie...?

misty mornings return

although you can't see too well when the Pink Footed Geese start arriving...
winter will be soon upon us

Preston City Centre... home of the Black Redstart and Peregrine falcons!

I awoke to a pretty chilly morning – a sign of things to come (winter).

All my attempts at capturing Goldfinch on camera, have on the whole failed miserably, normally the black eye disappearing into the black around it without any definition; however I recently concentrated on the subject and with the sun out and behind me for once I managed a few photos so bashed 'em out on here. The few 'action' images are a bit blurred, but I felt captured the movements sufficiently well to include them.

And for my antipodean chums and those from not around these 'ere parts a couple of images of the area where I do some of my birding... and a couple that remind me of that week that was summer... those golden ears of wheat.

I have often wondered about the bright colour on Goldfinch, but I think I commented on an early post, while watching Goldfinch feed on roadside dandelion, they soon disappear into the background. I also recall wandering around a certain capital town of a Mediterranean island and hearing Goldfinch sing... kept in cages outside people's apartment windows.

Newton Marsh – the rest

As per the last post, some more images from Newton Marsh. There were fly-overs by 30 odd Canada Geese and 50 plus Greylags; I believe both the resident flocks of the south Fylde often seen around Fairhaven and along the River Ribble. There were quite a few of the 'smaller birds' including juveniles with flocks of finches (Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch) and Sparrows (House and surprisingly Tree) flitting from one place to another, feeding on the grass verges where seed heads had developed. I came across two Whitethroat and managed to catch one with a caterpillar... despatched on one of the concrete fence posts! I made it across the Fylde and on the 'promenade' at Knott End/Preesall came across a Common Blue, something I had specifically gone for, as I managed a few photos last few year. Few and far between though before disappearing – nothing to report 'bird-wise'. (taken 31 July) I've noticed the process I am using is leaving a few of these images a bit 'iffy'... need to review how to upload reasonable decent sharp images. Hmmmnnnn....

What a dunce!

You may recall my attempt at 'finches' and failing miserably with the Goldfinch, well it hasn't got much better – quite simply I lose the eye in the black around the bill and when I do hold the eye the overall effect is washed out. Not good!

Goldfinch

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker – I liked the blurred foreground foliage

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker... hanging on is easy!

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

 MY First 2011Swallow on the Fylde

I popped down to Wallend, near the River Ribble where there is a piece of Preston City Council owned land awaiting development (near Motor City) as Neil Spiers had given me the heads up on a number of warblers thereabouts. A Willow Warbler was singing from high in a tree by the road when I arrived and others off in the brush. Singing Blackcap and Wren were seen before I picked up this Willow Warbler, deep in the willow and the exposure was problematic. Not the best pics in the world and thereafter I popped down to Newton Marsh.

All a bit quiet apart from 40 or so hirundines flying around. The odd Swallow and certainly House Martins; a devil to photograph, keep up with and get anything in focus as I found when I got home and downloaded. Shocked and stunned and like a dunce I didn't realise this and probably other Sand Martins were amongst them. I remember catching this bird overhead as it was catching insects quite high up and I remember 'following' it but against the sky the detail was lost on me through the viewfinder. Only later processing these images, and they are adjusted (and still rubbish) it is easy to see a Sand Martin. Knucklehead!

I photographed a Swallow sat on a wire as it was my first of the year hereabouts, although others seen 'upt 'trough'. And a few blossom images to brighten up an otherwise monochrome post.