Busy times

Its busy times in and around the forest. Lots of birds dashing around making nests or feeding young. Here are just a few birds I've photographed this last week.

I know she's just a little brown job but I quite liked this close up of the female Chaffinch.

This Great Tit is looking a little shabby, no doubt its well into the breeding season.

This Blue tit is really showing signs that it is neglecting itself to look after young.

This one doesnt look too bad. Oh, and yes before you ask it is the right way up.

This is the first Gosling I've seen its a Canada Goose chick and there's an interesting story linked to it. It was one of two chicks that were born on a pond just outside of Ross. The pond is a small fishery, I was worried that the chicks were vulnerable as the pond is neither deep or large, my concern was either predation or injury by kids. My fears proved to be well founded as within 48 hrs of leaving the nest there was only one chick left. I have no idea what happened but I do know that Mum and dad Canada Goose walked the remaining chick almost half a mile to another pond nearby. I know they walked because a) the chick is obviously too young to fly and b) they were seen by a nearby resident crossing the road approximately 300 yards from the initial pond, This is more amazing as on the opposite side of the road they crossed is another pond, also a fishery but they chose to ignore this pond and move to another which is more secure and less well known and not fished. Truly nature at its best and most amazing.

Chris Grady and I visited a favourite spot of ours for Wood Warbler and were rewarded with views of this beaut.

Most of the Warblers are rather dull little things, the Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Garden Warbler spring to mind immediately, but this little beaut is quite colourful with its yellow tinges and bright white chest.

I'm hoping for Redstart and Pied Flycatcher this next week, weather permitting, so keep your fingers crossed for me and pop back soon to see if I was successful.