A Matching Pair.

You may remember back when we had the snow that I had a Blackcap visiting the garden. A male Blackcap who was a little bully.

Well now I've completed the pair, I had, as part of my RSPB Garden watch a visit from a female, and what a little corker she was too. Very sweet and pretty.

Talking of Garden watch I didnt click up too many species but I did also have a visit from the Long Tailed Tits, who have not been around for a little while. In all I had 9 different species. Dunnock, Long Tailed tit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue tit, Great tit, Song Thrush, Robin, and Coal tit.

As always click for larger version.

Slimbridge in the sun.

It was a very nice day, Sunday 17th. I was up before light and on my way to Slimbridge WWT hoping that the weather team had it right, which they did. Slimbridge had not enjoyed the thaw as much as Herefordshire had and it was still largely frozen over. There had been reports of Bittern at the Kingfisher hide, I was there waiting when the staff opened the gate to the south finger.

Two hours sitting in the Kingfisher hide produced no Bittern, But this skulking fox came nearby. He didn't look my way or stay for more than a few seconds, but it was nice to see him.






As I'm sure you can imagine Slimbridge was heaving with people by mid-morning and the hide was full of people and the noise was unbearable, I cant believe people actually expect to see things when they make so much noise. I had become chilled to the bone so I decided to cut my losses and walk around the reserve and grab what I could.

This Shoveler duck was struggling with the Ice on the South lake. He was the only one I saw.







The Robins were plentiful, I still love them.




I tried a few flight shots, these Mallards were one effort.





This Juvenile Common Gull and the Black headed below it were two more efforts.

The Black headed was coming in to land.

This Gadwall was slippy sliding all over.

The Greylag, like all geese, looks graceful when flying but it's one hell of an effort to get off the water. Watch out Gulls!!!

I think the gull on the right is trying hard to get out of the way.

The Goldfinch feeding on the teezles were lush too.

Not quite the day I had hoped for, I dont like Slimbridge when its quite so crowded but I do like the fact that it was and that the money keeps pouring in for the Birds etc.

Click on the pics for larger versions.

More of the same I'm afraid.

Just when I thought I was going to get chance to get off the car park there was another load of snow which will keep me trapped for a few more days.

I shouldn't complain, as I've previously said this cold snap is bringing lots to my garden feeders. Here is my latest garden first, a Meadow Pipit. I was totally amazed when this turned up. I would have loved better light but it wasn't to be. I'm not complaining.

I have had as many as six Woodpigeons in the garden at any one time, they do a great job of mopping up the food on the ground.

The Song Thrushes and Blackbirds are also coming in numbers. I am still holding out for Redwing or Fieldfare, that will truly be amazing.

Robins, enough said you know I love them.

Blackbirds.

Lastly the bullying Blackcap is still around and I'm not upset by that.

Keep up the feeding and watering. Click for bigger versions.

More from the garden.

Snow all around and thats means I am housebound. I can only take pictures of the birds in the garden and as nice as it is I want something else.

That said there was another first for the garden a day or two ago. This Pied Wagtail came a calling.

This Song Thrush was taking a rest in the sun, I have had four in the garden on one occasion and along with the Blackbirds they are by far the most regular visitors at the moment.

The Robins keep coming too, this one looks lovely i think.

I occasionally get a Dunnock or two mopping up the feed that drops to the floor.

This Blackbird was so close to the house I could only get this portrait shot.

I am still lucky enough to have the Blackcap coming to the feeder, the problem is that he is such a bully. The poor tits dont get a look in when he's on the feeders. Thankfully if I open the door and scare him off it takes a good ten minutes for him to return, giving the others a while to stock up.

Surprisingly no sign of the LongTails or the Bullfinch. I hope they are feeding somewhere else and not victims of this very cold snap.

Click for bigger versions.

Ross on a snowy night.

I've been experimenting with arty shots again, wanted to show you Ross on a snowy night. First though this is how it normally looks.



This is how it looked tonight.

Hope you like them. A little different I think.