Whore Finch

No not a spelling mistake, just me venting my frustration. I've spent the best part if 10 hrs in my hide in the last 5 days trying to get shots of the Hawfinch. As you will see below, I failed.

I got Squirrel.

I got Brambling, happy with this as she's lovely.

But thats it. I saw one Hawfinch, too high to photograph. I saw Siskin but behind a stump.To cap it all I also broke a section of my hide pole. Fortunately I had a spare section which I have adapted to fit. I am gutted. The weather is turning this coming week so I may not get another chance this year.

Other stuff I've seen this week include this Great spotted Woody,

He's actually at a nest hole, I've posted another two shots of him in the gallery, along with a couple more of the squirrel, dont forget to keep having a look, its in my links.

I was also driving near Eastbach and stopped to try and locate a Chiffchaff I could hear, whilst I was trying to locate him I saw some movement to my right in amongst the tall undergrowth. I hoped Fox, Stoat, Weasel. But no, just a female Pheasant mooching around.

So disappointing.

I have found a few nests whilst out walking the dog this week, GSW, Nuthatch, and Blue tit to name three. I actually saw something today (sun 10th) that I've never seen before too, GSW's mating, it was noisy and over in moments but it was amazing to watch.

A trip to Anglesey in the week fishing with my brother, although fishing isn't quite the right word as we caught none,produced my first Willow Warbler and Sand Martins of the year. The list is now in the 80s, dont think its going to be such a productive year this year.

As I said at the start the weather is predicted to get cold and wet this week so it may be a while before I have anything else to post, come back and check though hey.

Oh just one more thing, had a hedgehog in the garden twice during the night this week, must be coming in under the side gate. I put it in a box the first time hoping to photograph it in the morning but it escaped. Then the second time I quickly got my camera and flash together but not quickly enough, it disappeared somewhere. I dont want my dog getting fleas so I have blocked the gate but its given me the incentive to spend a night having a mooch around to see if I can find one on one of the many grassy areas on this estate. I'll let you know how I get on.

Every day is getting greener.

No photos this time, have not had the chance to do any, but more of an observation. You will know that I have Belmont woods on my doorstep and that I walk the dog in them often twice a day.

In the last fortnight there has been a dramatic increase in the activity in the wood. The most noticeable change is the buds opening on the trees and bushes. It really is a different wood compared to a fortnight ago. The next thing that hits you is the noise, the cacophony of bird noise is breath taking. There has been a massive increase in the variety of birds in the wood too. I have seen all of the following in the wood.

Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Crow, Magpie, Jay, Blackbird, Song thrush, Mistle thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, Robin, Wren, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Great tit, Blue tit, Long tailed tit, Nuthatch, Dunnock, Coal tit, Treecreeper, and Mallard duck.

I am watching a thrushes nest, the female is sitting at the moment, I have seen wrens collecting moss off the bottom of a beech tree, and I am pretty sure a pair of Buzzards are going to nest in the wood. I see the two of them on a daily basis. The Jays are particularly vocal at the moment, as are the Chiffchaffs. I have counted 7 different males in different areas of the wood.

In february it took me about 30-45 mins to complete the walk, now it's 60-90 mins, purely because I am spending increasing amounts of time watching the birds and just listening to them. I know I'm a bit of a gobshite, but when I'm on my own It amazes me how much fun I get from the simplest of things, I stood for over ten minutes at the weekend watching a Coal tit at one of the old nest boxes that have been erected in the past. It was in and out of the opening and flitting around the box, I dont think it was looking to nest in the box but it may well have been hunting insects. My dog kept looking at me as if to say " come on pops, what you up to?"

Non of this will come as a surprise to any of you, I'm sure you are all out and about in you local areas, discovering your own amazing things. Isn't it great that in a country where everything has increased in price recently the best things can often be those that are free.

Gallery glitches.

It was partly me, I had somehow corrupted the program. However there is a glitch for which I am not responsible. I know now though how to get around it, so hopefully the gallery should work ok.

Thank you all for your patience. Thanks again to a certain someone for his help.

Just need some decent shots now to put on the gallery. Dont forget to keep checking to see what I've added.

Let the sun shine.

Wow, hasnt it been a nice couple of days? I have been fortunate enough to spend most of the last 2 days out and about. I was in the FOD on Wednesday and spent some time with Chris Grady and Bob Bushell. The photography involved Mandarin and Mallard Duck, and Mute swan.

Mandarin Duck.

Mallard Duck.

Mute Swan.

Chris and I then spent a great deal of time searching for the Wild Boar. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful. However during our walk around the forest we were lucky enough to have close encounters with two amazing birds. Firstly we stood and watched a Goshawk circling around tree tops some 200-300 metres in front of us. Then as we walked in a different area a Woodcock lifted off in front of us and gave us a fleeting but lovely sighting of a bird I've never seen before other than on television.

The butterflies are out now aren't they? We saw Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. I got this shot of the Peacock.

Closer to home over the last few days I have also been thrilled to see two birds almost on my doorstep. I was out walking with my dog and saw two Wheatear in a field nearby. I was gobsmacked to say the least. They were two males in perfect condition.

Today I saw a pair of Skylarks in an arable field less than a mile from my house. I absolutely love this time of year, I am regularly seeing Chiffchaff whilst out walking with the dog, and whilst out for a drive today I got this lovely shot of a rabbit through a gap in a hedge.

On a sore note though, I'm having problems with the new Gallery. I am confident its not me, but a glitch in the system. I have more pictures I wanted to post but seem to be unable to do so.

Newest Gallery.

So finally I "think" I have got a gallery page linked to this blog. There have definately been a few teething problems, most of which are because of my inability but a few definately seem to be glitches beyond my control.

I have put half a dozen shots in there at the moment just so you can see the format and hopefully give me some feedback. As I said its just to show more of the type of pictures that I put on here, but without the spiel.

Its in my links, please keep having a look.