5 Robin's & a Grebe

I've finally managed to get my pc back from my son after 3 days of backing up all his psp games music & whatever else 20 yr old's do when your not around.  

All photographs taken on the 25/02/2012. Apart from my friendly robin and the pair of grebe it was a fairly quiet day, I watched a pair of magpie attempting to nest build which was quite funny, one would present a twig, or a  piece of reed & the other would throw it away, most of the smaller birds were high up in the branches & as it was a sunny Sunday the park was full of dog walkers cyclists and kid's from 8 to 80 yr's old, not much else to add apart from how nice it was to be out in the warm sunshine.  

It's getting busy

Well the weather picked up yesterday with temps up in the high teens which meant a lot of activity down at the lake, our little friends are busy searching for suitable nest sites while the pair of great crested grebe are actively building ( see below - early stages ).

Reports of a woodpecker in the area were backed up by a photograph taken by a fellow birder but as yet I have not caught sight of it .

A rework of a earlier photo .

If it's not the right colour this time she can fetch her own!!

AFTER THE THAW

After a forced lay-off due to illness, it was so good to get back out & check out the usual suspects down at the local park in Acton, the weather had been mild for the last few days & the lake was free from ice.

It was nice to see the pair of great crested grebe were O/K and still in residence but the Pochard was missing, he returned later in the day looking non to worse for ware. A nice addition was a male Goosander

why does this lake attract single male wildfowl ? Pochard, Goosander  & Graylag all in the last few months. I was amazed how much had changed in just 2 weeks - much more activity & lots more little brown birds ( don't know the names cos I'm still learning so there.) :)) .

When I first arrived the light was so poor I just sat watched & listened - I couldn't believe how noisy little birds could be, even my friendly robin told me off . Finally the light improved to allow some photographs to be taken, nothing special just record shots which include 3 firsts for me Dunnock, Goosander & Treecreper I have see all these birds before but have never photographed them. 

I hope to take a trip down to Hanmner Mere over the weekend, all being well I will speak to you soon Bri.    

A cute little DUNNOCK.

Both robin photograph's are the same WHICH DO YOU PREFER ?

The light was so poor, it had to be B&W 

I just can't resist them 

I think Treecreeper's are becoming my favourite bird

Good day, Bad day.

Good day, Bad day what kind of title is that I here you say ? well that's how I start my day, with a simple question. If it happens to be a good day as it was for me last Friday 3/2/2012 I may be able to get out and  go down to the local park for a couple of hours birdwatching (weather permitting ) Just being out away from the security that my home offers, is a big step & one once taken I try to make the most of. All the photographs on this & the last Blog were taken last Friday so I really do make the most of my time away from home. 

A bad day, well that's a different story, you see it's like a nightmare but your awake, from the moment you open your eye's you feel like something's watching you, I call it my vulture (sorry bird lovers it's just a name). 

Wherever I go it comes with me, it sits on my shoulder & keeps me in check don't go out today you might meet someone, stay in there's no need to answer any awkward questions. 

Questions Questions QUESTIONS I'm tired of answering questions all day everyday non stop!,- then it "stop's"  peace, silence then sleep. 

What will tomorrow bring, will my imaginary friend be waiting for me, now that,s a question I CAN'T answer, you see he waits, stay's away for while, let's you build you'r hope's up, start making plans it's like he's sleeping, taking a break the trouble is he doesn't stay away for long," then he's back " questioning you do you think it's safe to be out here. THEY KNOW YOU'R SCARED, ILL, ANXIOUS  DEPRESSED  they can see it in you'r eyes GO HOME, you'r not safe,  go home .      

On average I have 4/5 bad days per week, some weeks are worse some are better as yet I have not found a way to control my demon vulture, today he's sleeping but not for long.

If you just read this & are wondering WHY, well the only way that I can explain it is, when I am close to any kind of nature THAT'S when I am at my calmest 

 Thank you for reading this post, if it has upset you then I am sorry but this is my life?.

Cold day out ( click to view photographs)

A cold challenging day's photography for me & and for the poor birds, Acton park lake was completely frozen over apart from a small patch amongst some trees at the far end of the lake, lots of people out feeding the ducks but the fish eaters where no ware to be seen  

Down the park

A quiet but cold day down at the park, the usual suspects were presant Grebe, Pochard,Canada geese,Mallard, moorhen,coot and about 30 black headed gull's.
The pair of great crested Grebe's where very active, running (as they do) up n down the lake and head shaking in that cute, courtship dance.
I am now starting to take more notice off some of the smaller birds in the park and actualy saw a treecreeper scurreing up an oak tree, a lovely little bird But you guessed it I didn't get a shot.

My first decent shot of a bird in flight (more luck than judgement )

On the next visit to the park I will have to remember to share my time between the lake & the woods also to remember to change lens to a smaler faster auto focus one. Regards Bri

RSPB Burton Mere

 General views off Burton Mere taken on the 26/01/2012

Above & below - Canada geese, Teal, Snipe, & Mallard.

Gray Heron sheltering from the cold wind.
He didn't move much in the 2 hours I spent watching from the shelter of the hide.  

Reed beds looking toward Wales

The hide in this shot is where I spent 2 hours watching the pair of Heron.

10,000 reeds have been planted to establish the reed beds