Update

Unfortunately, no picture, but just had a Sparrowhawk kill in the front garden at spot on 6 o clock. It was a male blackbird, taken right outside of the nest he was sharing with a female blackbird possibly looking after chicks. It was very dark and raining, so bad luck for the blackbird and good skills on the sparrowhawks side. Im sad to see him go, he was a friendly old soul who sat on the brick wall when I left everyday, but everybody has to eat. Hopefully, if they were raising a brood, the female does not suffer too much.

(Not in my garden) Warwick Castle Birds

 

 

 

Blackcap and warm weather

Sorry for the absence, have been busy with school etc, but back now for a while :)

Saw my first blackcap yesterday, he visited the sunflower-hearts-feeder, but I didnt get a picture as he didnt stay for long! These are from today: Could someone confirm no.2 is a sparrow? thanks! :) 

Better attempt...

Robin

After giving my dad his birthday presents I was back to the birds. Inside today as I'm still cold from yesterday, and I wanted to let the LTTs visit without scarpering when they see me as they're very timid at the moment. Tried alan's advice about the aperture mode, i think it was on a f5 for most of these shots - can't remember! I was definitley messing around with it and found f11 to be too fast and blurred the pictures.

If you didnt know before you can click images to make them bigger + slideshow! 

From left: Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch and a Goldfinch

Two Greenfinches

Three Greenfinches and a Goldfinch

Greenfinch, dunnock, greenfinch

No new birds to report again, have noticed less blue tits and great tits visiting but may be feeding elsewhere with all these finches about! Did see one Great Tit though 

Not much to report...

Lady blackbird

As the title suggests, not as an exciting day as yesteraday. No new birds to report. However, all of the finches were out in power today with over 7 greenfinches visiting at one time (with likely more waiting behind for their turn!) Also the goldfinches and chaffinches. The dunnocks were also frequent today with the lack of blackbirds (maximum of 2 as opposed to recent numbers of 8) 

I took a load of pictures today, but because I was messing around with the camera not really knowing what i was doing, they're all too grainy or dark! Will get better I promise

However, have been testing out the macro on the new camera on a willing subject...

Fagin

And also another video... Nothing special, dunnocks, blackbirds and a chaffinch or two... As soon as I put the camera down and went back inside to get ready to go out, every other bird seemed to descend (long tailed tits, coal tits, goldfinches, to name a few...) Oh well

There is a 1080HD quality in the settings (the cog wheel) 

Fieldfares Descend!

Half the flock of Fieldfares

Finally saw my first fieldfares today as a flock of about 20-25 landed in the trees surrounding our garden. Only had time to catch a few snaps out of the window before they moved further down the street, probably in search of the last few berries and apples! It was a real treat to see them - I heard their peculiar calls before I actually saw them. 

Also seen about was...

Song Thrush

In the 10 minutes or so after the fieldfares: dunnocks, blackbirds, starlings, goldfinches, greenfinches, chaffinches, robin and coal tits. 

Its Snow Joke!

Redwing, picture from last weekend

Outside, snow is starting to fall again in the Leicestershire area and probably everywhere else, so expect a new bout of visitors tomorrow and the weekend ahead. Topped up with batteries and a bigger memory stick for more photographs hopefully! Stay safe, warm, and upright :) 

New memory stick arrived and will finally be able to get to the shops to get some more batteries to take some pictures. The LTTs returned in a group of 4 and are definitely becoming more confident when feeding. Jackdaws visited the garden once, but frightened off by the blackbirds fighting. Cold is still staying here and snow is expected on friday. Will update as soon as camera is charged again!

Snow Snow Snow

Blackbird

Well, the birds have been expecting it and so have we... and it finally came! Overnight, the whole town was covered in white. We were quick to get out this morning around 8 o clock to start digging. By shifting all the snow around the bottom of the feeder and the rockery, we hoped it would be easier for birds to move about and access food. The little mounds of snow around the dip would act as a small wind barrier too. Plenty of food came out for plenty of birds who came.

Redwing

The redwings returned in a flock of about 12, but only one or two landed in the trees surrounding the garden. There were apples out, but they didnt feed. Perhaps too shy or not interested.

Goldfinch

Most of the visitors were blackbirds (a record of 8) who fought constantly for the best pieces of apple, and a host of finches (chaffinches, greenfinches and goldfinches.)

Two Long Tailed Tits

Single Long Tailed Tit

The Long-tailed tits also came back in a small group of 3 (only two pictured, fast fluffballs!)

Three Greenfinches

Also... I decided to try out the video function on the new S2950. It was very cold, so shaky hands, and also the battery wasnt great as i'd been trying to get the best quality pictures out of it (and failed hehe) So excuse the bad photography skills!

Sunny with a chance of snow

Two House Sparrows

When these pictures were taken it was about -3, but it has gone up to -2 now so birds are a little more active. Lots of food put out for them to keep energy levels up and also the water bowl. Trying out a coconut feeder today to see if they take to them. Otherwise 'buggy nibbles', blackbird mix and sunflowers out for everyone. Song thrush and bull finches stopped by but neither fed.

Two Bullfinches

Harmony between dove and starling

Redwing

Female Chaffinch

Male Blackbird