Goldie M

[maverick]

Looks like a female blackcap to me Goldie
I've had a male in my garden the last three winter's, but not this year

[Wurzel]

Mavericks defo correct Goldie - a female Blackcap (often called a Redcap by birders just to confuse things) Great set of shots especially the penultimate

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Thanks Guys, that's great , another one to add to my list Goldie

[maverick]

Keep the food going Goldie and you will get rewarded,in my garden this afternoon I had the great spotted woodpecker here every winter now also the willow tits is now a winter regular not to mention the jays and I spotted a tree creeper on the oak tree at the bottom of the garden also.
It costs a bit in food but it's worth it

[Goldie M]

Hi! Maverick, my Husband feeds the birds he gives them some cheese every day, also pellets, suet ball's, etc
So it's no wonder we've so many visit us.

Today we'd the Female Black Cap, Long Tailed Tit's and Gold Finch, also Chaffinch and Coal Tit, plus Great Tit, Starlings and of course Robin's my favourite .

I couldn't resist putting a photo of the LTT and the small gathering of GF before they finally flew down from the roof of the Bungalow opposite.
It was a cold morning for them up and that roof and they seemed to be eating the moss, but were probably just scratching at it to see what was underneath. Goldie

[MikeOxon]

Lots of interesting creatures live in moss, including possibly the most fascinating of all - the Tardigrade, sometimes known as the 'moss piglet' My son has made videos of them and you can see some of these, together with a description of these amazing creatures, at http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/beh ... er-bear-4/

Mike

[Goldie M]

Hi! Mike you learn some thing every day, I'd never heard of them before, they sound like they've survived almost every thing that's been thrown at them, ice, etc., may be, we could learn a thing or two from them

I was just reading about half an hour ago when I looked up and saw the Sparrow Hawk on my fence in the back Garden , he suddenly dived down into next door's garden but must have missed out on what he was looking at, because he suddenly flew up onto their huge edge which, thank fully is at the bottom of their garden and from there waited patiently and then flew down again into their garden, I think he was unlucky again because he landed on the fence once more spotted me and flew off.

The weather is cold and dull so the shots I took from the window don't do the SH justice. Goldie

[MikeOxon]

Your sparrowhawk looks to be wearing a robber's mask - keep a close eye on her

[Wurzel]

Great shot of the Charm of Goldfinches Goldie Looks like the Sparrowhawk has block booked a table for dinner in your garden

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Mike and Wurzel, I've seen the Sparrow Hawk twice this January already, your right it 's using the garden for lunch but I've yet to see it catch any thing thank goodness.

I thought I'd post a shot of the Black Cap again taken 24th Jan, it's a lovely bird but keeps getting chased by the Black Birds who think they own the garden so hope fully it'll still keep coming. Goldie

[David M]

Good to see the array of birds you have visiting, Goldie. With any luck the next images you get will be of butterflies....not long to go now.

[Goldie M]

Hi! David. I'm cheering myself up with the sight of Snow Drops in my Garden Roll on Spring Goldie

[David M]

Hi! David. I'm cheering myself up with the sight of Snow Drops in my Garden Roll on Spring Goldie

Saw my first daffs last weekend, Goldie, so spring is surely round the corner...

[Goldie M]

Yesterday I went to Penn Flash, ( At Last ) The weather was lovely, the Sun shining and no cold wind for a change, a very enjoyable day.
I expected to see the Heron and wasn't disappointed, from one Hide we saw six of them, the Swan's also were numerous and busy pruning themselves but it was interesting when we saw so many Lap Wings on the shore of the Lake and they suddenly took off giving us quite a display before settling down again on the shore side. They reminded me of the Starlings that visit our garden in large numbers
My book say's the Lap Wing's can do this when the mating season is about to start and during the mating season, they certainly looked spectacular what ever the reason.
Also amongst them was some Golden Eye, they were all rather far a way a long the shore line but I did my best to take a few shots with my Sigma 70- 300 mm lens of all the shore line. Spring is certainly around the corner Goldie

[NickMorgan]

Love the Bullfinch. They look so striking, but I have never managed to catch a picture of one!

[essexbuzzard]

Seconded. They are not easy to photograph, so well done!

[Wurzel]

Thirded. A cracking image of a secretive bird, very nervous and so difficult to approach

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You did well to get such a clear and unobstructed image of the Bullfinch, Goldie. There are quite a few round where I live but they rarely pose like that one!

[Goldie M]

Thank's everybody, that's the best about Pennington Flash, this particular Hide is set right in the tree's and bush's where the the Birds fly in and out for the seeds. the branches are just in front of you so when the Bull Finch flew onto one I was ready for a quick shot having watched him land a few times on the seeds then quickly fly off again.
I'm waiting for Spring now, hope fully I'll get some shots of birds returning and hope fully some Butterfly shots Goldie

[Goldie M]

Not had too much to post lately, I seem to have set my sights on the Spring arriving but judging by the weather today I've still got quite a wait
I took these shots this morning of a group of Gold Finch and my poor Camellia who like me thought Spring was arriving only to find it was the Snow UGH! It's snowing quite heavily at present, still it's better snowing now than in April like last year. Goldie