Martin Mere

Up to Martin Mere, where we haven't been for a long time. Lots of changes, new hides installed, old ones removed, new paths through the reed beds.

Lapwing

Lapwing

Female Tufted Duck

Usual array of small, flitting birds at the feeders, but the Brown Rats were far more entertaining.

Brown Rat

Brown Rats

Went for a wander through the reed beds. Not much around but a few Buzzards were on posts and roofs.

Buzzard

Saw at least half a dozen Snipe on a little mound. Never seen so many at once.

Snipes galore

Black-headed Gull trailing reed

Woodpigeon snoozing

Tree Sparrow

Garden

Some of the residents of the garden this year. Not very many fledglings so far, although everyone's busy feeding and rooting in the undergrowth.

Mistle Thrush

House Sparrow guttering inspector

Male Blackbird

Flowers closed

Male Greenfinch

Female Greenfinch

Great Tit

Female Blackbird

Flowers opened

Starling

Woodpigeon

Female Blackbird

Starling fledgling keeping a watchful eye

Blue Tit

Starling fledgling

Blackbird fledgling (Squeaky)

Female House Sparrow on rosebud

Starling fledgling

Female Blackbird

Blackbird fledgling

Blackbird fledgling

Blackbird fledgling

Blackbird fledgling

Blackbird fledgling and reflection

Blackbird fledgling still checking its reflection

Blackbird fledgling

Female Blackbird (and Starling in background)

Blackbird fledgling waiting

Blackbird fledgling about to be fed

Contortionist Female House Sparrow

Male Blackbird surveying the grounds

Woodpigeon on roof

Woodpigeon lurking behind the bushes

Male Blackbird

Starling

Female House Sparrow picking aphids off a rose bud (keep up the good work!)

Female House Sparrow eating aphids

Male Blackbird going grey (kids will do that to you, apparently)

Garden Snow

A mixture of snow and birds was in the garden so we aired the kitchen thoroughly by poking the camera out the window all morning. The light is still in the wrong direction, but with overcast skies and reflective snow the exposures were coming out a lot better than usual.

Twig

Feral Pigeon

Feral Pigeon

Blackbird and grass

Blackbird on ivy

Collared Dove

(Temporarily crested) Long-tailed Tit

This female blackbird has become quite adept at raiding our fatball feeder. Initially she would fly up and peck from underneath but has now learned how to hold on, at least for a while.  The male is just now learning the original flying-leap method (when he's allowed to, the female definitely wears the trousers in our garden).

Female Blackbird

Long-tailed Tit in swirling snow

Collared Dove

Long-tailed Tit

Greenfinch on budding branch

Woodpigeon