Quadruple Tit Day

Today was a very special day for the garden... a Quadruple Tit day.

Quadruple Tit days don't come around very often down here. Plenty of double tit days, but to have all four 'garden' tits; Long-tailed, Coal, Great and Blue feeding at the same time is a pretty damn big occasion in these here parts.

Unfortunately, neither the Coal tit or Long-tailed tit stayed for very long; the Long-tailed tit probably heading off to join a massive group of mates in the local woods, while God knows where the Coal tit will disappear to... I've seen more Hawfinches this year than I have Coal tits.

Plenty of Blue tit action this morning, with the birds taking a particular liking to Hazel catkins, despite stocked up feeders...

 

Bit cold...

Snow Birds

As predicted, the snow arrived yesterday, and with it, so did the birds. Couldn't resist setting up the camera for an hour or two to capture a bit of the action, as Chaffinches, thrushes and tits became noticeably more approachable in their urgent search for food. Still no sign of the annual wintering flock of Redwings that set up in the garden around this time to feed on a large pyracantha bush, although it appears to be quite a poor year for the species.

A few halved apples on the lawn seems to have worked a treat for the Blackbirds, but there's always one male that doesn't like to share. Hopefully the Blackbirds increased presence in the garden will encourage a few more winter thrushes down later in the month...

Tits... and a few Ducks

As expected, January has kicked up few opportunities for any kind of wildlife excursions, and coupled with the next few weeks being completely filled up with exams, driving tests and work reviews, the outlook for the rest of the month looks even bleaker.

Unfortunately, time doesn't allow me to chase rare spuggies around Hampshire, but I did managed to slip in a brief visit to Bushy Park early yesterday morning with the camera, for a brief walk about.

The woodlands were alive with roaming tit flocks, consisting mainly of extremely inquisitive Long-tailed tits...

Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers, one of the more rarer associates with tit flocks, are often sighted in the Park, but alas none showed amongst the Treecreepers and Goldcrests that were also tagging along.

Close but no cigar...

Plenty of activity also around Heron Pond...

In the absence of the less common wintering Gadwall and Shoveler, both Pochards were putting on a show...

Garden Birds

Garden Birds...

The camera has stayed in its case for a week, which is quite a rare occasion. However, the garden has been quite active this morning with a few Long tailed tits and a very aggressive Great tit, so I took the most of the opportunity.

Great tit...

Long-tailed tit...

Woodpigeon...

Hide Photography

Hide Photography...

I recently bought a load of camouflage gear from WildlifeWatching Supplies including a sort of camouflage coloured blanket that you throw over yourself... basically, a cheap version of a hide. As I haven't been bothered to make it past the back garden these last few days, I decided to set up the camera equipment in the garden, and throw the camouflage coloured blanket thing over me.

The birds didn't seem too bothered with me, but neither did they seem too bothered to sit on the perch that I had focused on, just above the bird feeder. In the end, only a Great tit came into the viewfinder... I guess it's not a bad first attempt.

I guess it's early days yet, and one things for sure, I'll be doing much more garden hide photography in the near future. It seems a great way to get close to the birds without disturbing them.

Bittern Bonanza at Barnes

Bittern Bonanza at Barnes...

Bitterns have always been on my list of birds that I would like to photograph They are so elusive and extremely weird looking birds that would make a interesting subject in amongst a reedbed, where they tend to stay hidden. Encouraged by the recent sightings of 4 Bittern on the London Wetland Centre sightings page, I headed over there late morning to see if I could get any shots of them with the new lens.

On first inspection, the reserve seemed pretty quiet in the way of birds. In the surrounding hedgerow, a Great tit perched in front of the camera...

... and a Cormorant was fishing in the main lake...

On the way back to Dulverton Hide, I caught news that a Bittern had been spotted over by Headley Hide. I quickly rushed into Dulverton to check if the Bittern was viewable from there, but it was too far away to see properly.

I raced over to Headley Hide and sure enough, a Bittern was showing excellently (for a Bittern). Just as I entered, the Bittern began to emerge from its hiding place, allowing me and many other photographers in the hide, an opportunity for a shot or two...

Before quickly moving back into the cover of the nearest group of dead reeds...

On the whole it was a very successful day and I got what I came for; some shots (even if they are distant!) of a very beautiful, albeit strange species, the Bittern. A great way to end the Christmas holiday and start 2010!

Evening in Bushy Park

Took a late evening walk in Bushy Park on Saturday as it was sure to be absolute mayhem on Sunday due to a Parade that was scheduled to start the next day.

Walking along the canal and the usual Grey Heron was fishing in the long reeds (no good for a photograph) and no sign of any Kingfisher this time. In the Canal Plantations a lone Mandarin duck was swimming elegantly around the pond... after I took this shot the resident Coot started molesting the poor guy who eventually flew off.

It was good to see so many Bluebells out in the warm weather and happily sleeping among them was a cute brother and sister... or brother and brother... or sister and sister Egyptian Geese duo. Mum wasn't too far away so obviously I didn't hang around long.

Back on the main lake and it was starting to get late now, the sun was setting and even Mr. Mallard couldn't resist a quick nap...

In the fallen Willow tree, a Great tit was taking an evening bath but shot up into the branches when a dog bolted past. In the top of the Willow, 2 moustached male Reed Bunting were singing their simple 3-4 note song by the setting sun.

Finishing off with a very tufted male Tufted Duck- a species I don't really photograph enough considering how common it is around here.

A Chaffinch in the Snow

7 inches of snow have covered most of Surrey including our village so school is shut. Before going out with friends for snowball fights etc I managed to fit in a bit of bird photograhy as they all fed at our garden feeding station.

A lone female Chaffinch has been visiting the garden the winter. Unfortunatly, she seems to be quite low down on the pecking order so was regularly getting pushed off the feeder by Greenfinches, Great tits and Blue tits. Whats more is that she can't find any food on the ground because of all the snow. Things couldn't be much worse for her...

Look at that sad and lonely face, why not sponsor this Chaffinch for only £2 a month by calling 0800 657 306. She needs your help

Blue tits and Great tits taking advantage of the feast I put out for them