Still I am getting out some and took a short walk around the nearby park this morning. I've still not ventured out with the camera yet but took a few photos on the phone, which are not so great but the sun and mist was too beautiful to miss.
There were plenty of birds about, Black Headed Gulls and Mistle Thrushes on the pitch. The trees were full of Blackbirds, Blue & Great Tits, Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, Starlings and House Sparrows. It's not my favourite park but it is good for the birds and I can see the boundary from my house so there's always something to spot.
Here are a couple of other photos from my phone of the frost we've had recently, coupled with the fog it's made for some lovely school runs!
And produced some stunning sunsets!
Luckily one of the 'perks' of this time off is that I get to garden watch quite often. In fact i'm pretty much on first name terms with the Squirrel and the Robin, they are around nearly all day every day. I've been able to take a few shots with my camera from the window and out in the garden.
Apart from when the rain has been heavy the garden activity is constant, the Goldcrest is still around along with Blue, Great, Coal and LT Tits, Starlings, Sparrows, Blackbirds, Dunnock, Wren, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, The skies are filled with Gulls, Crows, Thrush and number of Starling and Goldfinch that fly over has increased a great deal.
On Sunday morning I got the best views yet of the Red Kite that has been around the area for a while, right at the end of my road too. It was flying about pretty low with a flock of gulls. Of course I only had the cameraphone to hand but I just caught it as it was flying off. You can make out the shape if nothing else!
I've signed up this week for next years Patchwork Challenge so we'll see how that goes, motivation for getting out walking even if it doesn't produce a huge range of species, i'm going to enjoy it I think!
Nice to see you are up and about, probable doing to much if you have pulled your back a little ! ( I would be the same) Have left a note with your comment on my blog about High Royds, you would love it there.
ReplyDeleteI looked at doing the Patchwork Challenge, areas I wanted to do was covered by someone else (not a problem). But I have been so bad at keeping up with my records this year, I'm going to concentrate on my own recording. Next year I will be recording for Denso Nature reserve as well. I am looking forward to seeing what you find though.
Amanda xx
Yes, you're right, i've been told off for overdoing it!! I'll check out your comment.
DeleteI'm usually quite good at keeping up with the records but doing it to set dates puts the pressure on! It should be good recording for Denso, I really need to get over there next year xx
Glad you've been able to get out - hope the cold subsides soon (can't be helping!). It must be wonderful to see Red Kites so locally. There are occasional sightings not far from here but I have never seen one.
ReplyDeleteStill umming and aahing over patchwork challenge - then got sidetracked about a challenge in Birdwatching magazine to see 200 species in a year. But like Amanda I have (in my case as always!) been poor at keeping my records up to date so am still undecided.
It's on it's way out thankfully! They are a stunning bird to see and yes it's lovely to see them!
DeleteI saw that challenge too and thought about throwing that into the mix but the first couple of months of the year I still won't be able to get out much and I don't always have the car on a weekend so i'm not sure about that, I'll see how it goes!