In the garden

Despite plans to get out and about in the New Year all is not going to plan as family members have been struck down with Swine flu. Hopefully everyone is now on the mend and the new year is going to start getting a little better!

So i'm going to post on what's been happening in the garden over the past week or so. We have had two new garden birds - a male Reed Bunting and a male Siskin. It's only the second time i've seen a Siskin and it was around a few days.

There has been plenty of activity from all the usual birds Goldfinch, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, Dunnocks, Starlings, House Sparrows, Robin, Collared Doves, Woodpigeon. There has been the odd visit from a Wren, Long Tailed Tits, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. Also an increase in the number of Blackbirds upto 7 or 8 at a time around the garden.

Yesterday morning we had a surprise as a large fox walked down the garden as we ate breakfast - it was quite beautiful and we watched as it leapt over the fence and made it's way off through the neighbours gardens. Unfortunately I didn't get to the camera quick enough for a shot. I know we have them around here but it's the first time i've seen one in the garden.

Here are a few shots - as usual taken through the windows (which need a good clean!).

The lawn is taking a bit of a battering from the niger seed at the moment, despite having the niger feeders the amount of birds constantly on them is sending the seed flying -takes some cleaning up!


Finally some shots of the Siskin, it was a little shy and wouldn't turn around for the camera!!

Oakwell Hall

Had a walk around the icy grounds this morning, it was a pretty miserable day but we needed the fresh air!

There were Blackbirds, Goldfinch and Blue Tits everywhere. The place was a little eerie though with the fog and didn't make for good photo taking, but here are a few from the walk.

Finally some of the very little greenery around today - 'tis the season.....

Holidays!

A short post to wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Life has overtaken me at the moment and we have barely had time to go anywhere. Hopefully in the New Year when things calm down i'll be back to posting as normal.

More Snow

We had quite a downfall of snow during the last week, made for some lovely photos. Also made for a lot of defrosting and snow clearing of the bird feeders. The birds have been in and out of the garden non stop over the past few days. A group of Chaffinch have taken to hanging around all day and I hope they stop once the snow has gone.

The pumpkin is still on the table!

First Snow of Winter

It fell overnight Friday and also a little today. We don't have a lot but it's covered everything and really brought out the birds into the garden once i'd defrosted the water and topped up the feeders! We even had a rare visit from 2 female and one male Chaffinch and a Greenfinch.

Here are a few pictures taken over the weekend.

Yeadon Dam

Managed to squeeze in an hour or so walking around the Dam this morning. It was a pretty dismal day but at least it wasn't raining. It looks a lot different now the leaves are gone, it all looked a little bleak.

This was the only splash of colour we saw.

The water has been taken over by Mallards, Canada Geese and Black Headed Gulls. Along with Coots and Moorhens - some obvious youngsters amongst them. A lone pair of Tufted Ducks were out in the middle of the water. Then in the middle of the Mallards I spotted a pair of Pochards.

Nice to see the difference in plumage in these Mallards.

This tiny nest was in one of the trees - no idea who would have made this?

As we neared the end of the walk a pair of Cormorants flew in, as far as I can remember in all the years i've been coming here I have never seen Cormorants here before. Of course they landed across the other side and when we walked around to try and get a better shot they had already gone to the side we just left - I think they knew! So unfortunately this is the best I got.

Finally we spotted this large growth of Fungus at the bottom of this tree.

Around the Garden

Just a little update on whats going on in the garden at the moment. It's looking very wet and windswept tonight but over the weekend we had some lovely sun and it brought out all the birds.

The Nasturtiums are still going strong as are the Cosmos flowers, new ones are still popping out even now.

On Sunday afternoon as it started getting dark, I spotted this Sparrowhawk in the trees, I just had time for a couple of photos through the window before it flew off. A great way to end the day!