Spring

Damson blossom being enjoyed by a) me and b) a Peacock butterfly

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Rooks

The past few mornings have seen a dozen Rooks gathering on our lawn. Some of the braver ones have copied the Jackdaws and now stuff themselves full of sunflower hearts from the feeder. I think things might get expensive if the whole rookery finds out...

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

Snow

We finally had snow, but it hasn't lasted. Mostly melted by lunchtime.

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

On a day like this

- violently windy, with hailstorms interspersed with blizzards of sleet - there's not much else to be done, other than sift through old photos. I took this back in 2004, when I first got my Coolpix, but I don't think it's made it onto the blog before.

I'm looking forward to spring.

Needless to say, you can buy stuff with this image on from Photobox!

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Now available: prints, cards, mousemats

It's far too windy, rainy and cold outside to be doing anything, so this afternoon I've taken the plunge into e-commerce. You can now buy prints (choice of three sizes), postcards (packs of 16) and greetings cards (packs of 8) and mousemats from my Photobox gallery.

I ordered some prints from Photobox a few weeks ago and I was impressed with the quality and speedy delivery. So, please get shopping! Feedback appreciated (leave a comment or send an e-mail), and let me know if you'd like to be able to order different images or products.

Thanks!

HawkVision

Sorry to keep boring you with these dark, dark videos of one of our local Sparrowhawks. I think it's probably the same young male who keeps coming back to have a go at the finches and tits coming to our feeding station (he can keep his claws off the Reed Buntings, mind you).

Isn't he the picture of pent-up tension? He's dying to catch something!

Hmmm, perhaps the concrete post isn't so comfortable after all

videos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

Another meme

I don't even know what meme means.

Anyway, I've been tagged by Richard of the eponymous Birding Diary (note: I didn't know what eponymous meant until I wanted to buy the R.E.M. album of that name):

1. Write your own six word memoir

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you like.

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere

4 .Tag five more blogs with links

5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

My memoir is:

Red hair: I'm a genetic aberration

I'll tag: Pluvialis, Mike, McKinney, Malc and his pigs, and Amila.

Cockfighting

These two male Pheasants were having a bit of a fencing match in the garden this morning, to little avail

video taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

Hayley Wood

Today I did something I'd been meaning to for a long time: I went to Hayley Wood. It's not far from where I live and I've been reading Oliver Rackham's book about it, titled Hayley Wood: Its History and Ecology.

Apparently, Hayley Wood might be a remnant of the prehistoric wildwood which covered much of this area, and its history can be traced through old documents showing how important it was for local villagers - for fuel and building materials, and also for pannage (that's browsing pigs).

I also thought it might be interesting to check out whether there were any of the typical ancient woodland bird species. The Wildlife Trust website mentions Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Lesser Redpoll. Of course, I drew a blank there, I didn't even see a Marsh Tit, and it was too early for flowers, too. It was hard work for not much, to be honest, but perhaps if I got back in a few weeks, I'll be impressed. Must swot up on my flowers and trees...







photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Set-aside

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Spring, springing

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Storm from the north

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Nucivore

Our Jackdaws are getting pretty good at using the peanut feeder now

video taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

Hawk

A young male Sparrowhawk has been in the garden again this afternoon. After another unsuccessful raid, he retired to consider his next move and to have a preen.

video and photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece