I'm back from five nights away on a ringing course. I was a bit worried before I went (it sounded full-on and rather intense) but once I found my feet and got the hang of how the procedures worked, I really enjoyed myself.
When a person is tired of Wrynecks, they are tired of life.
![Wryneck](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sz-0U6a9YFsa7WPSOrSd3fbMOFdaXMr_utXlsn1fISZ0G0yTjOtrxGuhDhvxMzd08dcizUz087XkfLUcWXNa7LfISVY3vDBfNYjJsWNGwaDo9E5U7PZbBMuySjGlXFcu0=s0-d) |
Wryneck! |
![Wryneck](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tIgYPif2CwXNhJrPPrYxH8duKfq0qpaN9u8fqMMuFs-LGDuEDDx824ZiD7c4hya6mM-eRo7la5mGKcIQbznaGOkGmLIN-p5e6_DbE9k_E-8cWtzTL6AG9DiIIPEjxKFSM=s0-d) |
Wryneck!! |
![Wrynecks](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s11In5tBjZdhsMJysHq0PLvrzlZZH-2eVXKoYyFvroGjog0N2mnZhECrqk_K9TZxPRJe0yvexcUeCnd-cSf3o_Iadb9EcOUKpsHSwrr8QWJpe38NHs5WujSOYT0zcI8w=s0-d) |
TWO Wrynecks! |
Not only are they astonishingly beautiful, they also
do crazy things (video not mine, but ours did similar things. The birds aren't hurt; it's a threat display intended to confuse a would-be predator).
We were too busy to take many photos, but here is a small selection...
![Bearded Tit](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vhfOYehDER-ax155iaMH3Mp8WiEwfE1Ui392tbaaqQ5DLHiHFTAdIcTpRiy__M7aSEJE9Hyw1U0v1OnR9vDNkf6tbFM1Y4nweNN0S9PIDB6wJnSRljEMj2DBHy8UWQYw=s0-d) |
Male Bearded Tit! |
![Whinchat](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ucZNyoEBu4n2dYD0CdvKkhAVS4QHk2z5ftpSh8D6xT5o6qf3HQ5TXcK-5Yt3Nh2P1dPfmWEHmzDebGg53lo2fL_UFrcsTSOtLTNYURIxoJ1pQEuWAe20zMjwWxkX03Tpw=s0-d) |
Fabulous juvenile Whinchat |
![Nuthatch](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uAT5nhgXUW_Ud6CfIC5u_Mz5vFgv-TP7zwIFqqTA6Yz3bOme5fYyf-hlv1aqQLpVHB0pys5Vlokfu98CkefkSFVgOE2k1Fra7ETmhUvC3AH2OiGLLfmrkzSclsCJ910Y8=s0-d) |
Female Nuthatch |
![Tufted Duck](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sDB83yNGFdUuC-kG_RDWijDOqyAbcSDuRUY23ZQflsDNgcoy0a8MJBJzxXTlWv_hZnK_1nznoujJrakG_PAXt_m3_dMpeXnUEqMYm-19CTVVOfyQW4DuISQT4xlkmuJHg=s0-d) |
Repeat-offender Tufted Duck - caught in a duck trap that works on the same principle as a lobster pot |
![Banoffee pie](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tyLhsAbALfSvqk2oB-Evw3GD8P0_ukTa_Kz2D2hdBm3LbkYvHRoW1BABRmALhTrBuw-57rVQH3Bk6rR8td4iOlt7lMHSOqKhtpj6aj6VKZZVJTvfimjyVVltkWbRokBmI=s0-d) |
Migrant warblers eat loads of berries. This is what ringers fuel up with at the pub... |
We also caught Yellow Wagtails, House and Sand Martins, Swallows, Redstarts, Nightingales, Grasshopper, Willow, Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers, Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, a Mistle Thrush, a few Wrens, a Goldfinch, a mercifully small number of Blue and Great Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a load of other stuff I can't remember...
Oh, and while I was away, garden bird number 99 made it onto the list - Wigeon!
You must have had a wonderful time. Those photos are marvellous! The wryneck is amazing... looks like an animated piece of bark. Thanks for sharing. Top post! Top blog!
ReplyDeleteAmazing photographs. A Wigeon in the garden Katie.??
ReplyDeleteRinging really does give a great opportunity to get fabulous close shots of the birds. I had never heard of a Wryneck and the video shows how it got its name.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots - I've never seen a Wryneck - aren't they super!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteIs that cheesecake? what flavour?
ReplyDeletegreat picture, but now I have to go and find something to eat!
Sorry for being slow to reply to your comments...
ReplyDelete@Petra, yes I had a wonderful time - I'm so pleased I went
@Roy. Apparently two Wigeon flew past the garden towards a nearby lake, and under our rules that's good enough :o)
@Midmarsh John, I knew from the name Wryneck that they must do something funny with their necks, but I never realised they did that!
@Scriptor Senex, yes, they're absolutely gorgeous. Sigh.....
@Andrew, thanks, delighted you like the pics
@Tony, it was banoffee pie and yes, it tasted as good as it looked. Mmm.