Budworth Mere....................................................... watching sails and paddles

We had a walk around Marbury Country Park yesterday.

I was hoping for a bit of peace and quite but there was a dog show on near the car park... 

...the place was packed.

To get away from the crowds we headed towards the eastern end of the mere... 

...the local sailing club was having a regatta.

 This Mallard was keeping her new family close to the shore and well away from the dinghy's.

Ducklings are always lovely to see...

...paddling about without a care in the world.

It was quite a windy day... ideal weather for messing about in boats.

Greenfinch in my garden................................................................................

I have had Greenfinches visiting my feeders quite often recently but they are timid birds and I struggle to capture them with my camera.

The best I have managed is this little video clip taken through my patio window.

You can see a bit of reflection in the clip but they are lovely birds to see so I just had to share it.

The Bird D'pot

Spring has finally arrived...................................................................................

 My local countryside is at last coming into leaf...

 ... the tree I see on my commute has only shown life over the last few days.

The hedgerows that border the lanes were bereft of greenery just over a week ago...

...hard to believe as I drove home this evening.

Cheshire has some beautiful countryside and hedgerows like these have been the fence of choice for centuries... supporting a wide variety of wildlife including mammals, invertebrates and of course at this time of year nesting birds.

 Cheshire has lost 66% of it's hedgerows since 1992... modern farming and machinery need bigger fields.

Approx 185,000 km of hedges have been destroyed in England and Wales since the 1980's.

One of the reasons for the decline of bird species in the UK.

Linking to Skywatch Friday and Friday's Fences

Song Thrush singing his heart out...................................................................

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

 Song Thrush singing in my local woods.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday and Camera Critters

A Goldfinch flies into my window............................ a bit stunned but survives

I was sat watching the television last night when I heard a bang on the window.

My bird feeders are close to the house and a Goldfinch had flown straight into my patio window.

After flying into a rose bush and getting caught up in the thorns...

 ...it freed itself then landed on the ground just a few feet from the window it had crashed into.

Obviously stunned and in shock it lay still for over 20 minutes... eyes shut tight as it rested.

Eventually it started to recover... becoming aware of it's surroundings.

I was lying on the floor to captured these images... it's the closest I've been to a Goldfinch.

 I was so pleased to see it fly off just a few minutes later... hopefully non the worse for it's mishap.

Linking to Camera Critters, Weekly Top Shot , The Bird D'pot

and Wild Bird Wednesday

I haven't shared this for a while................. I apologize if you've seen it before

 This video took me a year to film and produce from clips taken during 2011.
I spent a whole month doing the editing... a few hours a week.

I have shared this a couple of times and it is always available to view on my Video Gallery.
The Video Gallery is below my profile... video clips are always being added.

 "12 Months in 12 Minutes" only came about because my Dslr had given up the ghost as I was starting my summer vacation and all I had available was my little point and shoot and a camcorder I had owned for a year but had never really tried out.

It was a little Canon FS200... bought before HD became affordable.
The 41x advanced zoom was what attracted me to this camcorder and the image was pretty good.
...the digital zoom goes right up to 2000x but the quality obviously suffers.

I also used a lightweight Slik Pro340DX Tripod which packs down small enough to carry easily.
It was a bit too lightweight in windy conditions though... you can pick up a bit of shake in some of the clips.
I have recently purchased a Manfrotto 055xprob...a heavy beast which won't be carried far but should at least cut down on the wind shake.

Uploaded to YouTube it has had over 400 views.
I do wonder sometimes how many people have watched it all the way through.
If you manage to do it ... well... many thanks for that.

Skywatch Friday

Racing Pigeon in the garden............................................................................

We have had a Racing Pigeon hanging around for a few days now.

I keep meeting up with these every now and again... the last one in my garden stayed for three days.

 The little fella sits mainly out of reach on the roof of the house or on the shed...

...but is easily tempted down for food and a drink.

The ring on his right leg is numbered 73030.

He/She is so colourful when the sun catches his feathers... and has a happy look about himself.

 ...and the orange eye is lovely to see.
After it is refreshed I suspect it will just carry on it's journey home...

...I just hope it's owner likes it as much we do.

Linking to Our World Tuesday and Wild Bird Wednesday

Blackbirds feeding in my garden......................................................................

                                    I had just put out a handful of dried meal worms for the birds...

...and it didn't take this pair of Blackbirds very long to polish them off.

It's a short clip (22 secs) so it won't take up much of your time... many thanks for watching.

 Linking to Camera Critters and The Bird D'pot

Long-tailed Tits...................................................... gathering nesting material

My little Long-tailed Tits are nest building. 

I have been watching these two gathering moss in my garden for the last few days.

They are regular visitors to my feeders and are hopefully building their nest nearby.
Their nest will be built in the shape of a dome...

 ...made up of hair, feathers and moss.

...which they have been gathering from my garden...

...cute little birds to see.

How to eat a sunflower heart................................................... using both feet

 My garden Blue Tit showing another way to eat a sunflower seed.

Method Two

 First check the area is free of predators... and paparazzi!!!

Place a seed tightly between your feet...

...savour the moment...

... Mmmm! soooo tasty!

Please scroll down to my last post to see Method One.

Wild Bird Wednesday

How to eat a sunflower heart.................................................... using one foot

I had to smile watching this Blue Tit feeding tonight... they have a nice technique.

Method One

 Choose the seed...

......

Grip it tightly with your left foot...

... and enjoy.

Wild Bird Wednesday

A new bird comes through the hole in my fence..............................................

I have a hole in my fence that the Robin and a few other small birds have been using to enter my garden.

It's the hole in my blog header.

 Well today even the male Blackbird had a go...

...but he only just fitted through.

I have added pics of the Robin and Dunnock to give a sense of scale.

 Robin

Dunnock

The fence has deteriorated quite a bit during the winter months and may well have to be replaced soon.

The hole will be sorely missed... and not just by the birds.

Our World Tuesday

A few birds from the garden ...........................................................................

 It was bright sunshine for a while in the garden this morning... and all the feeders are topped up.

Here are just a few of the birds that dropped by.

Goldfinches are always lovely birds to see... and I am getting plenty at the moment.

 They love the sunflower hearts.

Greenfinch.

 A tiny Long-tailed Tit was gathering nesting material.

The male Blackbird was also scratching around in the undergrowth. 

 House Sparrow...

... and more shots of the Goldfinch to finish off with.

Linking to Camera Critters and The Bird D'pot

" I've just had a bath! "......................................................................................

When I got home from work tonight I spotted my little Robin having a wash in the birdbath.

 By the time I had grabbed the camera he had flown onto the log feeder.

Dripping wet...
... he looked so scruffy with his wet feathers... but was looking smart again a few minutes later.

Weekly Top Shot

Long-tailed Tit................................................................................................

The nights are getting lighter and brighter as I return home from work... it gives time to use the video camera.

Last night I captured a couple of Goldfinches... tonight it was a solitary Long-tailed Tit.

Probably the cutest little bird I get to see in my garden.

The clip is just under a minute in length... just the bird feeding so no need to watch it all if you are in a hurry.

A short video clip of the Goldfinches in my garden.........................................

A short video clip of the Goldfinches on my garden feeders.

They are messy feeders...  but always lovely to see.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday and Rurality Blog Hop

Starlings.......................................................... beautiful birds to see up close

I have a pair of Starlings that have become regular visitors to my garden.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).

They are nesting in my neighbours roof space... thankfully not mine.

They were enjoying the meal worms I put out for them.

I feed them by my patio doors... it gives me the opportunity to see them up close.

It was a shame it was such a dull day...
...a bit of sunshine would have shown off more of their iridescent plumage.

Starlings aren't everyone's cup of tea... but I really love seeing them.

Linking to Our World Tuesday and Wild Bird Wednesday