Weather is defying the gloomy forecast and turned out quite pleasant today with no wind or rain except a few minor droplets for very brief period. After taking the full frame camera/300mm plus 2 x converter yesterday and finding the birds were far too close to get in focus, I removed the converter today - but probably needed it LOL
Very cropped shots for the Bearded Tits (yes I will refer to them as Tits even if they are not members of the Tit family ! )
Will put up more pics of other birds shortly ..............
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Regards, Hazel
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thanks Tony, to be honest it was one of those cases when I thought the pics would have been better looking at the camera preview screen so was a bit disappointed when I got them up on the computer. No excuses except I'm way out of practice with the camera these last few months and the first time I have used the 300mm lens and full frame camera since we moved house back in July. Anyway, glad you liked them and I'll add a few more shots of other species. I concentrated on the smaller birds having the limit of 300mm and full frame camera.
I always love the Marsh Tits as I've only seen them at LM.
Robins next (or Paul won't forgive me lol ) sadly I didn't receive my postal order for kilo waxworms before we left on Friday so only had sunhearts/suet
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Mute swan having a good preen
House sparrow (f)
Mr House Sparrow
Bank Vole
only a rubbish record shot as a Shrew made a very fleeting appearance just before the Vole
A water shrew methinks.... record shot of it taking some mealworm suet
Bullfinches were outside the front reception area
where did Beardie come from lol looks like he's saying "that's all folks" !!
Lot to learn
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Nige Flickr
Kind regards, Ann
Jim
My Pictures
My Fbook Group
My bird photos HERE
Many thanks everyone; didn't get any photos today as it drizzled all day long and the Bearded Tits don't like rain ! :( Was still nice to walk around the reserve feeding the small birds, especially as it was a lot quieter with kids back at school and rain ! Hopefully I can get some pics tomorrow for you. We did see Walter the Rail and the Bank Vole again :)
Some interesting facts for you about the Beardies (which I have highlighted certain sections for you) , thanks to one of the L.Moss experts and former senior Warden who forwarded this info to me. I'm sure he won't mind me adding part of the fact sheet here. If you do encounter Bearded Tits at L.Moss then it is helpful if you could gather the ring colour codes and forward them on to staff or use the email address on the signs by the grit trays.
"Why do they need grit? Because in winter they mainly feed on reed seed and they need grit in the gizzard to grind up the hard seeds. A German study showed that on the average a Bearded Tit needs 600 very small stones in winter in the gizzard ( one bird had 850 stones), but in spring when they feed on insects they averaged only 32 stones. Sharp builders sand is used on the trays. Most birds only visit the trays on 3-5 days, but one visited on at least 24 days. Often they grit for a few days then stop and come back again 10-15 days later. LM oldest bird was 7 years and 93 days which was a national record. They stay together as a pair right throughout the year, most other species split up for the winter. They start gritting in late September, reaching a peak in late October/early November then decline with only a few gritting by January "