Odds & Sods 2022

Glad you made it over to Burton Mere Hazy, Robins are so good at putting on the sad face, but it looked pretty robust to me, but I bet next time you go over there you will have a bag full of food!!!

Thanks for the photos, Hazel, and it is lovely you were able to visit Burton Mere. Was it busy? I expect you will hurry back there asap with mealies for that poor deprived Robin! At least it posed for you nicely, if a bit bolshie (note the stance!), but they are adorable. Did you drag along the huge optical stuff or were you using a more manageable camera & lens? I understand about not wanting to carry all that weight--I am out of practice carrying a shoulder bag and had a sore shoulder after a couple of days on our holiday! I blame the pandemic. Will you head up to LM before the meet-up or wait until then? We are looking forward to seeing you (and whoever else turns up!)

Unknown said:

lovely you were able to visit Burton Mere. Was it busy?

It was fairly quiet on the whole Ann,   we got there a little too early at 8.40am. (gate opens at 9am,  VC at 9.30am). but we were lucky the window cleaners were there so were able to drive through to the car park and had a head start on everyone else. LOL.      

Unknown said:

Did you drag along the huge optical stuff

Yes, I did take the monster gear out but really didn't get many birds within 600mm distance so it wasn't too tiring having to lift it too many times !   

Unknown said:

Will you head up to LM before the meet-up

We'll be staying from Sunday 26th until Friday 1st July so will drive up early Sunday morning methinks.     MC (Paul) is also arriving Sunday by train assuming there are no wretched rail strikes which is still all I the air;   currently the trains the day before are threatened which would make his Sunday train packed even though he has booked his seat.   

Will be lovely to see forum friends again so those making it up to the North,  have safe travels and see you in the cafe for our first cuppa and bacon bap   :)

I think someone needs to tell woody we've stopped using morse code, all comms are now digital.....

Seriously, brilliant photos, and somewhere I need to get back to (along with a few other places), when the weather and time permit....

Glad you had a nice day out Hazel. That poor Robin and you had no food for him! I am sure it would not be long before someone had food with them. Good you are getting out and about again, hopefully the eyes are settling now and all is well.

Some more odds and sods from an idle, and rare sunny, day in the garden, watching swifts, bees and house sparrows.

The swift photos are in the "Swifts, Swallows & Martins, share your photos and videos here 2022", "All About Insects 2022", "The Young of 2022" threads:

https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/279853/swifts-swallows-martins-share-your-photos-and-videos-here-2022/1395412#1395412

https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/279045/all-about-insects-2022/1395415#1395415

https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/279811/the-young-of-2022-share-your-photos-here/1395424#1395424

Mr HS having a drink from the bird bath

and a little closer

Another Mr HS on the fat balls. A good job he had a nice clean bum! 

A few random local wildlife from the last 2 weeks.

Malre kestrel

Brown hare

Long tailed tit

Red deer stag

Little owl

Mountain hare in summer coat

Grouse

Common bunny, always nice to see.

This little chaffinch was happy to pose for me today.

Close up of a juvenile blue tit in flight;   I decided to go black and white on this one for a change !    colour version is on balcony birds thread,