Here we go, my first post upgrade post:
Having been inspired by others sighting and pictures of Waxwings, and the ongoing news that a flock of about 8 were regularly being seen commuting between two pretty specific spots about 20 minutes from home, I decided that next nice day off I would go for a meander to see if I could catch up with them, firstly at Asda car park (other supermarkets are available)
Robin
Siskin
Maggie
More Siskin action
Chaffie
There's something in there somewhere!
Not a bad colour match!
Flying across the car park, I spied my first butterfly of the year, a Red Admiral, but it didn't land, and strutting across the car park, owning the place
Having spent a little while there, and with a chore or two to run, I decided to try the 2nd spot, 5 minutes down the road. As I pulled into the road that was listed as the 2nd of the sighting spots, half a dozen people with cameras were all looking up a tree, A HA, I thought... they're here... my first ever sighting is imminent :o)
I think it was Michaela on Winterwatch that said they get their name from the little patch of red on their wings
Sometimes you gotta scratch that itch
Emerging from the mistletoe
Eye on the prize
Lean mean berry munching machine
Time to go
And as my chores still needing doing, it was my time to go too, properly happy I'd made the decision to head out.
After chores, and on my way home, as I was driving I spotted my 2nd butterfly, which I'm guessing was a Brimstone as it's still too early for any of the other whites to be out and about, and a short while further (apologies to the car behind) I swerved into a lay by...
The tags come back to the bird being caught in summer of 2022, about 10 miles from where I photographed it, and this was the first report of it since
And it was flying with a second bird
And then I went home, right chuffed with the morning.
The creating of the post was no different to my old way of doing it (except clicking upload rather than straight in the dialogue box), which probably means I was doing it in a long winded way before lol
Hope you enjoy
Stay Safe All
Edit: I used 800 and 0 in the two dimension boxes as before, and the pictures have come out much larger than previously.
Edit 2: Using more<edit<post doesn't appear to fix images that come up with an icon rather than the photograph any more
Edit 3: There were two photo's with just the image icon, but since Hazy replied they've become photos again.... odd!
Well done with the Waxwings PB, looks like you had a really good trip out. Nice when it happens like that . Good selection of photo's.
What a treat to start the day with all your sightings PB and congrats on finding and photographing your first Waxwings with their striking looks and wing bar markings/colours - where did you get that blue sky from and when you've finished with it, please send it northwards although we are promised a little sun this afternoon. Talk about dry January (which, btw, I didn't bother to partake in !! ) and subsequently headed into a wet February LOL. Love the little siskin pics too. 50 siskin were ringed very near us last week but have yet to spot any of them so I better keep the feeders at the local hide topped up and keep a keen eye out around the Alder trees. Interesting to see the Red Kite with tags and I'm sure the ringer was very pleased of the sighting update. Wonderful photos, thanks PB.
_____________________________________
Regards, Hazel
A super collection PB, a siskin among the catkins, possibly alder or hazel, and the waxwing, well, I'm getting sooooo jealous now. They seem to be avoiding here.
Just a personal observation and a good one, not just for you, but others who have shared photos and for the RSPB chappie, the quality seems a lot clearer, particularly when clicking the "Zoom in" option.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
There is still one unopened photo icon PB ... so pleased you got to see Waxwings, lovely colours, thanks for sharing!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks all, was a good morning :o)
Really good to catch your thread PB and see your walks are still producing so many lovely birds for you to photograph, I haven't seen a Siskin or indeed Waxwings for such a long time so a real pleasure in finding yours. Now I do get a Kite flying over now and again but haven't yet had the pleasure in such close views. Lucky you, and I can imagine you were feeling good for a few more days after that session.
Lot to learn
Well done PB, cracking set of photos and you got your waxwings at last!!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Waxwings and the red kites has to be tops for me.
Well that was some catch there. Very nice
WOW brilliant photos PB, Waxwings & a blue sky too !! I've never seen a Waxwing & not had a Siskin yet this winter (& not many blue sky's either !)
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France