Hi Everyone,
I have re-loaded the pics, hope you can see them this time...
We have had some lovely weather down south this week, frosty but sunny and the birds have been very active. The field behind the house was ploughed a couple of days ago and I have been watching black headed gulls following the tractor and flying down to pick up tasty morsels. The flocks of finches that had been making the most of the grain left behind in the field have been forced to the strip at the edge which has been left unploughed and I saw a flock of yellowhammers and chaffinches all working their way along this strip which runs along behind the houses. I counted ten yellowhammers and six chaffinches behind my own house on Friday morning. Brilliant!
In the afternoon I left work early and went for a walk through Harnham Water Meadows. First I saw mallard, coot, moorhens and mute swans. There were lots of black headed gulls at the riverside and a few more with a lone herring gull in the field near the long bridge.
Then I saw a flock of redwings foraging in a field and a bit further on I stopped to watch a little egret fishing. It was very successful and most times came up with a little fish wriggling it it's beak.
As I walked I took in magnificent views of Salisbury Cathedral and the meadows dotted with sheep.
Round by the Old Mill I saw a kingfisher streak by and a little way further on a sudden movement revealed a treecreeper. I stood for ten minutes or so watching it 'work' the tree. Up it climbed and then it did a freefall back down to the bottom from where it started climbing up again. Fascinating to watch.
I startled a wren which flew across to the opposite bank and then I stood and listened to a robin singing.
On the way back I saw a grey wagtail at the mill and then I stopped and watched the egret once more. On the final stretch of river before heading back into the city I saw another kingfisher flash by. Wonderful! Two in one day.
Finally arriving on the top floor of the car park I watched some jackdaws squabbling and strutting their stuff on the rooftops.
My birding day didn't quite end there though. On arriving home I went into the garden and was looking at a pheasant over the fence when a flock of six long tailed tits arrived at the feeders. After a quick snack, five of them moved on to next door's garden but one perched in a small tree about three feet from me and just sat looking at me. I could have almost reached out and touched it, it was that close but I just stood very still and when it was ready it flew off to join it's friends. Afterwards I realised that I had been holding my breath and it was probably only a few seconds but it seemed like time had stopped for a while. Magic!
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Aggghhhh, still can't see them, I'll look again tommorow.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
How very annoying! Sorry BBB :-(
Hi SB
Got your pictures at last ...yipeee....
Love your report, and the pictures are superb by the way.
The Wren is one cutie pie.
A great close up of the Treecreeper, and the Little Egret is as dainty as ever.
Thank you for adding sparkle to the end of the day
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Unknown said: Hi Everyone, I have re-loaded the pics, hope you can see them this time... We have had some lovely weather down south this week, frosty but sunny and the birds have been very active. The field behind the house was ploughed a couple of days ago and I have been watching black headed gulls following the tractor and flying down to pick up tasty morsels. The flocks of finches that had been making the most of the grain left behind in the field have been forced to the strip at the edge which has been left unploughed and I saw a flock of yellowhammers and chaffinches all working their way along this strip which runs along behind the houses. I counted ten yellowhammers and six chaffinches behind my own house on Friday morning. Brilliant! In the afternoon I left work early and went for a walk through Harnham Water Meadows. First I saw mallard, coot, moorhens and mute swans. There were lots of black headed gulls at the riverside and a few more with a lone herring gull in the field near the long bridge. Then I saw a flock of redwings foraging in a field and a bit further on I stopped to watch a little egret fishing. It was very successful and most times came up with a little fish wriggling it it's beak. As I walked I took in magnificent views of Salisbury Cathedral and the meadows dotted with sheep. Round by the Old Mill I saw a kingfisher streak by and a little way further on a sudden movement revealed a treecreeper. I stood for ten minutes or so watching it 'work' the tree. Up it climbed and then it did a freefall back down to the bottom from where it started climbing up again. Fascinating to watch. I startled a wren which flew across to the opposite bank and then I stood and listened to a robin singing. On the way back I saw a grey wagtail at the mill and then I stopped and watched the egret once more. On the final stretch of river before heading back into the city I saw another kingfisher flash by. Wonderful! Two in one day. Finally arriving on the top floor of the car park I watched some jackdaws squabbling and strutting their stuff on the rooftops. My birding day didn't quite end there though. On arriving home I went into the garden and was looking at a pheasant over the fence when a flock of six long tailed tits arrived at the feeders. After a quick snack, five of them moved on to next door's garden but one perched in a small tree about three feet from me and just sat looking at me. I could have almost reached out and touched it, it was that close but I just stood very still and when it was ready it flew off to join it's friends. Afterwards I realised that I had been holding my breath and it was probably only a few seconds but it seemed like time had stopped for a while. Magic!
Hi Kathy, thank you, that's very kind. You're up late - you must be a night bird like me!
Have to go to bed now though to be up bright and early tomorrow, ready to go and look at scopes - Infocus are demonstrating at a reserve near here :-)) Better tell OH to increase the mortgage. lol!
Anytime SB, yes, we are two nightowls
Yes, I do tend to go to bed late. Dave goes to work in Glasgow all week so I only see him on Friday night to early on Monday morning each week. Not so easy.
Hopefuly he will get a job closer to where we stay soon in the next few months or so.
Love to hear how you get along with your scopes. Hopefully you find waht you want, and the price is reasonable. Great chance to test them at the Reserve. I am sure OH will understand {wink}
Goodnight to you
Unknown said: Hi Kathy, thank you, that's very kind. You're up late - you must be a night bird like me! Have to go to bed now though to be up bright and early tomorrow, ready to go and look at scopes - Infocus are demonstrating at a reserve near here :-)) Better tell OH to increase the mortgage. lol!
I am out singing most of the week and my evenings don't start until I get home from rehearsal by which time most people are going to bed! I am glad somebody is still up with me :-)
Hi SB, I'm afraid even your reloaded pictures are not showing to me. It's getting to be so frustrating.
TJ
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
No Photo's here!
:-{ :-( :-{ :-( :-{ :-(
Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Unknown said: How very annoying! Sorry BBB :-(
Still can't see them :-((((( I won't give up though, I'll come back again.
Still no pictures This is getting beyond a joke
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain