Champing At The Bit - on 17th January, 2013

I'm still a bit under the weather with a chest and throat infection, and a couple of short trips out have resulted in me regretting it! Today, therefore, with much frustration I've stayed at home. This, however, has had its compensations. It's been a truly remarkable day in or garden, in spite of the very dull cold weather or (more probably) because of it. 

Bearing in mind that we only have a postage stamp of a suburban garden (about 100 sq metres or 1,000 sq ft), to have 24 Blackbirds (just realised that that's a pie's worth!) in our garden at one time (a record for us!) was a bit Hitchcockian.

It was also a record day for the number of species seen in our garden in a day - 17.

Nothing very unusual in the way of species was seen in the garden in the morning, except that we were having our second visit of the year from a Great Spotted Woodpecker when I looked out of the bedroom window first thing in the morning.

The afternoon, however, was a bit more exciting, in spite of it staying cloudy and dull. First on the scene were a couple of Long-tailed Tits. We don't get too many of them. No photos were taken of them as they were at the far end of the garden.

Next on the scene was a Brambling. I'm pretty sure that this was a winter plumage male, as there was quite a lot of black showing on its face. This obliged by coming to within about 8 metres (8 yards) from my study window.  As we'd only seen a female Brambling this year, I was particularly pleased.

Brambling (male) - our garden

A short while later the female Bullfinch, that has been visiting us on an occasional basis, briefly came quite close to my window. Lately she's tended to stay at the other end of the garden.

Bullfinch (female) - our garden

As what little light there was was starting to go, a male Lesser Redpoll graced us with his presence. This was the sixth Redpoll visit we've had this year, but lately it's been a female that's visited us.

Lesser Redpoll (male) - our garden

 This is a female bird from the previous day.

Lesser Redpoll (female) - our garden.

I mention a couple of excursions that I'd regretted. One of them was to my favourite Calke Park. I didn't arrive until the sun was setting (if there had been any sun!), and didn't see the hoped-for owls. This stag Red Deer was quite obliging however.

Red Deer (male) - Calke Park

I have seen some owls since I last included them in a post. However, I've not managed much in the way of images, so will probably wait until I have a few more sightings before posting on them.

Hoping to get out there and do something soon!!!

Music

In my last post, I featured a number by Cream. Two thirds of cream (Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker) had once been half of The Graham Bond Organization - the other half being Graham Bond (who played a mean Hammond organ) and Dick Heckstall-Smith on saxophone. I managed to get to see this band many times as they were a great favourite of mine. Ginger Baker's 15 minute drum solos were utterly amazing (I still rate him the best drummer ever!). He put so much energy into them that it was quite normal for him to disappear off stage to throw up afterwards! This is a number that, with it's train theme, was destined to be a particular favourite for me. Yes, I have this on vinyl too!