During this period, I only managed a few trips out into the countryside, only one of which was productive. Here is my account of some of the highlights.
Sunday, 16th January
Although we were lucky enough to have a male and female Blackcap, a male Brambling, a male Siskin, and a pair of Stock Dove visiting our garden, the real highlight for me was the Wren. Although far from being a rare bird, sadly it is too infrequent that a Wren graces us with its presence. The Siskin was not photographed. The Blackcap image, below, contravenes my 'no feeders in photos' rule, but is included as getting male and female together, even though it does not appear to be a harmonious meeting, is most unusual.
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (male + female) - garden on 16th January, 2022 |
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| Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (male) - garden on 16th January, 2022 |
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Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - garden on 16th January, 2022
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Monday, 17th JanuarySorry but I'm giving you another 'feeder' shot, primarily because it shows the rare occurrence of two male Blackcaps together in the garden.
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (male) - garden on 17th January, 2022 |
Although a frequent visitor to our garden, Stock Dove usually flies in directly and lands on the ground, then departs the area from the ground when finished feeding. On this day I had the rare opportunity to photograph one in our garden Rowan.
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Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - garden on 17th January, 2022
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Tuesday, 18th January
Although we had a good number of winter visitors to the garden on this day, the only bird that I photographed was a male Blackcap. I'm always striving to get better photos, and I am never sure when my last opportunity with this species will be, so here you have another one!
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (male) - garden on 18th January, 2022 |
That afternoon, I had one of my better outings. I headed off to Calke Park and, having parked in the 'Explore' car park, visited the nearby hide.
As mentioned in my previous post, one aspect of bird photography that I have been missing, due to Covid, is the ability to sit and relax in a hide, taking photos. I have been very uncomfortable about sharing a hide with other persons, particularly now that the wearing of face masks seems to be a thing of the past in these places. I was, therefore, delighted to find the hide empty, and managed to get a few shots that I am pleased with, although of common species.
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| Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) - Calke Park |
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| Dunnock (Prunella modularis) - Calke Park |
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| Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - Calke Park |
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| Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) - Calke Park |
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Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) - Calke Park
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I had about half an hour in this hide before someone else arrived, and so I departed and headed to the hide by the main car park. Here I was again lucky to find the hide empty and I had another enjoyable half hour here.
The male Brambling that arrived was in a more advanced stage of transition to breeding plumage than the males visiting our garden have been.
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Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (male) - Calke Perk
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There was an amazingly large number of Greenfinch here and I was surprised that they were virtually all female or immature birds. I didn't notice any brightly coloured males. |
| Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) (immature) - Calke Park |
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| Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) (female) - Calke Park |
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| Great Tit (Parus major) - Calke Park |
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Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - Calke Park
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| Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (male) - Calke Park |
Having decided that I could do with a short walk, I drove out of the site and along to what is known locally as The Round Car Park. Having parked, I walked down the path to Staunton Harold Reservoir and then headed towards Calke Park again, alongside the reservoir, taking a shot or two of one of the Great Crested Grebe that are often in this area.
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Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) - Staunton Harold Reservoir
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The light was fading by now and when I got to the overflow into the reservoir from the park I found the Goosander a little nearer that on my previous visit, but in poorer light. |
| Goosander (Mergus merganser) (female) - Calke Park |
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| Goosander (Mergus merganser) (male) - Calke Park |
At the back of the small lake that the Goosander were in was a Little Egret perched in a tree. It is not often that I see a Little Egret not on the ground or flying.
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Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - Calke Park
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It was getting too dark for any meaningful photography, and so I headed back to my car, passing alongside the reservoir. As I did so, I was totally unprepared for a Little Egret flying past me, but just about managed a shot.
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Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - Staunton Harold Reservoir
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Friday, 21st January
This day was quite special, in that we had three Blackcaps (2 male, 1 female) visit the garden. However, they were not photographed. I did get some shots of a Pied Wagtail in the Rowan - another species that, if we are lucky enough to get a visit, I usually only manage to photograph on the ground.
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Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) - garden on 21st January, 2022
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When two crows arrived, I did manage to get some shots of one of them which I think looks rather formidable.
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Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) - garden on 21st January, 2022
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In the afternoon, I took a walk at Willesley Wood and Thortit Lake, but saw nothing in the way of birds to photograph. The only photo that I came away with was one showing the relatively young part of Willesley Wood.
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Willesley Wood
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Saturday, 22nd January
I'll round off the photographic offerings for this week with some more shots of those winter visitors that have kept us entertained for the past few weeks.
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (female) - garden on 22nd January, 2022 |
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (male) - garden on 22nd January, 2022 |
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| Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (male) - garden on 22nd January, 2022 |
Sunday, 23rd January
No photos from this day, but there were highlights. We had two male and one female Blackcap, and both male and female Bramblings, but the real bonus was a garden record of four Carrion Crow in the garden at one point - there was not much room for much else when they arrived!
Thus ended a relatively remarkable week in the garden, during which we recorded 24 species of bird coming to visit.
Until the next time, please take good care of yourself and Nature. Best wishes to all - - - Richard
Great 'entertainment' in the garden, including male and female Blackcap together, followed by two male together. I imagine with such a variety of birds, some mental well-being for you there Richard.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Pete.
In these still relatively difficult times, having these birds in our garden certainly helps keep the spirits alive , Pete. I'm hoping that they'll give us the pleasure of their company for a while yet, before they decide to head off to their breeding grounds.
DeleteBest wishes to you both - - - Richard
Hello Richard,:=) Delightful shots of the many birds you saw in your garden and in the hides. Darling little Wren captures,:=) it makes my day when I see one. The Nuthatch is the only bird I sometimes see in the garden, but the Brambling, Dunnock, Jackdaw, and Carrion Crow, I have never seen. You also captured beautiful images the ones I see every day on my balcony, the Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, and sometimes the Blackcap. I used to see Pied Wagtails, but one day I did an unforgivable thing , I sprayed an insecticide on an annoying trail of ants that were making their way into my house, and the next morning I found three Pied Wagtails on their back, feet in the air om the patio. I still have not forgiven myself for doing such a foolish thing. I'm sure word got around because I have never the Pied Wagtail in my garden since.:=( It was a lesson well learned. Thank you also for sharing the beautiful images of the Grey Squirrel, Stock Dove, and all the water fowl, I enjoyed your post very much, even the birds on the feeders.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,and Take care.
I'm sure that most of us have, in the past, done things that we regret and haunt us to this day, Sonjia. The one that I will never forgive myself for, and far worse than your innocent mistake, is that sixty or more years ago (I was in my early 'teens), I had an air-rifle, and for a while I used to shoot birds in the garden. I feel that I'll never be able to do enough to compensate for this, but I will continue to try.
DeleteBest wishes - stay safe - - - - - Richard
The garden has delivered beyond your expectations I see, Richard. The thing that amazes me about the wren is that it is able to find a juicy green caterpillar in January! I expect it was attacking your fat balls too. The Blackcaps are no doubt an ongoing source of joy. Occasionally we get crows in the backyard too and it's always both a surprise and a pleasure. I don't recall having seen more than three on the ground at the same time. They come on their own terms though, and nothing I have tried has lured them in more frequently. We are hoping to go to Ottawa this weekend to visit my daughter but there is a serious threat of a major snowstorm in the forecast. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Best wishes to you and Lindsay.
ReplyDeleteMany UK moth species overwinter as larvae, David, and this must have been one of them, although I can't identify it from my photo. The second shot of the Wren was taken almost immediately after the first, and after it had swallowed the caterpillar whole! This caterpillar was gleaned from under a low and dense hebe.
DeleteSince you visited with us, the local council has had bungalows built behind us and one of the occupants puts something out (I do not know what) which attracts the crows to such an extent that Lindsay has named her Crowella. I have just noticed, as I am writing this, a Carrion Crow is helping itself from the giant fatball we have hanging in the garden. When these get down to around 6-7 cm diameter it's been known for the crows to take the whole thing!
I'll happily keep my fingers crossed for you to be able to have a safe and easy run to Ottawa. Have a great time!
With love to you and Miriam - - - Richard
Oh, what wonderful observations!
ReplyDeleteThank you,Anne, It helps to make these short days more interesting.
DeleteWhat a pleasant smorgasbord for the eyes! Not just a collection of images, rather, an album of splendid, quality photographs!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand your inclusion of that first Blackcap encounter on the feeder. So many potential captions come to mind.
All of the activity you have chronicled makes me think spring is truly right around the seasonal corner.
Gini and I have been a bit spotty in our birding this week due to appointments and such. Hopefully, we're about to return to our regularly scheduled avian-search program!
All the best to you and Lindsay.
I should have mentioned in the text above, Wally, that when I was in Calk Park, my visit was accompanied in several areas by the drumming of woodpeckers, although only one was seen. This really did make me think that spring was on the way. However, we almost immediately went into another cold spell.
DeleteI hope that your wish for a speedy return to normality with your birding is fulfilled. I've had a rather unproductive week this week as there have been too many chores requiring my attention around the house, and it doesn't look as if things will improve anytime soon as we've a week of wet and windy weather, although warmer, forecast. I'd better concentrate further on those chores so that I'm free when the better weather comes!
Best wishes to you and Gini - - - Richard
I am so jealous that you have hides that you can go to and sit quietly and just watch. The closest hide that I know of is a good 3 hour drive from home so not really practical. I have seen one single wren in our garden some years ago, but I am sure if I had the time to just sit and watch I might spot some other birds. My one hour bird count just proved what is about. I have a friend that spends almost every day and all day in his especially camouflaged net/tent. Wow he sees some amazing birds and he has very specialised photographic equipment....... I wish. Having said all that your photography is superb, and your photos are excellent. Love each and everyone of them.
ReplyDeleteKeep well and let us hope that we can get around easier and safely very soon. Very best wishes Diane
Virtually all my garden bird photography is from my study or our conservatory and through the double-glazing of the windows, Diane, and my camera is always by my side in those two places. We always have our breakfast and lunch in the conservatory and probably take an hour or so for each. When it's not dark at the time we eat our evening meal, we take that in the conservatory too!. I guess that, in current circumstances, our dining room does not get used more than five or six times a year! Given that, when at home, much (Lindsay would say 'most') of my time is spent at my desk in my study, I might not be far behind your friend in the amount of time I spend watching and photographing the birds.
DeleteWith the realisation that it is now impossible to believe anything that our government tells us, I'm not sure what the current situation is with the incidence of Covid infections and related statistics, but get the impression that numbers are still rising, but deaths are staying at roughly the same level, so Lindsay and I are both remaining cautious.
Stay safe - - - Richard
I used to see far more birds when we were working on the house and renovating as I put a desk in the lounge right by the window. We now have two offices upstairs, divided by a massive oak beam, but with Velux windows I see no birds while working on the computer!! Diane
DeleteSeems to me that you need a reallocation of room use, Diane!
DeleteHi Richard, A wonderful variety of wildlife you have. I know I have my animals but I do miss the birds. Take car.
ReplyDeleteMike.
I wish that I could swap with you, Mike, if only for a short while.
DeleteStay safe - - - Richard
Hi Richard, beautiful serie photos. Nice observations. I like the grey squirrel too. Have a nice weekend !
ReplyDeleteThank you, Caroline - I hope you too have a good weekend
DeleteHello Richard
ReplyDeleteI think that you show a nice selection of pictures here, there are already so many in your garden alone... the photos from the hiding place also turned out great, I see this type of photography a lot with our blogger friends from the Netherlands, here at We have very few such hiding places or huts...
nice post
Greetings Frank
Sadly, we have very few hides close to my home, Frank, and when the weather is best for photography they tend to be full of people - and I am not happy about that in these Covid times. This means that, if I go, I do so mid-week when most people are at work, and when the weather is cloudy. There are places which have many more hides, but they are around 70km from my home.
DeleteBest wishes - - - Richard
Fabulous showing the birds, you have taken the Brambling, beautiful. And, Little Egret flying Richard. Everything are excellent.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bob. It always cheers up my day when I hear from you.
Delete(QvQ)
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Best wishes - - - Richard