A Stroll at Watermead - 17 March 2012

There wasn't much happening on the lakes  today, only a shoveller 'shaking it all about' near the hole in the wall hide.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Back at the car park, I seeded one of the fence posts and waited. I didn't have long to wait before this Chaffinch on a bad hair day dropped in.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

A rare visitor to that area came for a feed soon after in the shape of a Dunnock, it didn't stop long but came again later.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

The Great Tit paid its usual fleeting visit, they never stay long and seem quite nervous. It's one of the few birds that seems to hear the camera shutter

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

The Blue Tit followed in and again it was a flying visit, you can see right wing tip behind his head as he starts his turn.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 370mm

Another Chaffinch took its feed up into a nearby tree to enjoy before returning for more.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 375mm

Of course it wouldn't be a visit to watermead if I didn't see a Robin, this one looks as if he's getting plenty of food.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Swithland Woods - 7 March 2012

There is a tree stump in the Swithland Woods car park that the birds have been used to feeding from. I spread some bird food on it and sat in the car to wait.  It was while before any thing happened, then a chaffinch did a fly-past. It didn't stop on the stump, just had a look and flew up into a tree.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/1600 @ 5.6, iso 400, 390mm

Then a Nuthatch did the same thing, flew by and settled head down where he could watch the food.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

There was a lot of interruption from people in the car park, and it wasn't until Maja got back with the dog that I really started to see some results from the free food.

A couple of tits flew in at speed and out again before I could get a picture, then this Coal tit  landed.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

The Nuthatch returned, chasing the Coal Tit away as he usually does. He's more belligerent than the Robin that followed him in, you can see him back pedalling as soon as he sees the Nuthatch.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm 

But Robins aren't cowards so he went in for some of the bounty,  I don't know what passed between them.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm 

But the Robin didn't stay long.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/500 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm 

Then the Nuthatch flew off with a nut, that's one fast bird.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 400, 390mm