A busy Day at Swithland stump

To be more accurate it was a busy couple of hours sitting in my car watching the feeding stump in the car park.

I didn't expect much when I set up, there was a lot of disturbance from people walking and driving through. But the wildlife gave me a surprise and I too 178 pictures, some of which are here.

1/100 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 400mm

When we arrived two squirrels were already playing round and over the stump. They ran off as we pulled up.  When all had settled we had a visit from a squirrel, it looked like a juvenile.

1/50 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 400mm

Another was watching him from the undergrowth, not sure if he should show himself or not.

1/64 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 400mm

Next was a Nuthatch, he was happy with the meal worms we'd laid out.

1/64 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 3900mm

The Nuthatch having shown it was safe, a nice pair of Tits flew in. Not a matched pair though, a Great Tit and a Coal Tit who weren't too easy in each others company.

1/80 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 390mm

They were followed by a surprise, I caught a glimpse of this bird a few weeks ago but he didn't stop for pictures. On this day he landed and made the most of the food. The Greater Spotted Woodpecker is a striking bird and this one looked like he was going to stay while the food was there.

1/100 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 390mm

He stood guard against all comers and even had a running battle with one of the squirrels. This one took one look at the woodpeckers beak and changed his mind.

1/125 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 375mm

They both vacated the stump after that and a female Blackbird came for a look, but she picked up the food that had been dropped to the floor.

1/125 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 375mm

Later another Squirrel arrived and you can see it is a lot fatter, I thought maybe a parent coming to sort the Woodpecker out for fighting with its offspring :0)

1/125 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 390mm

Maja returned with Skipper and I was telling her everything I had seen when the Woodpecker returned. After he left I said, "all we need now is the Jay." it was only a couple of minutes later that he poked his head round the stump.

1/100 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 380mm

After a good look round he hopped onto the stump and helped himself to a feed.

1/50 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 380mm

and just to round the day off, a Jackdaw came in for a feed.

All taken on a Canon EOS7d with EF 100 - 400mm L series lens.

Swithland Woods

On the off chance we visited Swithland Woods on Thursday and while Maja walked through the woods with Skipper, I stayed in the car and was rewarded with a mixture of wild life calling at the stump.

The Blue Tit was first, being fairly common that didn't surprise me.

1/250 @ f 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The next visitor was a surprise, I've never seen them around here before. It is a Marsh Tit and he kept coming back as did other.

1/200 @ f6.3 iso 800, 400mm

Later there was a moment of tenderness between two Great Tits. They both appeared to be adults so not a parent and chick -  a bit late in the year for that anyway.

1/640 @ f 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

The Nuthatch wasn't his usual feisty self, usually he rules the stump, but this time he flitted back and forth a few times but was in evidence as much as usual.

1/50 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The table cleared quickly when the squirrel arrived, but some got used to him and returned for a quick mouthful.

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

All taken on a Canon EOS 7d and EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Snow Good

"It might stop snowing while I have dinner"

1/160 @ f6.3, ISO1600, 200mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens.

Winter Morning

Grey Squirrel feeling the frosty morning 

1/1328 @ 5.6, ISO 1600, 400mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Series lens

Squirrel in the snow

Grey Squirrel enjoying the snow

1/160 @ f6.3, ISO1600,  200mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

How to park your Squirrel

Grey Squirrel in a car park.

1/80 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 400mm
Canon 7d, Canon 100 - 400mm L series lens

The sharp eyed Photographers amongst you will notice the camera settings. According to Photo-folklore the image should not be this sharp, both because of the low shutter speed/longish focal length and because it is a zoom lens - the only answer is good one Canon. Sorry about the tree though even Canon couldn't get rid of that.

squirrel at Swithland woods

Is this my best side?

Grey Squirrel

Do you mind this is private!

1/200 @ f7.1, ISO 800, 310mm

Mum's the Word

Grey Looking heavy with milk

1/640 @ f6.3, ISO 1600, 400mm

Squirrel at Swithland

Looking for Nuts!

1/100 @f6.3, ISO 800, 400mm
The sun dived behind a cloud but luckily didn't ruin the picture.

When the birds are away - 3 June 2013

We went back to Swithland woods yesterday and loaded the stump with seed and nuts. Then while Maja was off taking the dog for a walk, I settled down to await the visitors.

1/100 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

It was a long time before anything arrived, I was buzzed several times by Blackbirds but they didn't hang around. This Robin collected his mouthful on his way across the track. He hopped onto this post, next to the stump and seemed to be looking across at it. But when he took flight, it was away from the stump and he never came back.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

In the last few minutes before Maja returned, this Grey Squirrel turned up. First he hid behind a car and surveyed the area and I thought he wasn't coming out.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

But he suddenly dashed across the track and up onto the stump.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Where he proceeded to eat as much as he could, taking his time and ignoring a passing car. Being summer he wasn't rushing off to bury his loot and he stayed for about ten minutes.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I'm not sure if this was a pause for breath or a burp, but he looks happy.

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I think he could hear a dog coming up the path and a few minutes a Jack Russell appeared and he was off up the nearest tree.

All taken on 

Canon EOS 7d, EOS 100 - 400mm L series zoom

Watermead surprise - 8 May 2013

We had walked, very slowly, most of the way round our usual short walk and seen nothing notable wildlife wise. Until we reached the "Hole in the Wall" hide, where we spotted a Greylag goose standing on a shallow spot in the middle of the lake. I liked the reflection.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

While we were there we spotted a movement in the bushes nearby and eventually got this picture of a Black Cap.

1/800 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

Nothing else of note happened until we turned for the car park, out of the corner of my eye I saw a branch moving in a direction it shouldn't.

A moment later a Heron surprised us when he moved out along the branch and into view. As I stood there with my camera focussed on it, it started to stretch and shake its wings. It was looking right at me as if it were asking what I was looking at.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

Then after a good shake it shouted at me, at least that's what it appeared to be doing.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

A few minutes later it took off and flew close by before wheeling off into the trees.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 275mm

Back in the car park a squirrel watched Skipper intently until he was in the back of the car

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

We threw some nuts and seeds down to attract him but he preferred to stay in the tree. However we had visits from several birds like this female Chaffinch, a male Chaffinch and a Robin (last two not shown).

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Then a greedy Blue Tit, who seemed to have a big appetite.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The Great Tit did some fast fly-bys I assume he got some food but he was so fast I couldn't see. Then we noticed him in the bushes.

1/200 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

All pictures taken on

Canon EOS 7d, with EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

feisty squirrel - 4 April 2013

Maja and I decided to go to Swithland Woods, hoping the Jay might show up again - or maybe something more rare. No such luck, there was the usual collection; Nuthatch, Dunnock, Coal tit etc.
A magpie was quite entertaining, particularly with the impression of the headless bird and for those of you who are superstitious, there was another Magpie in the trees - so as the song says "two for Joy" - I'll look forward to winning the lottery :o)

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 235mm

Afterwards though it was time for a feed and he certainly didn't hold back at the table.

1/200 @ f7.1, iso 800, 235mm

Later this Squirrel came out and despite being a lot smaller, he wasn't giving way to the car, fortunately the driver had seen him.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

 He gave way eventually and went off into the woods.

All pictures taken on a Canon EOS 7d, with a Canon EF 100 - 400mm L series zoom lens.