Chaffinch female

What was that?

Swithland and Watermead - 24 June 2013

There wasn't much about at Swithand woods, where do all the birds go when the young have fledged?

The juvenile Blackbird below seems to be collecting for a late brood unusual for a juvenile, not sure about the white feather over its eye though.

1/80 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Robins, of course, are always around and ready for a free feed.

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 400, 380mm

We moved on to Watermead South and caught this Mallard flying by the car park.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 105mm

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 105mm

I thought this female was going to fly as well but she was just stretching her wings.

1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 105mm

The male wasn't too happy when she was at full stretch though.

All taken on a 

Canon EOS7d with an EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Watermead car park - 27 March 2013

With my back giving me some gyp, I decided to set things up in the Watermead car park so I could stay seated in the car. We positioned the car about two and a half metres from a fence post and loaded the post top with wild bird food. I hadn't got back to my seat in the car before a Robin came and sat on the fence looking at me.

He obligingly hopped up to the post when I picked up my camera, the wind was lifting his feathers but he didn't seem to mind.

1/250  @ f6.3, 1600, 400mm  

A blue tit followed and though usually nervous and away before you can focus on them, this one posed for me.

1/320  @ f6.3, 1600, 400mm 

What followed was interesting, three female Blackbirds, all looking different, wanted to occupy the area around the post and a male was kept busy trying to chase two of them away. He was faithful but two of the females were determined to lure him away.

1/200  @ f7.1, 1600, 210mm 

This was the partner of the male trying to get a good feed.

1/125  @ f7.1, 1600, 400mm 

1/100 @ f7.1, 1600, 400mm 

These two were the contenders who only had to show their faces for the male to chase them away.

1/160  @ f7.1, 1600, 400mm 

This handsome male was keeping watch in all directions for the usurpers.

1/200  @ f7.1, 1600, 400mm 

A Dunnock often found himself being chased off when the male blackbird caught a glimpse of his brown back and attacked before he was sure of his adversary.

1/160  @ f7.1, 1600, 400mm 

Great Tits are always a welcome and handsome sight and like the Blue Tits are often nervous, I only got this one picture of him and he was gone.

1/250  @ f7.1, 1600, 400mm 

Of course the Robin is the exact opposite, he is happy to pose and in this case sing while I took his picture.

All taken on my Canon EOS 7d with an EF100 - 400mm L series Lens.