Merry Xmas

Here's a couple of my Robin Photos to wish everyone a Merry thingummy and a happy new whatsit

Burdock

Burdock

1/250 @f5.6, ISO 400, 180mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Bradgate House

Bradgate House with Old John on the hill behind

1/640 @ f14, ISO 800, 93mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Merry Mid Winter

Gathering winter Fuel

Squirrel in the snow

Grey Squirrel enjoying the snow

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

Wren in the Snow

By way of a change, a Wren in the snow

1/500 @ f8, ISO 400, 400mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Waiting for Xmas

Robin posing

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

Seasons Greetings

We started with frosts turning everything white.

Snow soon followed

If we were clever we had laid in the fuel, ready for the cold weather.

The birds puffed themselves up to keep out the cold

And what other bird suited the season but a Robin

Well a Jenny Wren of course (Ok that surprised me as well)

So we trimmed up for the great day and the dog got in on the act as well

Turkey eaten presents opened and it was time for a bit of fun

We all remember Mid Winter Festivals like that, don't we?

We perhaps wish they still happened?

Well the good news is these pictures were all taken within the last four years so they do still happen and will happen again.

Have a Happy Mid-Winter Day and Good new Year.

A Happy Midwinter To You All

Whatever you celebrate at this time, whether it be Christmas, Saturnalia, Midwinter etc, have a good one. I have chosen some of my winter pictures from over the years to bring a festive feeling to all.

I hope you enjoy them.

Two pictures from the Highwoods in Colchester, first is Skipper crossing a frozen stream 

Local people enjoying a convenient slope.

Bradgate House at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, the ancestral home of the ill fated Lady Jane Grey and in the background the folly 'Old John'

Burdock always looks spectacular after a hoare frost.

Which other bird could represent this time of year better than a Robin with puffed up feathers and beautiful song.

no wonder they feature on so many cards.

Admitted the gull doesn't spring to mind in midwinter but this one was on a frozen lake which, when the weather warmed and the rain fell, formed a near perfect mirror - much to its confusion.

A squirrel thought he might find left overs on the picnic table so we threw him some and as you can see he was grateful.

A couple more festive Robins, who can resist them at this time of year, they are also really photogenic.

Here's another bird you wouldn't think of at this time of year, a wren in the snow.

Finally a gathering of winter fuel, this lot probably lasted till new year.

 

To All

A merry whatsit and a happy Thingy

o< :o)>

Small Bird Central - 27 January 2013

Friday morning and the snow was still frozen to the ground, we visited Swithland woods. Maja took the dog for a walk while I remained in the car. On her way out Maja spread some bird food on the stump of a tree that we'd parked close to.

For five minutes I was thinking "Oh well if the birds don't come I'll take some photos of the snow laden woodland." Then the avalanche started, birds were flying in from everywhere quicker that I could focus on them they fed and left. The first to arrive was the robin.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400, L Lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

He discovered the food on the ground first and was soon watched closely by the magpie.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The Carrion Crow wasted no time in getting to the main source of the food.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A feisty Nuthatch, always ready for a fight, saw off the crow and took possession of the stump. Another Nuthatch quickly followed but peered over the edge to be sure the other one had gone before climbing up and feeding

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A great tit came for a look but retreated to a tree until the Nuthatch left.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

When the Robin settled in the tree, I couldn't turn round far enough to get a picture through the front window. So I opened the rear sliding door, half expecting the sound would scare him off. I was wrong, he just sat and looked at me.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Not the sharpest of the pictures but I love the pose of this blue tit, I was lucky to get him like this and to be honest I didn't know I had until I saw it on the computer.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 390mm

I was just wondering why I hadn't seen a chaffinch when this one arrived for her share.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This Robin was surprised when the Nuthatch landed just before him and he had to do a flypast.

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 800, 390mm

But not being a bird to back down from a fight, he returned to press his argument.

I took nearly 300 pictures in about three quarters of an hour, but the light was variable and some of them were too dark despite a picture taken a second later being bright and clear, see the reflection in the Crow's eye, yet the next one of him was unusable.

They were coming in so fast it was difficult to get a picture before the next bird came along, a really great morning, particularly when I remember all those months without a decent sighting.

Cold weather wildlife - 23 January 2013

After looking for months and having very little luck, suddenly the weather turns bad and they all come out to play.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ 5.6, iso 400, 260mm

This Robin at Watermead park is a perfect example of what I was saying previously, he's puffed up like a furry ball, but it didn't stop him coming to see what we had to offer him.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Back at the car park, this Robin was waiting for food, a number of visitors leave bird food on top of the fence posts for them and this one was waiting for the squirrel to finish. Robins are feisty and will take on most things but I think the squirrel was just too much for him.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 6.3, iso 400, 285mm

This furry bundle was waiting for us as we drove into the car park and was still there when we got back from our walk. He didn't retreat far when we went to put the food out and was quickly back to his feeding station.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Another one sat in the snow, waiting his turn. I don't know what the Robin thought about that, but it was still sitting on the fence as we left the car park.

Let it snow - 20 January 2013

With this recent spell of snow and cold, don't forget to put food out for the wildlife. 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens.
1/250 @ f5.6, iso 400, 260mm

Robins like this one may look fat, but he's fluffing out his feathers for added insulation.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens.
1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

A wren might be a rare sight at your bird table and very small, but they need as much food as the others.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens.
1/1600 @ f5.6, iso 1600, 400mm

You may not be a fan of the Grey Squirrel and he may not be an indigenous species in the UK, but he doesn't deserve to freeze or starve.

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

They're nice to see and the Robin is never backwards in coming forward.

The Curse of the Sin Eater

My book "The Curse of the Sin Eater" is derived from a practice that actually existed and funereal practices that still exist in some parts of the world.

It is now available in paperback. 

Of course the Kindle/ebook version is still available.

Both can be purchased from Amazon.

Happy Yule and a good New Year - 23 December 2011

The weather isn't looking good for the holiday

so I chose a couple of last years pictures that feel a bit seasonal

The first is at the Highwoods in Essex

And the Robin was on a gate at Watermead Park.

Have a good Yule Tide and a happy New Year