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

Jay

Jay in Swithland woods

1/320 @ f6.3, ISO1600, 400mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Chaffinch

Chaffinch feeding

1/640 @f5.6, ISO 1600, 400mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

squirrel at Swithland woods

Is this my best side?

It's that time of year again

I don't know how I came to be associated to Christmas 

but everyone puts out more feed for me and 

I'm suddenly everyones favourite

1/160 @ f6.3. ISO 1600, 170mm

Nuthatch

King of all he surveys

1/640 @ f7.1, ISO800, 400mm

Nuthatch

Nuts!

1/500 @ f5.6. ISO 400, 400mm

Choosy Robin

Robin throwing away the food he didn't like and taking a meal worm.

1/320 @ f5.6, ISO 1600, 400mm

Nuthatch

Posing for the camera in Swithland woods

1/320 @ f5.6, ISO 400, 400mm

Ready for take off

Coal Tit looking for food

1/1600 @ f7.1, ISO 800, 400mm

Jay in the woods

A Jay scaring off the smaller birds to get to the food.

1/500 @ 6.3, ISO 1600, 400mm 

Small Bird Central - 2 May 2013

Swithland woods just before it gets too crowded at bank holiday, was quiet and the car parks almost empty. Surprising then that at times it was like Piccadilly Circus with cars some leaving others arriving.

It didn't disturb the birds too much though and unusually it was a Coal tit that came to the stump first. It also broke its established habit by staying around for a while.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 200, 400mm

It was followed by another tit, this time a Great tit ...

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

he departed when a Robin turned up and appears to be leaping for joy at the sight of the table of food before him.

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

The Chaffinch refused to go to the stump, he stayed on the ground and picked up anything that fell off.

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

The Coal tit came back for more and again stayed there long enough to pose.

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

I know some of my blog followers like Nuthatches (and why not) so here are a few of the next visitor, followed by one of it in a tree.

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

1/2000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

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

The blue tit is always quick, he never waits around for long but I did get one shot of him.

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

A movement in a tree nearby attracted my attention to this Coal tit puffing out his feathers.

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

All taken on a; 

Canon EOS 7d, with an EF 100 - 400mm L series Zoom Lens.

Swithland woods and a persistent Nuthatch - 20 April 2013

Unusually the Great tit was the first bird to the stump this time, he chose one nut, then seemed to see the bigger nuts and spat out his first choice. His beak seemed to drop open at the size of the monkey nuts.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

But then after a good feel of the bigger nuts, he changed his mind and picked up his first choice again.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The Robin arrived next and being more discerning,  chose the fat covered meal worm sections.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The feisty Nuthatch arrived, but he seemed a little nervous and had a good look round ...

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

... before selecting a nut ...

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

and flying off with it.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Blue Tits are always nervous, this one landed - took off again ...

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

flew in a circle, then landed again.

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

A Coal Tit was next, he took his time choosing but left when a Nuthatch arrived.

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The Nuthatch, decided to try his luck at the monkey nuts and ...

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

Took some up into his tree ...

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

... a branch had been removed from the tree (before it could fall down) and a couple of bits of bark were left sticking up. It was here that he placed them and tried to break into the outer shell ...

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

... he gave us a few minutes of entertainment as he tried every thing he could ...

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

... even a flying dive to put all his weight behind his beak ...

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

... then he stopped to peruse the situation, before flying away ...

1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

... maybe to fetch help, but we had to leave then.

All taken with a 

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