Around Watermead park 20 March 2013

We decided to take the bikes out for an airing round watermead park. I'm trying out a new "hornless" saddle - it has two pads that sit against the buttocks and needs to be set lower and further back than a conventional seat. It went well but needs a minor adjustment to move it further back, but on the whole it was good.

On the ride round we saw very little wildlife and we were on the last stretch of our route back to the car park when we stopped at the "beaches" 

I liked the reflections this Grebe was making, he was on his own but making a lot of noise.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

A Canada goose flew in but turned away rather than land in front of us.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Back at the car park we were getting ready to load our bikes when a robin came to see if we had any food for him. This shot of him with a meal worm in his beak was taken at around six feet (two metres) away. He was so close I had to step back to be able to get him in focus, the minimum focus on my lens is five feet. Robins always were feisty. 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

 Emboldened by the robin this Great Tit was only a few feet further away, he hopped onto the fence and then, before I could get the camera on him he hopped onto Maja's bike rack, then the seat and back to the fence.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

 This Dunnock wasn't long in following them and as we spread some bird food on top of a fence post they all got a good feed.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

As we were leaving some pigeons landed and frightened the small birds away.

Nuthatch - 13 March 2013

We went back to the stump in Swithland woods yesterday, my intention was to video all the birds and the speed with which they raided the food pile.

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

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Apart from a brief visit from a coal tit the only visitors were four nuthatches and they were not staying long, but I did manage to get some flight shots as the sun started to set over Old John.

Who you calling shy? - 28 Feb 2013

We decided to go back to the stump in the Swithland woods and were glad we did.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

As usual the cheeky Robin was first to take advantage of the free feast.

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

The Nuthatch having made sure all was safe by watching the Robin's reconnaissance dived in next, taking the Robin by surprise and putting him to flight.

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

The Robin can always be relied upon to be a bit feisty and came straight back, forcing the Nuthatch to stay at the side.

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

Then they all cleared off when an unexpected visitor arrived.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Jays are said to be shy birds.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

But this one wasn't he returned several times and stayed long enough for me to take thirty pictures of him in a variety of poses.

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

But all good things come to an end and he departed, only to return again as we were leaving.

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

In between the Jay's visits a Blackbird, a Great Tit and a pair of Chaffinches stopped by.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

I took so many pictures it's taken me until today to sort them out. 

Swithland Woods - 20 February 2013

There was a cold wind through the Swithland Woods and I think most of the small birds were hunkered down to keep warm.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/160 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Robins can usually be relied on to make an appearance and this one didn't disappoint. The light was dropping off so I had to up the iso and hope.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A Nuthatch soon followed the Robin and enjoyed the feast

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

It wasn't long before a second Nuthatch joined in and helped his/her self. They are so fast. it's like a dart coming in from each side.

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

They know what they like and are prepared to search for it.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Another Good Day - 3rd February 2013

Whenever I pass the Bradgate Park, I look over the wall to see what's moving about.

The first things I spotted were two Fallow deer who weren't moving at all. They were enjoying the sunshine, eyes closed and relaxed.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/2000 @ f5.6, iso 800, 330mm

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/2656 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

 The next one didn't seem impressed at having his picture taken and stuck his tongue out.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Then we moved on to Thornton Reservoir and this tufty became camera shy and dived under the surface. He was so quick only his DA was visible by the time the shutter clicked. 

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/500 @ f5.6, iso 800, 330mm

 Of course some of them weren't shy at all and this female Mallard came for a closer look - or maybe it was to see if I was going to feed her.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 340mm

I think her partner was jealous though and stormed across the lake towards me - or maybe it was the child standing next to me throwing food to them.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

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

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

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

 The Mute swan family came in really gently and collected the dropped food. the male came in, only a couple of feet from where I was sitting and seemed to want to make friends - until he realised it wasn't me with the food - they can be really fickle these birds :o)

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 800, 120mm

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.