Winter thrushes in Fangfoss, harsh winds, early snow and a broken lens!

Snow on the Yorkshire Wolds, from Fangfoss Park 01/12/17

Not that we're breaking any records nor that I'm in any way complaining but blimey its got cold early this year...harsh winds, frost and snow and it's not officially winter for a week or so!

I don't mind the cold too much.. get wrapped up, hats and gloves and all that, but I do mind slipping and dropping my rucksack and then discovering that my Canon 400m lens took the brunt ..ouch! Took me a week or so to find out but after image after image came out blurred I made the connection😭. Its away to the menders for a barrel realignment and I decided to get the front glass element replaced to sort a niggling little scratch. Net result - £411 and a wait of 3 to 4 weeks but still cheaper than a new lens. I miss it like I'd miss my right arm, had a few quiet grumbles but I'm over it .. it'll feel like getting a brand new lens back with all the servicing these optics firms throw in for free😜😛

So before the lens broke I took advantage of some crisp winter sunshine at both ends of the day around my local patch and got some pleasing pics of the many Fieldfares and Redwings that descended en mass last month.

Redwing, Fangfoss Park, 06/11/17

Fieldfare, Fangfoss Park, 06/11/17

 

Redwing, Fangfoss Park, 16/11/17

Redwing, Fangfoss Park, 16/11/17

Fieldfare, Fangfoss Park, 25/11/17

Fieldfares, Fangfoss Park, 06/11/17

400+ each of Fieldfares and Redwing plus scores of Blackbirds, Song & Mistle Thrushes have been typical over the past few weeks plus many large finch flocks, 300+ Golden Plover and several skeins of Pink Footed Geese overhead.

Pink Footed Geese, Fangfoss Park, 06/11/17

I'm lucky to get regular sightings of Grey Partridge around the fields here, absolute devils to photograph but I got reasonably lucky with this little grouping out of a covey of 16.

Grey Partridge, Fangfoss Park, 06/11/17

Away from Fangfoss (I haven't been far!) this Nuthatch was a pleasing shot at the Arboretum during the Hawfinch twitch.

Nuthatch, Yorkshire Arboretum, 06/11/17

During a walk with my good friend Mikey and mad dog Ivy on Sand Hutton Common we had an amazing 3 Peregrines flying over together - never seen anything like that away from a nest site, plus a Corn Bunting and a flock of c80 Skylarks, and down by the river Derwent on Low Catton Ings I had a great view of this Barn Owl.

Barn Owl, Low Catton Ings, 03/11/17

 We had a 'super moon' this month and so bright was it when it rose over the Wolds it looked like the sun rising!

Super Moon rising over the Yorkshire Wolds, 03/12/17

.....and finally, a pic I meant to post last month a nice Green Woodpecker on Strensall Common I stalked for ages and one of my local Kessies.

Green Woodpecker, Strensall Common, 30/10/17

Common Kestrel, Fangfoss Park, 30/11/17