Some common birds always demand a good look at and whereas I wouldn't count say
Dunnocks or
Cormorants in that category,
Bullfinches are always worth a gander and there's lots about at the moment ... saw 6 together today, all chomping away on a viburnum bush!
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
Shy birds and lovers of fresh buds and shoots, they're a bugger to get decent pics of unless you're lucky and get one in the garden. This is one of several I see regularly on my local patch. Bit of a shame that the sun was almost setting when I eventually get within distance to shoot some pics (hence the slight graininess) but there again the rosy hue compliments this bird's natural colour's. Some are better than others but here's the full set....
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
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| Bullfinch, Fangfoss Pk, 30/01/16 |
I think that's Blackthorn shoots he's feasting on but happy to be corrected!
Same day, earlier on and better light I just had to take a couple of pics of this
Robin that popped up right next to my caravan
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| Robin, Fangfoss Pk,30/01/16 |
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| Robin, Fangfoss Pk,30/01/16 |
You can't beat a good
Robin pic and I never tire of photographing them.
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| Marsh Harrier, North Cave Wetlands, 28/01/16 |
A stroll around
North Cave Wetlands the other day was as pleasant as ever and although there was nothing out of the ordinary there, this passing
Marsh Harrier being the highlight, I finally got a few half decent pics of
Siskins. Had plenty this winter but struggled to get good pics .. these ain't brilliant but at least they're not silhouettes.
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| Siskin, North Cave Wetlands, 28/01/16 |
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| Siskin, North Cave Wetlands, 28/01/16 |
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| Siskin, North Cave Wetlands, 28/01/16 |
Have to say these are very average pics of
Siskins but if you're a tree lover (or a hugger for that matter), you'll recognize both the male and female catkins of the
Alder tree - I hardly ever see
Siskins in any other kind of tree and this bird seems to be favouring the female catkins over the males.
Nearby a flock of
Goldfinch, another common bird, in fact a bird that seems to be becoming more common, especially in gardens. In good light they're great to photograph and even in the middle of winter when the sun don't shine much and they're a bit more dowdy they still look good ...
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| Goldfinch, North Cave Wetlands, 28/01/16 |
