23.03.08
a reed bunting, seen here on a cold, grey day, the snow having cleared a little earlier.
Just imagine what a little sunshine could have done for this image.

a selection of kingfisher shots from 27.12.07
in each case it is the same male bird

a good view at last
(taken 27.12.07)

still can’t get an image of this fellow that I am happy with,
in his absence, here’s a few others to fill the space

looking straight at you, the irresistable blue tit.

hard to see clearly, a siskin, probing for those last few seeds.

there is no getting away from it, mallards are beautiful.
they seem to be mating already, is it springtime?

there has been a solitary little grebe on site for a week or so,
fishing voraciously -this has been perhaps the best shot so far,
just as darkness loomed over The Mere. (taken 29.11.07)

two collared doves on the feeder today, quite an odd effect as the front and back of the birds are presented simultaneously.

at last a snap of this elusive fellow, a male kingfisher
-quite close to the main bridge, just as the light was failing before a huge rainstorm.

formidable claws on show here from a male great spotted woodpecker.
he watched me for a moment then he was off (-taken 21.11.07)also on site worthy of note: a sparrowhawk worrying the crows by the riverbank and later hunting across the Mere, also a grey wagtail and a kingfisher.

from far too long ago, during a strangely uneventful summer,
a female blackcap, hiding in the bog area
(-taken 31.07.07)

another awful, rainy day, however, the wildlife seem to be untroubled by the weather.

nice to see siskin on site again, they were here last summer and winter too.
not sure, upon referring to bird books, whether they are resident in Britain or not.

a house sparrow plucks something tasty from a bramble.

a greenfinch, looking quite regal in the rain.

a dull, wet day at the Mere, however, lots going on all the same

a heron patrolling near the Spit, not sure what he was after, but it went down nicely.

a muntjac, seen on site several times, this time in the Pyghtle by an alert Sheila

extraordinary! Denis Healey, or a house sparrow, on the feeder.
It may be that a few feathers need smoothing down . . . .

male & female bullfinch together on the feeder, my presence didn’t seem to put them off.

a nice jay in the Pyghtle, just after this pic. he was chased away by a group of great tits.

one of many young blue tits flitting about the Mere.

the male bullfinch again, no sign of the female

the great spotted woodpecker

a grey heron in the bog area,
hunting for frogs I think