Tuesday 14 February 2012

Feb 14th

Before todays walk I did manage an hour and a half on Sunday morning with Sam and Alex, between us the highlights were 2 WOODCOCK, 1 LITTLE OWL and a LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER.
So to today, roughly I was out from 2pm to 3.30pm, the first birds of note were 5 BULLFINCHES near the shop, they weren't really happy about photos but I managed just a couple.

Bullfinch

 As I watched these 2 KESTRELS chaesd each other over the veg. garden. Down at the lake a slightly 'strangled' call came from a WATER RAIL which I glimpsed running across the ice and then I watched as it fed in a shallow, now unfrozen, pool, good to know it survived the freezing temperatures.
Kestrels

 I headed to Park Field, where a flock of GOLDFINCHES, possibly 20 moved through the top of a couple of Oaks, lastly as I reached the car park a LITTLE OWL called, I managed to track it down and noticed it had a mate, which hardly released it's gaze as I stood still as possible and fired off a couple of shots, Lexi, the Head Gardener, joined me briefly before the bird decided it had had enough and flew to join it's mate.
Little Owl, I knew I was being watched!!

17 comments:

Giga said...

To nie tylko obserwowałeś ptaki, ale i ptaki Ciebie :-). Cudowne zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam. *** It is not only watched the birds, but birds you :-). Wonderful pictures. Yours

Mike H said...

Looks like a great visit today Alan, Woodcock,Bullfinch and Little Owl ,not to mention the Water Railat last! Great photos love the Make Bullfinch and that Little owl peering from behind the tree is magic.

Brian King said...

All wonderful shots, Alan, but that Bullfinch is gorgeous! Love that!

Tammy said...

Great action shots of the Kestrels! That Little Owl must be such a sight to see! Wish I could find one!

Greenie said...

Alan ,
Sounds like the Little Owl population around there should be on the increase then !
Great set of shots again .

Jason K said...

Nice set of photos Alan. I'm still wating to see my patch Little Owls this year

Unknown said...

Muy buenas observaciones y buenas fotos. Me encanta la del mochuelo!
Saludos!!

ShySongbird said...

It sounded like a good visit, Alan. Lovely photo of the Bullfinch and the peek-a-boo Owl.

Warren Baker said...

I would dearly love a Water Rail to visit here Alan, just had one pass through once, many years ago :-(

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Giga, the Owl definitely had me in it's sights :-)

Hi Mike, thanks, there were a few good birds around the light wasn't great but at least I got a couple of shots.

Hi BJK, thanks, it's always nice to see Bullfinches, even better if they let you get the odd pic. :-)

Hi Tammy, thanks, I suppose Burrowing Owl looks most similar in America but with a bit different habits :-)

Hi Greenie, thanks, with luck, hopefully it will increase.

Hi Jason, thanks, I had a year here where they were difficult to find but they seemed to be around most of the time now, hopefully they'll stay :-)

Hi Ramon, thank you, I'm glad you like the Owl.

Hi ShySongbird, thanks, the Bullfinches were a bit flighty and I wasn't sure if the Owl pic would come out.

Hi Warren, I seem to get one here each winter, I was worried this years one might have succumbed to the elements.

ort said...

Good Day and photograph these Bullfinchs luck, an this owl. Congratulations

Marc Heath said...

Great set of shots, well done on the Bullfinch shots, high on my want to photograph list.

Bob Bushell said...

Brilliant photos, I love the Bullfinch.

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Tomas, thank you, I enjoyed my short walk.

Hi Marc, thank you, I'll look forward to seeing your Bullfinch pics when you catch up with them.

Hi Bob, thank you.

Alan Pavey said...

Hi, thank you, I was pleased the Owl just let me get a bit of it :-)

Millhouse Photography said...

Cracking Little Owl shot Alan.

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