Its taken literally weeks to get this far from perfect shot. We have had a parent and young Jay visiting the bird table and nut feeders now for the last month or so. But to get close enough for a half decent photo has proved extremely difficult. They are very wary and the slightest movement is enough for them to take flight. I was in the right place at the right time this morning, but typically on a wet dismal day with poor light conditions!
So first up we have a Goldfinch, or I should say the return of the Goldfinch (see one of my older postings). By far the most colourful of the finch family, these are still comparitively elusive when compared to the more common Chaffinch and Greenfinch. However this year, for the first time, we have had a pair nesting nearby and they have been regular visitors to our garden since March. They are however far more timid than the above named and the slightest movement seems to scare them off. Thats my excuse for the picture quality!
I have seen them occasionally at some distance in the nearby woods, but finally we had a visit from 2 male Bullfinches yesterday. Like the Snipe no doubt the cold weather caused them to visit the garden looking for easier pickings. Bullfinch numbers have been in decline for some years and this colourful bird is becoming one of our rarest finches.
The snows have returned, along with a large number (I counted 25 in all) of Common Snipe. We have seen a few this Winter but never in such numbers. Despite their name, Common Snipe are a comparitively rare sight for most, being largely a bird of open moorlands and wetlands. However I suspect the recent cold weather and snow has mean't they have had to vacate their usual habitats in the search for food, which is mainly insects and small invertibrates which they dig out with their long beaks.
Still here after 10 days, mostly spent (by day at least) on or around our rockery. Here are a couple more shots of our resident Fieldfare.
As the cold weather continues opportunities to photograph the bird life arise that much more easily. The other day I went to put food on the bird table, which at the time was occupied by a Blackbird. 
It was only at the point when I started to tip some food onto the table that the Blackbird finally flew down to the ground, but even then remaining only a couple of feet away from me.
Back in January 2009 we were adopted by a visiting Fieldfare. It was one of many we saw that year, but this particular one took up residence in our garden. No doubt influenced by the quantity of food, in particular some old apples we had thrown out, it proceeded to "stand guard" over the apples, and did so more or less constantly for over a month! During that time it demonstrated its stubborness in defending the apples (which we constantly put out for him/her) against all comers, be they Robins, Blackbirds or even Crows. Its typical day was to sit on the rockery outside the kitchen window, eat apples, chase off anything that approached them, and generally treat the garden as its own.
I say all this because a couple of days ago a single Fieldfare returned. Now some 500,000 or more Fieldfares migrate to the UK every Winter so the chances of the same one returning to the same place have to be regarded as slim. However this particular Fieldfare demonstrated exactly the same mannerisms, even to the point of sitting on the same rock on the rockery. I have taken numerous photo's both of the visit in January 2009 and this weeks visit, and the two birds look extremely similar. Are they the same bird? Of course we don't really know, but it would be nice to think that Freddie (thats the name we gave him last year....yes we have rashly assumed its a "him") has returned.
Officially the UK's 2nd most common bird and other than the Blue Tit certainly the most common bird in our garden. This particular one seems to have cleared the bird table single handedly judging by its somewhat portly appearance! In reality of course its fluffed up to keep warm (temp was -4C when I took these photo's).
(above, a Heron with 2 accompanying Buzzards)
(above, some Lapwings; below a Redwing, and right, the Heron)
They are our smallest Thrush, and despite their colouration, can be surprisingly difficult to see when on the ground. Unfortunately they are very wary and the slightest movement will make them take to the air, so getting close for a photo is very difficuly, and despite repeated attempts I have yet to get a good clear shot.
When they are not feeding or performing their airborne ballet, they seem to like residing in some of the neighbouring trees.
he birdtable!
In amongst these, at long last, I have managed to get a decent photo of a Coal Tit. This is the smallest Tit and one of the smallest birds to be seen in the UK.
Last of the Woodpecker's from last months trip. This is a Downy Woodpecker, the smallest of the species in North America, measuring just 7 ins in length. They can be found throughout the US and most of Canada. This is a female...the male can be distinguished by a red patch at the back of the head.
Another Woodpecker, again from West Virginia. This is a female Red Bellied Woodpecker. Mainly found in forests in the eastern half of the US. The female has a red patch on the back of the head...the more spectacular male has a red top half of the head. This bird actually gets its name from the reddish patch (that you can just see) on its lower belly. Smaller than the Pileated Woodpecker, it's approx 10 ins long.
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