www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Nice colourful photo of the pheasant, Gary.
The hawfinch brought his mates with him to South Gloucestershire, and by Friday there were nine. I think they may be dispersing/moving on now though as there were only a few at the same spot today.
I got a slightly better photo yesterday. Today, I snapped this redwing. Both shot with Sony A700 with 500mm F8 AF reflex. EXIF intact.

Pheasants must cause more deaths in this country (through road accidents) than any other non-native species.

The Redwing above looks quite a large bird but last week I found a dead one in the greenhouse and it was so small, the red feathers were a deep red, I think it might have flown into the glass, I left the door open so they may get a bit of shelter, you can't win. I saw a big dog fox crossing the field this morning about 9.00am, In my younger days when I worked as a shepherd, I know that fox will come back tomorrow about the same time, so I will be waiting with my camera, that's the theory. They have there kits in February but there are plenty of rabbits about, they had all but one duck on our pond. Are they kits or puppies, I'm never sure. The snow is creeping up, it'll hit you all down south tomorrow, keep warm and all you older folk keep inside, I mean you Jack
Shirley

The redwing looks fat but it's just fluffing up its feathers to keep warm. It's snowing lightly here at the moment.

Interesting reports, good to see some people taking excellent bird photographs, as we await spring for butterfly searches.....

The Hawfinch pictures caught my eye. I saw four at Blackwater Arboretum a few weeks ago (high up in conifers), but in the last few days one has been an occasional morning visitor to our bird table at Brockenhurst, prompting good squabbles with starlings et al. Then Jackdaws come and the whole lot fly away, to return when the Jackdaws depart. I'll aim to obtain better pictures outside, this one taken from my study window, c. 10 metres away.

Paul

I spent 8 hours out in the snow today, got some nice snowy scenes, but this Robin was practically the only bird I saw. Poor little fellow I ended up sharing my tracker bar with him.

Gruditch

The second Robin looks very much refreshed, the tracker bar did the trick.
Shirley

More Greenfinches in the snow. Shirley

Not wanting to hog the thread but! first time I've seen this bird and boy was it timid, this was taken from an upstairs window and later cropped.

Nice one Shirley,
I sometimes get one or two in the garden, (in really bad weather) but it's always a treat.
Denise

Well caught Shirley. Bramblings are still eluding me.
Gary, you're a brave man snapping birds in a snow storm. My camera is weather sealed but AFAIK most of my lenses aren't.

Gruditch nice Robins in snow and nice finches Shirley, good to see they can survive, even in snow.

eccles wrote:Gary, you're a brave man snapping birds in a snow storm. My camera is weather sealed but AFAIK most of my lenses aren't.

http://www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co. ... ories.html

They are a pain to use, but do the job
Cover or not, I was going out. Roe Deer, in the Eastern clearing, Bentley Wood.

Gruditch

Thanks for the link Gary but it looks a lot of effort when I don't much like being out in the bad weather either; I doubt if I'll bother.
Here's some of my birds in the snow from yesterday. All taken with the Sony A700 and Sony AF Reflex lens.

Couple of Fieldfare pics from yesterday
Shaun