www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Lisa, that's a very nice chaffinch shot so if you've 'cropped it a mile' that 300mm lens of yours is first class.
The coot shot is a nice catch, Shaun. It's the first coarse fishercoot I've ever seen.

Great Little Grebe Shaun, I find them a bit sneaky, going under water for ages, and always seem to pop up out of range - well they do for me any way!

Lisa, that's a very nice chaffinch shot so if you've 'cropped it a mile' that 300mm lens of yours is first class

Ok so it wasn't cropped in that far! but it sure is a fine lens

Hi all,
Yes Lisa I have the same problem with Little Grebes this one just couldnt be bothered.This Moorhen was the best he had improved on the usual stick your bill out of the water and they will go away and added a bit of army camouflage.
and a couple of pics from today.
Shaun.

Lovely photo of a Nuthatch Lisa, I haven't seen any around here., a New year's Robin, Greenfinches fighting for a place and the Siskin bought his wife and its a terrible photo my hands were freezing. What puts up a fight is the beautiful Goldfinch.
Shirley

Great to see lots of Siskins in the garden Shirley do you usually get them in the winter or is it just a good one?
we have had a flock of 100+ of these Redpolls locally this winter which is unusual

Glad you like the Siskins Shaun, we get them only in the winter but Chris Woods has them all the year round, he and his wife feeds them every day and the results are fantastic, their lounge window faces an Alder tree which they grew from seed 13 years ago and now it full of birds everyday, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Siskins, 2 Reed Bunting and he saw a Red Poll last year. The lane in front of their house is covered with birds in the morning, it a bit difficult for me to get out in the early morning but I'm going to try to get a photo of the feeding time. Its nice weather for photos, I expect a lot of the plants in the garden will be dead. I saw about 8 blackbirds on the lawn to-day. You can hear the Goldfinches fighting, even with their own breed.
Shirley

I like that wren, Shaun, and nice bit of detail on the robin, Shirley.

Hi all,
seems the birders have found that Hawfinch as there were 40+ there today with some big glass on display .
The Hawfinch is quite happy to come down to the feeders within 20ft away but it was to crowded for me so a quick pic and I went to seek out a quieter area.Very cold -5 this morning.
Shaun

Hi Shaun,
Did the folks put bird seed out for that Hawfinch, I'm sure in this waether they'll be hungry. I found that most species around here are getting hungry, these Oyster Catchers were in the field by the house, there is a sort of blueish tint I'm not sure that if its the camera or they have blue feathers, the Siskin, first one, then two and now four, I'll get a bigger feeder and see how many more I can attract.

Yes Shirley,
Its a general bird feeder site that the Hawfinch uses now,Is that Niger seed in your feeder Siskins love that
Shaun

Hi Shaun,

It is Niger seed, there's a sparrow that comes and upsets the Siskins abd the Goldfinches love it, the birds spend a lot of time fighting.
Shirley

Hi all,

Shot of a Robin taken today.



Larger version here, shows the detail better. http://www.xmilehigh.pwp.blueyonder.co. ... 01899b.jpg

Any one else ready for Spring / Summer ?

Nice one, Jerry. That zoom of yours really pulls in the detail.

Well not butterflies but my feed station is looking quite colourful in this cold weather:

Hi Eris,
Nice to see the Goldfinches and a nice photo of a Coaltit, mine are eating tons of feed, they can be a bit wasteful but very nice to see them. The frost just goes on but I think its thawing a bit.
Shirley

Nice photos of Robin and Goldfinches,very clear and detailed,
went after some portrait pics today although weather not clever again!
These were best of bunch.
Shaun.

Oh I love long tailed tits! I never knew you could get them on bird feeders, I saw some round here a few days back so I had better keep a good lookout on the feeder. I've been hoping a nuthatch will arrive as I know some are in a nearby wood. Super photos.

More great photos, Shaun. I'm very jealous of the nuthatch as it's years since I've seen any around here.

Thanks Eccles,
Yes Cannock Chase Is an excellent place for Nuthatches 2or 3 down at the feeder at one time.But then I cant see Dippers and Short Eared Owls without making over an hours journey (a case of horses for courses I suppose.)The area isnt a rare butterfly area but if you want a day of Green Hairstreaks or S.P Bordered then I would recommend it.
Shaun.

We've had a few Fieldfares in our garden munching on the berries. Happens every year. Just waiting for the Redwings to turn up. Waxwings would be nice

Cheers,

- Pete