www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

The redwings are west of you, Pete. There's been a flock hanging around local suburban gardens these last couple of days but they're very skittish. This is a 100% crop from my new 500mm AF reflex snapped yesterday. I haven't seen any fieldfares although they're probably around in the nearby farmland. Also spotted at the same time was this female bullfinch.

What is the tree that you have in your garden Pete, I'm surprised to see so many berries although I have seen holly trees still covered with berries in a few gardens. I haven't seen a Bullfinch for years, I see were back to mild, windy and wet weather.
Shirley

Bullfinches have made a bit of a comeback in my neighbourhood, although I wouldn't say they were common. Tell you what Shirley, I'll swap a bullfinch for a siskin. I've never seen one of those.
The cold weather is still persisting here with another frost last night and barely above freezing all day, although tomorrow is set to change.

Shirley Roulston wrote:What is the tree that you have in your garden Pete

Not quite sure - I'll ask my better half when she's back home. Anyway - I just sat down to read when I noticed something flickering outside the window. I first thought it was a butterfly - then I could see a distinctive Goldcrest head looking back at me. Grabbed my camera and took the following shot in not-very-good light, hence the grain!

Cheers,

- Pete

Shirley Roulston wrote:What is the tree that you have in your garden Pete

Well - we've discussed this and have come to the conclusion that we don't know! All we know is that it produces white flowers, red berries, is evergreen, and currently stands at 12 feet tall - putting it in the "tree" category.

I wish I knew what it what because I'd get some more

Cheers,

- Pete

That's a cotoneaster Pete.
Eccles you should take a trip down this way, I could guarantee you a Marsh Tit, a Nuthatch and a Siskin all in a day and all easy to photograph.


Gruditch

Excellent - thanks Gary. And there was me, thinking cotoneasters were the "stuff of garden hedges". Shame on me

Looking on the web, I think we have a Cotoneaster frigidus (http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/produ ... _index.php).

Cheers,

- Pete

Lovely photo of a Goldcrest and I certainly will be getting some of those trees.
Shirley

I'm green with envy, Pete. Goldies are soooo difficult to catch.

Whenever I've come across "Goldies", I've always found them to be so timid and friendly with respect to human encounters - that I'm surprised they're still around! They're the "Wood White" of the birding world to me

I remember, when I was about 10 years of age, watching a pair of them in a conifer for almost 10 minutes, and they were never more than 2 feet away from me. I was absolutely mesmorised. I would have gotten the "birding" bug there and then - if I hadn't been on the lookout for Orange-tips at the time

Cheers,

- Pete

Nice pics all. Pete, I like the goldcrest, I have liked them before.

I have been seeing woodcock around here latley, but have been unsucessful in photographing them, also I think there is screech owls nearby, think thats what I have been hearing when I have been out at night here.

Came across this Treecreeper he decided to do a freeze and you cant see me trick (one they do quite often) so I was taking pics as I approached him.Then a walker decided to walk between me and it to see what i was photographing giving it the chance to decide to go:x .
Shaun

Don't you just love it? It's more effective if they have a dog, or better still, two dogs, neither on leads of course.
Nice pics, Shaun. None from me today; I'm stuck indoors with a cold.

Thanks Eccles,
Sorry to hear you have a cold that will be caused by hanging around on estuaries after Short Eared Owls
Shaun

Hi Guys

thought you might like to see a couple of shots of one of our Winter migrants. First time I have ever seen one so I was almost as excited as when I found the 2nd brood DoB.

Pauline

Very nice Pauline. I haven't seen a Waxwing since I lived in Scotland, so it must be at least 15 years back. Rather envious!
Neil

Nice shots Pauline I have not seen a waxwing, but they look interesting

In Hampshire, too. That gives me some hope for South Gloucestershire. Well caught, Pauline.

Nice pictures Pauline,
Although they are very easy to see as they let you approach to within feet they are also not that easy to photograph,
on a less than sunny day they look just grey or they tend to stay just above skyline blotting their colours completely, so well done.
The numbers up here are slowly dwindling now.
Shaun.

From this morning at the local wildlife reserve

Bluetit


Female chaffinch


Starling


Sony A700 + AF 500 F8 Reflex. EXIF intact.