Jays

This time of year always sees a lot of Jays around , on the search for acorns and seeds to cache for retrieving later in the winter. You often hear their harsh call before seeing the flash of a white rump dissapearing into the trees. I have had at least two birds hanging around and they are easy to tempt to come close with peanuts,with which they greedily fill their crops and take away before returning for more. I photographed these from my small pond side hide.

Surprise Ring Ouzels.

Ring Ouzel has been a species that I've seen every now and again in the U. K. but never managed to get a decent photo. Untill this autumn when I had a week of seeing them when I wasn't really expecting to. On a visit to Tavistock with the good lady wife for a bit of birthday shopping ( hers not mine) we decided on the way home to have a walk up to Brent tor. I spotted what I first thougt to be a couple of Blackbirds when I thought I'd better check them out just in case they were Ouzels, and they were! yippee. Of course I had my camera and lens with me so I crept closer to one bird feeding on the ground, it was'nt to bothered before flying into a nearby lichen covered Hawthorn to feed on berries. I crept close and again it just carried on feeding unconcerned by my presence. I was even more surprised the next day when looking out of the bedroom window a saw a female Ring Ouzel feeding on the neighbours lawn untill it flew up into the Hawthorn trees and again started to eat the berries. It stayed for five days before moving on. These sort of things dont happen to often so pleased to get those shots at last.

Weymouth

A trip up to Weymouth with friends to visit Radipole and Lodmoor RSPB reserves, both in or close to the town centre but always good for a day out and a nice selection of species usually on view, a couple of Med Gulls were in the car park as normal at Radipole with lots more at Lodmoor, where Black Tailed Godwits came close to the path.

Pond Visitors

Goldfinches seem to be the most common bird on the feeders this year with many enjoying the sunflower hearts, and they frequently come down to the pond for a drink. Recently they were joined at the waters edge by two Linnets.