Bradgate Park

This young Jackdaw was about as happy as we were for our visit to Bradgate yesterday -  overcast and damp with low light values. I am always surprised to see young fallow deer still suckling when mating is in full progress. There were lots of ritual displays evident from decorating the antlers to active fighting and the youngsters were also joining in though never in a good clear area! We spent a time along the stream and were pleased to record deer and squirrels drinking.

Bradgate Birds etc

Final few from the Bradgate trip - mainly birds that I enjoyed for various reasons - the Jackdaws intent on removing ticks etc from very patient Fallow deer, pictorial views of Peacock and Pheasant, water-level views of Swans etc.

Through the Kitchen Window

I decided to leave the seed heads of the Evening Primrose that are outside our backdoor a little longer and was rewarded yesterday with these Goldfinches feeding on the heads - plus a visiting 'black' Grey Squirrel.

 

Toft Birds

I took Phil's Olympus camera for a walk today as my Fuji is quite hard to manage with a very stiff painful forefinger. Quite a bit of territorial behaviour getting going among the birds yet the trees by the old railway had a flock of more than 150 Redwings still here before departing north. Although it was quite cold there were obviously large numbers of gnats in the air by the stream.

Second Visit to the Red Squirrels Isle of Wight

We made a second visit to the Red Squirrel location that we enjoyed so much on our first day and were rewarded with beautiful light and equally beautiful subjects to photograph. My favourite image is with the light through the background trees

West Stowe Country Park

We took a walk round West Stowe Country Park yesterday in very dull lighting. The Greylag and Canada geese entertained us; I was interested how similar the plumage was between the two species. The area of the bird feeders was very dark so the shutterspeeds were slow and ISO high. One Bluetit had a very interesting eye abnormality. Great to see Coal and Marsh tits together.