Winter Bird Survey Paxton

Great to meet up with everyone for the start of the monthly surveys at Paxton Pits. This month our survey was of the birds - we recorded 53 species with a few winter visitors among them - Golden Eye (large flocks on Island Pit}, Goosander pair and Redwings. Best sighting (and a long way off) group of Green Sandpipers.

Birds at Bushy Park

Although we chose to visit Bushy Park for the Deer, we were very impressed by the large and relatively tame bird population. Here are a few from the visit  - starting with a Jay that had taken an acorn up into the oak tree to eat - followed by Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Paraqueets, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Egyptian Goose up a tree! and Mallard. 

RPS Nature Group Meeting at Rutland Water

Unfortunately the promised warmer and brighter weather failed to materialise so another outing in cold, breezy and, at times. wet conditions. The birds were keeping low in the vegetation searching for sheltering insects etc but I did manage satisfactory photographs of a couple of Reed Warblers and Green Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Common Tern and Great Crested Grebe. Very few insects visible but here an Orange Tip and a Colletes bee species with the X100v plus macro attachment and the 100-400mm lens for comparison. Many thanks to Peter Ward for organising the trip.

Garden Birds in Flight

Every year, for a short time, we get invaded by large numbers of starlings with their young on the feeders. This year, we had up to 30 on some days all squabbling and competing with the Long-tailed Tits and Greater Spotted Woodpeckers.