An Apple a Day for Fieldfare and Woodpecker

I always keep back as many apples as I can from the autumn harvest to put out in the cold spells. The Fieldfares, Blackbirds and Green Woodpeckers have been very grateful for this supplement to their diet. (taken through windows so not great quality)

First Spring Migrant Sightings at Paxton

Two or three Chiffchaffs were in full song on Tuesday at Paxton Pits in the warm sunshine, while a Squirrel gorged itself on the catkins getting covered in yellow pollen. All the chaffinches that I saw had deformed feet - either  “tassel foot” (papillomatosis)  or “scaly foot” (cnemidocoptosis - small mites). The new Hayden hide is now open at Paxton - a metal construction replacing the wooden one which arsonists destroyed last year. There were lots of Reed Buntings and Tits feeding on the table outside the hide, plus a Wren and Robin. In the taller woods, Green and Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were very active yaffling and drumming.

Aggressive Starlings

 A family of starlings have taken over our bird feeder at the moment and, as well as fighting with each other, they also take on the larger beak of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Woodpeckers and Fighting Sparrows

 The Green Woodpecker chick at Studland put its head out every time the adult was in the area so I hoped for a feeding picture but we decided that the adults were trying to get the youngster to leave the nest. The Greater Spotted Woodpecker and House Sparrows are on the feeders at out accommodation.

Early Light in the Bluebells

Thame Travelodge provided a very atmospheric sunrise on Monday. I then went on to Ashridge Estate and photographed the Bluebells, which were at their best.

If You Go Down to the Woods

All the wet and now mild weather has resulted in a bumper crop of fungi in the woods and fields. These were taken yesterday at Gamlingay Woods, Cambridgeshire. I will get them identified and add the species when time permits but thought this might encourage other fungi enthusiasts to get out in the woods this weekend.

Three-toed Woodpecker

Today we made an excursion into some local woods to look for the three-toed woodpecker. The snow was much deeper than in normal years so I decided to stay back a bit and concentrate on the snowy forests rather holding everyone up. However, Daniel soon came back to tell me that the woodpecker had been sighted and was very close. So I made my way through the snow to meet Michael, the local expert on woodpeckers, and he kindly helped me through the waist high snow to get photos of the bird really close. I have a lot more images of this little woodpecker but, with a quick look, I chose this one as his beak is free of background distractions.

Derwent Water Woods in Rain

The rain really set in before lunch on Saturday but a brief dry spell tempted us to a walk in these magical woods.

The top image was taken with a 16-35 mm rectilinear lens and the lower one with the 15mm fisheye.

The contrast, colour rendition (both images brought to 6500) and detail are better with the 15mm lens as I suppose is to be expected with a prime lens.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers

A young great spotted woodpecker being fed peanuts by its parent.

Only the young woodpeckers have the red head.