Very dull day

Bit of work around the house today before I was allowed out, although it was very dull I still went out, my plan for today was to get an even closer shot of the stonechats, I went prepared and when I was set up my camera and myself was covered in camouflage netting, sat comfortably on my shooting stick which my daughter bought me for christmas, got some strange looks from a couple of passers by with their dogs, but hey ho I've got used to strange looks over the years.

Anyway it wasn't to be today, within minutes a buzzard landed at the other end of the dead man's allotment, too far away for a decent shot which is a pity as at one point he lifted his back end and did a whoopsie. Not only the buzzard but also someone had a huge stinking fire going, smoke bellowing everywhere, must have been burning plastic as it stunk to high heaven.

Not long after Brett arrived so we went walkabout, but the buzzard was never far away hence hardly any signs of small birds, so it was that we ended up at Edna's Tomb, wow even that was quiet and dull, so we ended up taking a few record shots of the regulars.

The Dunnock just wouldn't land where we wanted him to.

So we set up a mossy branch and waited for the usual suspects.

Can but hope for better tomorrow, was glad to get home, my feet were cold and I needed coffee.

yellowhammer

Only a brief outing today after work, I arrived at the dead man's allotment just as Brett was leaving, he'd got some cracking pictures of the stonechats, I don't know how long they will stay but it is fun watching them flit around, I did manage a few shots, but nothing better than I got yesterday, perhaps take my camouflage kit next time and see if they will come nearer.

A stroll down the lane and had a nose around Sledger's field, saw a yellowhammer and a distant redwing, my outing was cut short by a bit of drizzle and the desire for a cup of brew.

Off home it was, a little brighter when I got there so had a quick walk to the Grey Lady's Cloisters, saw couple goldcrests, nuthatch and a few jays sniffing around Brett's stump.

Kestrel and a misty day

Well it was a very misty start to the day and also a very foggy one at the end, but lots of sunshine at times.

I had a spare hour this morning before I did the school run for my youngest grand daughter (Rosie), so I popped down Stonechats lane but was hard to see much in the strong sunlight as you can see here.

So I just walked up and down the lane hoping to see something on the Spennells side, I did stalk a kestrel, not easy to get shots due to the light, but I think they are just about acceptable.

He caught me unawares on the last one, I was zoomed in too close, never mind I enjoyed watching him.

I did get another crafty hour after I fetched Rosie and spent most of this time looking round the Dead man's allotment in search of the stonechats, I wasn't disappointed as they were showing well, pity they didn't come a little closer, but I enjoyed viewing them.

There were a few other small birds on the patch, but wasn't sure of their ID as they were flying overhead. Would loved to have stayed longer but had promised I wouldn't be long away.

Lunch, cup of tea and then watched Snow White with Rosie before I popped off to Stourbridge to fetch Martha, lovely setting sun over the mist at Hurcott on the way home so a quick stop for a few pics with my phone (Samsung S5), quite pleased with the results and the BBC must have liked this one as they used it on the weather this evening.

Dead man's allotment

Weather wise today was not the best, anyway straight after work I popped down to the Dead Man's Allotment, Jason had told me that he had seen stonechats in there, bit mizzly and cold but off I went, only there about 5 minutes and I saw one, couple of awful photos below, but I saw them, hope they will be there tomorrow as forecast slightly better.

I was only out for about 20 minutes today but I learned a helluva lot, normally I would just have walked slowly past but because I knew the stonechats were there I stayed looked and watched, so now I intend standing and watching a lot more often, perhaps I may now start seeing a lot more, thanks Jason.

Edna's tomb

January 7th

Posting a day late, was very cold as I ventured out, I must have looked a right sight, two shirts, thick jumper, two coats, scarf, hat, trousers, thermal socks and thermal gloves, I don't like the cold.

My first visit was Captain's Pool, it was froze over with only a few places near the edges that hadn't froze.

I popped up the lane and within a few minutes I was down on Stonechats Lane, few twitchers about, I walked down to Stone and back, then walked up the the College, but apart from a small flock of smallish birds near the model aircraft field it was very quiet, heard reports yesterday about a stonechat and bramblings, but I didn't spot those, had a walk down Stonechats Lane and then back via the fields, but all quiet.
Didn't even see a bullfinch today which is unusual.

Saw a kestrel briefly on a pylon and a buzzard out hunting and, along with many crows and starlings, did see a flock of linnetts and others mixed in up by the sale field, a quick stroll down the carrot field without seeing much, by this time I was froze, so decided to knock it on the head and go home for a hot drink.

Am I mad, yes, as if I didn't get cold enough this morning I decided to go out again, not so far this time though, a quick nose around the carrot field and then decided to try some bird in flight shots at Edna's tomb, even there the birds didn't want to play too much, but I did manage a few half decent shots which you can see below.

Only there a few minutes and Brett turned up, he had also been for a walkabout but still as quiet as it was this morning.

 The robin always makes me smile as he is usually sat on the stump waiting for some seed.

Saw a chaffinch which came along but wouldn't play, the dunnock is funny as he looks like he is going to get involved but the robin always chases him away.

Kestrel and sparrowhawk flew overhead, the fieldfare along with goldfinches and blackbirds fed on the ground, hoping they might one day fly on to the stump.

Bit of reading now as my Collin's bird guide has just been delivered, hoping I might learn something.

Heron doing a whoopsie

Well at least it wasn't raining today, although the light was very poor for bird photography I did get out this afternoon.

Had a nose round Captain's Pool, but water very choppy, only saw 2 goosanders, a cormorant flew overhead and the heron was just leaving as I arrived, apart from these it was just the usual suspects.

A stroll around the carrot field revealed a few small flocks of finches etc, saw a few female bullfinches, a jay and plenty of other common birds.

The heron was just flying up from Captain's Pool whilst doing a whoopsie at the same time.

It's a good winter for seeing Bullfinches around Spennells, lots about at the moment.

Hoping for better weather tomorrow as I am desperate now for a good walk, perhaps I might see something unusual, will let you know tomorrow.

As usual if you see me snooping around the Spennells fields I'm always up for a chat and if you see anything interesting then please let me know by placing a comment.

Comments more than welcome on all my posts. 

short walkabout

Weather not been the best past couple days, only couple brief walks, some shots taken with bridge camera, forecast looking better for the weekend as I am desperate to get some decent walks in to see what is about.

Windy and wet but lots of birds about, kestrel quite active, lots of finches and tits, jays were a bit quiet, amazingly saw quite a large amount of female bullfinches, considering that up till about a month ago I had never seen one round Spennells, I am seeing them on a regular basis now.

Two Goosanders on the pool but too far away.

Long off shot of goosander, taken with the bridge.

The jay at his usual place

A long way off kestrel

Territorial argument

Sky looking a bit serious this morning.

A bit of tree cutting next to the pool.

Very poor shot of a bullfinch, setting all wrong on the camera.