The Cold Snap Continues

 We seem to be stuck in this constant cold spell at the moment. I don't mind too much if it is cold and frosty, but cold and wet just won't do. Pre the latest lockdown I went out when there was still a little snow on the ground, but the skies were battleship grey. Not ideal for photography, but that's never stopped the need for a bird to feed. So off I went.

There was plenty of activity as usual, with good numbers of our more common species, but a lot of the others seemed to stay at a distance and the light didn't help me with them. I got myself tucked into a bush and they came quite close without even noticing me.

Blue Tit

Great Tit

A bit gloomy for this Nuthatch, but I always enjoy seeing them.

I was quite annoyed at the electricity cables that ran along the background of this Grey Heron, but I liked the light underneath the bird from the snow, so I thought I'd share it anyway.

Etherow Park Marsh Tit

I popped along to Etherow Park in Marple at the weekend, and I was on the look out for a Marsh Tit. A very unusual bird for Stockport and the Manchester area in general. I had seen one the previous week in Norfolk, but quite fancied ticking this closer to home, and it was handily spending a lot of its time around a feeding station and hide. This meant that I could sit for a couple of hours and just enjoy what nature brought to me.
It seemed that it was bringing every other Tit species apart from the Marsh variety. It was cold with the odd downpour thrown in, but it meant the birds were quite active and gave me plenty of opportunity to photograph them at relatively close quarters. All of them had wonderful plumage and they looked in good shape and set for Spring.

The Marsh Tit don't show while I was there, but here is the bird I photographed last week at Sculthorpe Moor.

One of the many Blue Tits that was busy at the feeding station.

The Coal Tit. I was very grateful of the hide to be able to photograph this bird. They're so fast, but this guy was very comfortable, and I was even able to photograph it eating. A first for me, as they normally bolt off to the safety of a tree to eat.

Eating a sunflower heart from between it's tiny feet.

A very handsome and shiny looking Great Tit.

A nice pair

Something a little more common, in the form of a Blue Tit and a Great Tit. These were taken on a cold frosty afternoon at Pennington Flash. There's always a lot of activity at the feeding hides and on this particular day there were many Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, plus a few Willow Tits.
A couple duly obliged to perch on the nearest posts from the hide.

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Pennington Flash

A cold bright and frosty Saturday morning was a welcome relief after what has seemed like weeks and weeks of dark and wet ones. I headed off to Pennington Flash, for just a couple of hours. It never disappoints and is always a safe bet for something to see, no matter how common. Plus, it's just a wonderful place to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle and mundaneness of everyday life.
Lots was seen, both out on the water and along the many paths. Cold weather always brings the birds out to forage for food a little less carefully than normal. There were plenty of finches, Robins, Blackbirds and Tits. Plenty to brighten up anybody's day.

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Carsington Water

While I had the bit between my teeth on Sunday, I carried on from Macclesfield towards Derbyshire and Carsington Water. It's somewhere I've visited a few times now and somewhere I really like. Although usually busy, I feel like it's just me and nature, and the birds in particular.
Stopping at Sheepwash car park, I was hoping to catch up with some Bullfinches and Tree Sparrows that are quite common around the bird tables situated here. But it was a bit later in the day than I'd seen them before and people were picnicking close by. How rude?
So I ventured on down to the Sheepwash hide. To my delight I was the only person in there. Looking out I could see two Common Sandpipers nice and close scurrying along the shore line, and also two Grey Heron patrolling. Cormorants were sunning themselves close by but not a lot else was going on, so I moved round to the Paul Stanley hide. Plenty more of the common species here. With plenty of Coots, Tufted ducks, Gadwall, Lapwings, Great Crested Grebes and one Common Tern. Long grass made it difficult to get any decent shots, so I moved out to a feeder near the hide. I didn't have to wait long before a tatty looking Nuthatch appeared. I always enjoy seeing these birds.

View from the Sheepwash hide

One of the two busy Common Sandpipers.

 

Cormorants, doing what Cormorants do.

A juvenile Great Tit taking a peak

 

A tatty looking Nuthatch.

Garden visitors

The cold mornings always attract more birds to the feeders and the garden in general. So I thought it would be rude not to take advantage of that, and took a few pictures of the birds that visit my garden.
Dunnocks are ground feeders along with Robins, although Robins seem to be getting more adventurous and are having a go at the feeders too.

The Dunnock

 

This Robin managed to grab itself a beetle in the grass.

This Great Tit spotted me while tucking into the sunflower hearts.

A Cold Winters Day

Back in the winter I spent a day in the hide of Charlie Owen in Glazebury, Cheshire. As cold as it was that day, the light was spot on. The birds were obliging and plentiful. Most were common garden or farmland birds, but it was fantastic day. I'm happy to revisit it here.

Blue Tit

Greenfinch

Nuthatch

Great Tit

Goldfinch

Dawn Chorus

Another trip to Mum and Dad's meant I got to do an early morning walk around Roding Valley Meadows in Loughton. A nice cold frosty start saw a lingering mist over the River Roding, but a good list of birds were seen nonetheless. A Little Egret was close to the Oakwood Estate along with two Ring-necked Parakeets and a Green Woodpecker. Closer to the Buckhurst Hill end were Reed Bunting, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, with a single Kingfisher darting along the river. (Yes Wayne they are there!)
Lots of birds were in full song and a few of my pictures here show just that.

Song Thrush

Great Tit

Wren

Early morning mist over the running track and River Roding

Sandbach Flashes

I took another trip to Sandbach yesterday, hoping for better light to picture the Glossy Ibis. I failed on both counts. No sunlight and no Ibis. Still, the temperature was well below zero and birds around the feeding station and adjoining fields were plentiful. Lots of Redwings, Tree Sparrows, and the usaual farmland birds. Also lots of Wigeon, Shellduck, Gulls, Lapwings and Canada Geese. Just a few for you below.

Redwing

Great Tit, looking rather pleased with his nut.

Shelduck

Down on the Farm

I had the pleasure of spending a good five hours in a private hide yesterday in Glazebury, Warrington. The hide is set up superbly, on farmland well away from humankind and is perfect for peaceful birding. It was a cold start with thick frost on the ground, but the sun was up first thing and soon moved into it's perfect position behind the hide. We were then treated to some fantastic bird action, with Tree Sparrows a plenty, Gold Green and Chaffinches, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Jay, Pheasant, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker and the star of the show for me, a male Sparrowhawk. Sure, these are not particularly uncommon birds, but the opportunity to photograph them at close quarters was where the excitement lay for me. Some of my best pictures are below, but to be honest I am so pleased with a lot of them that I may have to post more later. An amazing day.

I've waited a long time to get a decent shot of a Tree Sparrow. 

Nuthatch

Goldfinch

I love a Great Tit

A little Jenny Wren, as my Nan calls it.

My highlight of the day, a Sparrowhawk.