January started cold and damp, well, it is January right? Our first January in this location and we were prepared for what could be a harsh Winter. The birds were coming to the feeders in the garden in droves so plenty to keep me occupied. The woodpeckers were regular visitors at the feeders.
Great Spotted Woodpecker hanging onto the fence
We'd become very used to the woodpeckers in the garden and they were becoming used to us.
Great Spotted Woodpecker pair at the feeders
The shot above from my window, I don't have to move very far at all to get great shots of the birds outside
GSW male on a suet feeder
The male Great Spotted Woodpecker (GSW) has the red patch on the back of his head, the female doesn't. January 11th saw a group of Long-tailed Tits
Long-tailed Tits hanging off the suet feeder
Long tails are beautiful wee birds and highly social, they'll feed and mix with other birds, Tits and gather in quite large groups. These would by pass through regularly for a few days.
"Henry" the Pheasant
There's a Pheasant that visits every day, we have no idea of course if it is the same bird but given the fact that it has grown used to me at the window, sometimes even out in the garden, I guess it is.
We have Blue, Great and Coal Tits visiting the garden regularly with Long-tails passing through from time to time, currently I only ever see one Coal Tit and it's VERY quick, in, grab, out!
Blue Tit dangling from the suet feeder
One bird that we get quite a few of is the Greenfinch and that's great, they're becoming rarer all over the country and one reason is their susceptibility to disease, bringing them together at feeders only helps spread that so, keeping the feeders clean all the time is vital. I try to switch my feeders while I clean them thoroughly, that and sometimes feed on the ground.
Male Greenfinch on the seed feeder
I was really pleased when the Long-tailed Tits passed through again giving me more chances for photos but they had a habit of dropping by in the evening when the light isn't the best. They are such cute and beautiful little birds.
There's no shortage of Blackbirds in the area and this young bird appeared on the fence in January, seemed kind of out of season but what do I know eh? :)
As I said we get three Blue, Great and coal Tits visiting regularly all of them fast wee birds sometimes difficult to get shots of but, now and again they settle for a while, that's when I grab my chance.
Blue Tit dreaming in dawn light
Coal Tit on a branch
Great Tit and Greenfinch on a seed feeder
Staying with the Tits, stop it! More Long-tails, this time being watched by a Robin.
Long-tailed Tits on a feeder
Now and again we get a little surprise, less frequent visitors drop by and although I know there are a good few Mistle Thrush in the surrounding area, I didn't expect to see one in the garden.
Mistle Thrush grabbing mealworms
I mentioned our Pheasant regular earlier.....
He quite often hops up onto the fence, or right over it, to have a look around. Now, a bird that we don't see very much here but was a regular in S Wales, is the Robin!
Robin on the seed tray
Feels strange, almost the reverse from our previous location where we had lots of Robin visitors, House Sparrow is the same here, they are around but use the surrounding hedges and fields more but, one bird we do see here regularly is the Tree Sparrow. I had hoped we might see them here and lo and behold, they live in the hedge along one side of the garden, along with the House Sparrows!
Tree Sparrow in evening light
If you haven't seen one, look at the face markings, very different from House Sparrows and the sexes look identical, unlike House. But, back to the Long-tails, I did manage to photograph them in S Wales, even found a nest location but never saw the young.
Long-tailed fluff ball
Long-tailed Tit dangling from the suet ball
Tree Sparrow stare
Long-tails on a tree branch
We are extremely lucky up here, to have so many birds come to the garden and surrounding us and I was so happy that we get all off the birds that I'd hoped to see up here as well as some familiar to us down South.
Goldfinch catching evening light
Great Spotted Woodpecker in the tree
Greenfinch female in the tree
Having now learnt how Greenfinches are suffering all over the country, I'm very pleased that we seem to have plenty around us here. There are also a LOT of Chaffinches here, living in the hedge with the other but scattered all around.
Chaffinch female on a branch
I have a terrible habit of thinking "it's just a Chaffinch" but they are gorgeous wee birds too.
Remember I said we don't see many Robins?
So, my parting shot for January is this pair of Robins and don't forget, all of these shots are taken from inside my wee den, spare room, sitting at my Mac, all I have to do is turn to the camera on its tripod and line up the shots. Love it!
