Monday 29 December 2014

Oh, so cold today, with much of the pool frozen over...

Mallards in the sunlight....



some black headed gulls and a couple of coots stepping out... cautiously...


but the frost on the canary grass and bullrushes was magical....


Tuesday 23 December 2014

Jenny wren exploring the base of a tree ....

The Abbey across the meadow ....


One of the Redwings that we see in the hedges and on the meadow at this time of year...


Monday 15 December 2014

A robin enjoying the bright sunshine today...



Though it's bright, it feels wintery on the pool...


but eating is always an urgent task and here a young heron and swan are enjoying some company while searching for food...


while an adult heron plays peek-a-boo out in the field.......


Tuesday 9 December 2014

Hey, they are building a new walkway so all my fans can come and see me on the pool!!



A small bunch of Teal keep popping in to see me too...



And a big flock of geese fly over every day making a lot of honking!


But then I spotted a little flock of Linnets sunning themselves in the tree - they are a lot quieter!


Wednesday 3 December 2014

The winter visitors have been arriving.... a Fieldfare...




a Redwing...


and lots of Starlings come from Russia & Scandinavia to swell our numbers... 


and every evening we have "Starlingfest" before they settle to sleep in the reeds!

But there is still room for our residents.... a Chaffinch enjoying berries...


and a song thrush ...


a Buzzard watching from his perch...


and Mrs and Mrs Stonechat playing 'Upstairs Downstairs'...


Monday 24 November 2014

Him and Her... Stonechats chatting on the footbridge......
















And little Jenny Wren sitting in a hollow....



A pheasant visiting the field...



Frost on the teasels....



And the Woodpecker watching out while checking the trees for grubs.....


Wednesday 19 November 2014

A Greenfinch enjoying breakfast in the sun....



A field full of cobwebs...



A male Reed Bunting in winter plumage tucking in to seed heads by the river...



A Buzzard watching me from the hedge top...



And a Greater Spotted Woodpecker taking advantage of the bird feeders by the house on the meadow...


Monday 10 November 2014

And on the pool today....

The Stonechats are enjoying the hedgerows and grasses.....





So too the busy little flocks of goldfinches...




While a kestrel plays I-Spy in the top of a dead tree branch...


Monday 3 November 2014

Well, there are a few Darter dragonflies still about today....



And a female stonechat (I think)...

some lovely Autumn green lichen ....

and WOW, sheep have arrived!!


and somebody has been clearing out my reed beds... nice..


I'm keeping my eye on things.....

and now they are checking my water!!!


Thursday 16 October 2014

The storm has passed....the sun is warm and bright...



Dragonflies and butterflies are out enjoying some basking...





The young swans are doing some flying practice....


And a little flock of long tailed tits are busying themselves along the hedgerows.


Thursday 9 October 2014

Today the wind is blowing hard across the pool, 
bringing flurries of rain as well as sunshine...

the swaying grasses sound like the sea on the shingle...

the birds are sheltering....

the seeds are flying instead!


Friday 3 October 2014

A cool breeze across the pool..... sunshine and clouds....


A chiffchaff in a willow by the pool



Hedge woundwort by the path - give it a sniff if you see it!



The adult swans are increasingly flying off for a bit


leaving the youngsters to get use to life without them



Some folk are getting grumpy!



and conkers are emerging from their spiky cases on the horse chestnut trees.