Tuesday 12 December 2017

Winter Garden Visitors

Yesterday a Stoat spent half an hour in the garden.  It seemed interested in a squirrel, but wasn't able to deal the death blow.  The rest of the time it ran around on the lawn.  It jumped down a hole and popped up another.  We've had a female Brambling for over a fortnight, and the flock of local Long-tailed Tits passes through the garden from time to time.  Meanwhile even the Blue Tit looks good among the reddening cotoneaster leaves.  Unfortunately, all these photos were taken through glass sometimes on very overcast days.
Up Pops the Stoat
 Ditto
 Licking its lips

 Down it Goes
 Having a Good Look
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Emerging
 Full Length
 Ditto
 Climbing out the Largest Hole
 Forcing itself out the Smallest Hole
 More Lip-licking
 Female Brambling 
 Ditto
 Goldcrest
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Goldfinch
 Long-tailed Tit
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Blue Tit
 Ditto

Tuesday 5 December 2017

Book Now on New Year Course!

Waxwing
Bookings for the 10-week New Year term are now open for all.  At the time of writing there are a couple of vacancies on Friday afternoons, and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  I'm afraid I cannot take any more bookings on the Wednesday morning session.  If you are interested in another session, please ask.  For at least 2 hours a week encounter the natural world as a completely new sensual experience.  You'll be amazed what you'll find just by listening, and not only by looking!  In the Winter we'll be paying special attention to our large birds of prey, wintering wildfowl, and any special visitors.  
 Short-eared Owl
Hen Harrier
We will be going to venues where in the past we have seen Short-eared Owls, Hen Harriers, Peregrines and Merlins. If there is a reliable site for Long-eared Owls, Hawfinches or Waxwings then we may change venues to observe them.  So, if you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife in beautiful and secluded venues for less than £10 a week, then this is the course for you! We visit a different local hotspot each week and identify all the birds and as much other wildlife as we can. At other times of the year this includes mammals, and fungi with butterflies, and dragonflies. The course runs twice daily Tuesday to Friday. If you are interested in more details of the course, or wish to be placed on a waiting list, please leave a comment next to one of my posts or email me on the address at the top of this page.
Brambling