craighall

He's not got the message.... if I fill the feeders I think it's my right to take their picture. I think I need to give him a good talking to don't I.

It's surprisingly difficult to get a Long-tailed Tit on it's own and perched away from feeders.... they just seem to fly in from a distance.

On the left side of the path is an overhanging broom and some scrubby birch trees. The snow had drifted in underneath it; this Dunnock looks half buried!

Count 'em... I think there may be seven! Though at one point I'm sure I counted eight of them! Always a delight to see, aren't they.

Back at the edge of town feeders. Fortunately, the parking area wasn't too bad for the snow, though a little icy in places. The Robin thought all his Christmases had come together, when he found all this food on the ground. Not sure how he's going to swallow that wee nugget though, looks like...

... so let's hope that darn Robin stays away!! I'd also put some feed on the ground on the other side of the road. There's often a Dunnock hiding in the bushes there. Incidentally, this picture started off very dark, but with the aid of something I messed about with in FastStone I managed to...

This Blue Tit came pretty close to where we were standing at the gate, maybe hoping we had some more food to put in that area, but he was out of luck on this occasion.

We had to wait a few days before going back to the feeding station, in the hope that the snow had thawed a bit. Which it had..... but as you can see there was still some lying about. The feeders were just about empty, so a good job we went. A Robin and Dunnock were soon there to hoover up what...

Another accommodating bird was this Great Tit that came and settled nearby. Nice birds, aren't they (well... sometimes LOL)

Hope you're not fed up with Robin pictures, but they were so showy that day and this one came pretty close too.

There was a Great Tit and a Coal Tit either side of that feeder when I started to click. But the Coal Tit flew. Surprised I managed to catch him in the frame (identifiably) LOL.

... well an eye ring really. This becomes more pronounced as part of their breeding plumage, though I'd have thought the first week in January was a bit early? He seems to like the pink nibbles that I threw on the ground.

.... he thought the coconut would be more to his taste, even with a Coal Tit supervising his antics.

Another visit to Craighall. I caught this Robin feeding on a hanging feeder, they don't even do that at home, preferring the tray ones. He seems quite at home on there don't you think, so I guess he's been practising his technique while I've been absent LOL

The first snow of the year came overnight on the 2/3 January here, but as you can see it wasn't too much fortunately. Poor Robin, but I did give him some seeds to eat and put some on top of the gate post too so he could warm his feet a little.

That's what happens when I fill the feeders, it just confuses them LOL.

I was trying to take a picture of one of the tits (long-tailed variety too!!) when, just as I focused and pressed the shutter button.... all I was left with was this pretty lichen. So that's my Saturday Fun entry today... at least it was in focus LOL. The tit had been perched on the lower...

Although I think the Blackbirds may always be around the feeder area, they don't always show themselves. This guy was a bit more co-operative, but only for a few seconds LOL

You're never far from a Robin I guess. And there are a few hanging around the feeder area on this path. I like to scatter some seed on the ground for them.

A couple of days later we were back at these feeders. Coalie seemed to prefer chatting to someone out of sight, rather than feeding from the coconut.

This was one of the Long-tailed Tits I couldn't get in the other picture, he was sitting on the branch below the feeder and appeared to be looking up hungrily.

A flock of Long-tailed Tits arrived. I think I've counted 7 in one of the images, but there were far more than that. It was hard to keep track, as they kept flying in and out so quickly.

This Blue Tit found itself on the other side of the road from the feeders, hence the different colour to the background.

That Great Tit I showed you the other day continued to struggle with that nut and now appeared to be calling for assistance. He gave up on that one after this picture LOL

When I go to those feeders, I usually put some seeds and stuff on the ground. This Robin seemed rather appreciative anyway.