18 02 11: Garden Birds

Back to grey skies although the light was trying to break through.
In the end the clouds won and I realised it wasn't going to be a day for landscape photography.
Still getting to know my new lens and with numbers of birds coming to my feeders dwindles I decided I'd try and get a good Brambling shot today.
During the hieght of winter we had more Bramblings that Chaffinches coming to the garden, one count was 40 birds.
Today it was just two or three, I suppose that's a sign that spring is on its way.

Male Brambling (Fringilla montrifingilla)

Siskin numbers have increased with about 15 on the various feeders today.

For some reason they feed upside down on the peanuts.

Male Siskin (Carduelis spinus)

Lots of birds in smaller numbers although Chaffinch numbers are still in double figures, mostly male birds hope someone elses garden has the females.

Male Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)



Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Male Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Collard Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Always 2 birds together.

I have one of those hides with a built in seat so it folds up over you like a pram hood.

I normally try to conceal as much of myself as possible but every movement I make sets the birds off.

So, today I opened up the front of the hide so the birds could see me and, as long as I moved slowly they seemed less nervous and sat for much longer.

Other visitors to the garden were Robin (times 2) but both very camera shy, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Jackdaws.