Dining Goldfinch

Getting close to Goldfinch is never that easy when they are in the open.

I was able to sneak up on a flock of about twenty through tall bunches of dried Teasel, but they will only let you get so close before they fly off and move to a plant further away.

This is one of the Goldfinches favourite places to find food at this time of year.

Note below the seed that got away.

Goose Watching

I did mention in a previous post that its at this time of year on the Parkland Lakes that both the resident Greylag and Canada Geese flock together in their respective species and spend their time flying from the lakes to the nearby farmland fields to feed and then back to the water for a drink and clean up and repeating the process throughout the day.

On a nice sunny day I was able to shoot some scenes of the Greylag gang, which on this occasion was accompanied by a visiting Barnacle Goose.

Geese will always take off into the wind and it was quite windy on this occasion. However, I was not in the best position in relation to both the geese location on the water and the prevailing wind. On these occasions one has to make the best of what is presented. As they took off they were heading straight towards me and through a gap in the trees. I couldn't get a better position due to trees obstructing the view.

They don't all take off together normally and this was one of the first waves below.

Prior to take off there is much washing and bathing and then flapping of wings to get the water off the flight feathers.

I mentioned the visiting Barnacle Goose. 

This is probably some escapee or just a lost soul, as they would not normally be in this area at this or any other time for that matter.

It is not unusual for the Barnacle to be flocked together with the resident Canada flock but he/she has chosen the light greys this time. We have also been fortunate to have a visiting White-fronted Goose in the past.

That said, this is the first time I have been able to include the Barnacle in 'Take off' shots.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my readers, blogging friends and local Birders.

More Redpoll

I found these Lesser Redpoll as they were feasting on seeds on top of the dead plants of the Rosebay Willowherb.

The Goldfinch and the Alder Tree

During the mid afternoon when the winter sun was low in the sky and my walk was almost completed, I found this lone Goldfinch beside a lake. She was filling up on Alder seeds prior to roosting for the night. It was likely to be a cold night and she was making sure she had plenty of fuel onboard. Birds are warm blooded and its their main aim in life at this time to gorge themselves during the winter daylight hours in order to protect from the lower temperatures at night. Something we humans mostly take for granted, for birds its life or death.