Pochard (male)

The glorious Pochard (Aythya ferina). 

The male shown in all the images below is strikingly colourful, as opposed to the female which is mainly a dull brown with pale flanks.

We get a large influx of Pochard in Autumn from Eastern Europe from October through to March.

Lumix GH3. 100-300mm lens. 300mm(600). 1/500 at f8. ISO320.

Note the image below where the eye displays a black bar across the middle. I have noticed that they do this momentarily. The Tufted Duck also does this.

Bluebell Wood in Winter

The woodland known as Bluebell Wood which forms part of the Parkland that I walk regularly doesn't look quite at its best at the moment. Firstly because in Winter deciduous woodland never looks that good anyway and also there is considerably less in the way of nature generally. This is compounded by the fact that due to the recent excessive rainfall the paths are quite muddy and the river that runs along side the wood is flooding.

NB: Most of the scenic images have had some vignetting added for effect.

There are a few birds to be found, the Robin being one of the certainties.

Below is the recently installed walkways that has improved some areas for the general public to walk in Summer (so that they don't get there footwear to dirty) {:))

The Dunnock is another likely species to be found.

The river (brown at the moment due to silt) is much higher than usual and the meadow beyond, although low lying, is not flooded normally like it is in this photograph.

The male Great Tit is looking more colourful now that Spring is coming.

A Grey Squirrel taking a peep at what I am doing.

Fungi can be found growing on trees.

This path has been overcome by the high water level from the river.

The newly constructed stairs down to the river path.

If you know where to look you may also see (or more likely hear) the Nuthatch.

A Blue Tit will be observed frantically moving about branches searching for sparse food at this time.

Wild Flowers of the Time

Snowdrops and Winter Aconite are two flowers I have photographed this week during a walk.

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) grow in Winter and early Spring in most of Europe and there are about 20 sub species of this flower. I found these I photographed in an area where I normally expect to find them. Once established they remain and are not easily destroyed by natural causes.

Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) are one of the first to flower usually in January in mild climates. They grow in Europe, Asia and Japan and there are about 8 sub species. Again I found these where I would normally expect to find them on the edge of woodland, in fact more than in the past.

Siskin X 2

Siskin (Carduelis spinus)

A fortunate find yesterday whilst out walking in the Parkland.

I could hear a number of Goldfinch singing high up in alder trees, I stopped to look at them through my binoculars. Walking on a little further I observe more bird movement, a splash of bright yellow in the dull over cast light at the time. This was the first sighting of two that I made and it was the adult male below. Typically I couldn't get a direct open view of it as there were twigs in the way, but the three shots I did get are below. Then I observed another bird moving close by and this was a first year male Siskin which was a little more exposed, but farther away.

Adult male Siskin

First year male Siskin