Birstall Beauties

Couldn't resist going to look at the 60 Waxwings invading the industrial estate at Birstall in Bradford. I just love looking at these graceful birds. They were feeding on a variety of Mountain Ash called 'Pink Pagoda'. Some landscaper had luckily decided to plant them when building offices.

The birds were quite wary and didn't seem to like white vans for some reason (who does)! Fancy coming all the way from Scandinavia for the second year to eat berries at the Mars Petfood factory near Ikea!!!

Waxwing Wunderland

These Scandinavian beauties descended on apple trees and had a whale of a time just south of Wakefield.

They would eat 5 or 6 berries and then retire to the top of a tree to digest them. Hard work getting good pics of them with all the twigs about but we got there in the end.

Driven to Art

Found myself driven to do a watercolour sketch of Waxwings that were being unco-operative for the camera. At least the telescope allows a much closer view. These were in a tree today at Cold Hiendley near Wakefield. They then dropped into a garden to feed on apples.

I've beens setting up a feeding station with photographer friends. It's really paying off during the cold spell we are having. Peanut butter is a firm favourite with all and the nuthatches particularly like peanuts pushed into holes drilled in a stump. Gets a bit cold waiting though.

The light at this time of year is so poor that a little balanced fill-flash is required. The nuthatches seem to love it and pose shamelessly.

Lakeland Red

Found the Lake District closed when I went on my hols this week. Police had closed the roads from the south and had to sneak in via flooded roads in the north. It was worth it though to get photos of Red Squirrels playing chase in the trees. They allowed me and my camera very near and even posed for a portrait.

Make Hay

This friendly Nuthatch must have taken and hidden a huge amount of sunflower seeds during the course of the two hours I watched it. It came every 30 seconds or so, filled up and shoomed off. Make hay while the sun shines!!!

The local kingfisher also put in an appearance so I took its portrait as well.

A Dull Day Brightened

Twas a dull, dull day. One of those drizzly, overcast and windy days you get in autumn. Poor light for photographers.

Then along came a party of Long-Tailed Tits to the feeders in the garden and out came my long lens. Fill-flash did not bother them, they were too busy fighting the Blue Tits for a place at the fatball. Managed to get a portrait of one of them despite the weather. They made my day.