Redwing - another new one

Delighted to see this in the Garden this afternoon. There was actually a pair having a real battle before this chased the other one off.

I need to complain about the lack of bird species more often. I also had another new one yesterday - only saw it briefly, had a white crest on a black head - not a long tailed tit - about the size of a chaffinch.

Late Christmas pressie

My darling daughter bought me a pond dipping net for Christmas. A really excellent quality unit from Bioquip in Warrington... arrived yesterday

Here is a link: http://www.bioquip.net/

Fieldfare- back again

Back again this lunchtime, removing the last of the berries. I did manage to get a couple of shots of him in the snow.. (and in the sun). Quite amusing to watch him identifying a target then almost 'bouncing' up to get the berry and then landing again in almost the same place. Couldn't have done better on a trampoline.

Fieldfare

Apparently they are commonish but this is the first I have seen in the garden. Shame it wasn't in the sun.. but Heyho..

Happy New Year

I suppose this is the last post for 2009. . Hopefully 2010 will bring more success at the trap than I have had the last week. The trap has been on very night since Christmas day and the only animal trapped was a bluebottle house fly. I did manage to capture a moth by the back door but have not managed to identify it yet.(postscript - Winter Moth). It died in capivity but with the wings folded vertically (like a butterfly).

I will send my 2009 results off to the VC58 county recorder later and see what he thinks. I'll let you know..

British Winters and a Tawny Owl

As usual, the country seems to come to a grind halt at the first sign of snow, however, I work in Sheffield, the other side of the Pennines. Mondays journey in was OK on the main roads, but the country lanes (and especially Winnats Pass) were very slippery (no spiked tyres here). Nonetheless, I made the repeat journey yesterday. Absolutely beautiful crisp morning with temperature at -9C at Axe Edge.

Here is a snap of Shutlingsloe hill at dawn- the highest in 'flat' Cheshire at 506m high.

The journey home was even worse as ice had actually increased, but one bonus was I spotted a Tawny Owl hunting just on the Cheshire/Derbyshire border at Axe edge. It was following the line of the road (A54) and I drove along side it for quite a few seconds as it was hunting,. Marvellous!

Another nil weekend

As expected, this weekends trappings returned another null. However, my new max/min thermometer advised me that the min temp on Friday night was -7.2C and -6.5C on Saturday night. Saturday had the additional bonus of heavy rain and snow.

I have been working on the logo for the new 'Cheshire Active Naturalists' group - still waiting for some fedback to see if this is what is wanted..

Driven over to Sheffield today (over the Pennines) - mainly trouble free, but the sunshine on the snow was absolutely stunning.I wish I had my camera with me.