Thursday, 5 February 2009

Snow Patrol

Woke up to tonnes of snow in Perry - fab! Road through Perry was a complete no-go til mid-afternoon, so a day off work - ace! Cleared a patch of snow from the back lawn and put a load of apples out. Later, we had four Fieldfares, two Mistle Thrushes and up to 16 (!) Blackbirds all feeding on them. The patch of grass was only about 10 foot square, so really impressive. A few scraps ensued, but not too bad considering how territorial these birds usually are. The Migz didn't really chase anything off at all. Two Snipe flying low over the gardens was a house tick and suggested they had been frozen out of a nearby ditch, or maybe the lagoons, where later Willow and me found these two sitting forlornly on the ice with some bedraggled Lapwings:

Here is one of the Migz that stayed still for a photo, and a few of Perry first thing - winter wonderland or what?!




Monday, 2 February 2009

Thrush-tastic snow!

Woke up a bit disappointed as the whole of the UK seemed to be under a blanket of snow, whereas we had just had a sprinkle. Pathetic! After lunch the skies darkened and at last it began to snow proper. Immediately there was lots of bird activity in the back garden, and I bunged a quartered cooking apple out on the lawn along with a few scraps. Within a few minutes a pair of Mistle Thrushes arrived among the local Blackbirds and later a cracking Fieldfare. I then got into trouble with the Mrs, as the apple was supposed to be for Adelaide's pudding. Oops! I am sure the birds needed it more. Went for a scamper round the lagoons. Adelaide was so excited by the snow that she fell asleep after a screaming fit. Willow managed to dig out a manky dead rabbit from under the snow and we all had a lovely time. Crunchy-snow-tastic!

The three girls in the lagoons
Mistle Thrush

Fieldfare

Sunday, 1 February 2009

The fierce east wind

...hadn't blown anything in to Grafham this morning, but here are some snaps of the long-staying Scaup, a couple of super-tufted Tufted Duck and a Grey Wag. The male Smew was off Gaynes Point distantly, and 9 Red-crested Pochards were close in off the dam. The snow started by 12 noon, whilst Adelaide slept outside in her push chair. Hopefully she has not become a snow-baby. Maybe we should bring her in...
The south end of the dam, 1st Feb.

Tufties
Scaup

Scaup
Grey Wagtail