So OK, its still February (just !) and I bet you’re thinking to yourself “The weather too cold, there’s no sun,everywhere is devoid of blooms,it looks thoroughly miserable out there.. I better stay indoors and turn the heating up ? Actually I thought that too,but after realising I shouldn’t spend yet another day inside, I put on more layers, jumped in the car and headed out.
With things to take over to the club, including some leftover food to depose of and some things to give away,I headed over towards Billericay and I’m very much glad I did. I took my camera with me and I was amazed at all the wildlife still around at this time of year.
Once I’d dropped off the ‘hardware’ (some wire,chisels and a door catch..not a gun..lol) in the ‘Cabinchaletshed’ I emptied the food on and around a garden bench, then sat and waited to see if anything would be tempted by ‘Out of Date’ cheerios and some cold new potatoes.
Within minutes my first customer arrived a inquisitive Robin who pranced about as if he was marking his territory. In the background a pair of Carion Crows were making their presence felt too. I sat for around 30 minutes just watching all the birds coming to feed. More Robins then a Blue Tit and finally a Wood Pigeon who was keeping a close eye on the crows as he fed.
By this time I was feeling frozen(even with all these layers on,as well as a hat and gloves) as the temperature had barely passed 5°c,so I went inside to get myself a cup of coffee.Feeling a little warmer I ventured back outside and continued shooting over the other side of the grounds. At first I spotted a pheasant and a partridge but both scurried off before I could capture them, but I did manage to get some excellent shots of other birds as they fed on the feeders.
I spotted a magpie which flew away too quickly but managed to get shots of a Great Spotted Woodpecker,and a couple of Greenfinches as well as a Great Tit. Feeling pleased at my successful photo shoot, I thought it was about time to go,I thought though I’d just go around once more and was very glad I did.
Almost immediately I spotted a slightly mangy looking Red Fox as it skirted around the perimeter fence,after grabbing several shots I returned to the garden bench where a squirrel was tucking into the cheerios….hope he liked them more than I did.
How to tell what is a Crow and what is not !
The Naked Truth continues... 