The weather has been a bit grey and damp, but we have had a few bright days, and so Ive headed out when the chance has arisen. The two local Barn Owls have been hunting the same as me, when ever it’s not been wet ! The both seem to prefer early hunting trips and I’ve managed to get a few nice shots between 3pm and 4pm, rather than at the very edge of light.
Back at home the Mute Swans have left the pond, but the Gooseanders have moved in a there are now four pairs on the water every day, occasionally joined by two Red Breasted Mergansers, I’m not sure where they go to in the evenings, but I working on it !
The garden has been busy too, with all the normal finches and tits present each day, joined by Red Polls , Linnets and Tree Creepers. I also managed to get a few quick photos of the resident Sparrow Hawk hunting. I always find it odd how hostile people are towards the Hawk, and I’ve had a few tell me that they should no longer be protected, and then go on to blame them for the disappearing song birds from their gardens. They seem to totaly miss the point that songbird decline is down to people tarmacing their front garden, installing fake grass and decking, removing the plants from the garden, using pesticides and slug pellets etc. The list of ways we have destroyed the habitat for our garden birds is almost endless, but for some reason the Hawk gets the blame !
