Long tailed tits

Well, they’re far from perfect but have you ever tried to photograph flying tits, lol?  It’s a nightmare.  Of course John managed it and I’ll post some of his photos when I get them but his email’s down right now.  Here are a few of my blurry attempts :)

Notice the bullfinch in the background?  There were so many finches (chaffinches, bullfinches, greenfinches), tits (coal tits, long tailed, great tits, blue tits), LOTS of tree sparrows, the resident robin and many others.  A real treat to be so close.  We see most of these at home (not bullfinches) and more and they’re pretty close to the kitchen window but we only get to see through glass and sadly can’t take photos.  Unfortunately, the woodpecker didn’t make an appearance that day.

The one above is worth enlarging – it’s a tree full of long tailed tits – beautiful :)

It’s at times like these that I wish I had a better camera but at least I have one :)

New duck – to me - Muscovy

Just back from the park in the cold and found this, so just did an internet search to find out what it is.  Apparently, it’s a Muscovy duck – a farm/domestic type duck which doesn’t like water much and even eats small rodents, such as guinea pigs, mice, rats, hamsters, etc – unusual?

Much to my surprise, the lake at the park is part frozen – I really didn’t think it was quite so cold!!  Brr – I’m cold now, having been round the park.  It’s still frosty and was foggy until lunchtime but the sun was out when we left…