At last I have managed to get a few quick photos of the Long-Tailed-Tits which regularly flit in and out of the garden. Saturday was a strange day weather-wise, one moment it was sunny and the next it would hail, it was also very cold with a strong wind. I was standing indoors with the camera; the door was open and my goodness I was cold! I was hoping to get a photo of the male Blackcap or the LTTs so I was very pleased to at least get one of the two, I did manage to catch the Blackcap but the photo was no good at all. It was around this time last year when the Blackcaps moved on so I'm a bit worried I may miss the boat. Last year before I had a decent camera we also had a lot of Bramblings and a few Siskins visit for a while. This time, needless to say, I have seen neither!!
The photo below was taken during a sudden and brief hail storm which gives it a different look to the previous two.
After Saturday's inclement weather it was lovely to find Sunday was lovely sunshine all day, although still slightly chilly, so we decided to take advantage of the improvement and visit some local lakes. All the water fowl we saw seemed to be enjoying the sunshine too. These Mute Swans looked very serene.
The colours of these Mallard Ducks showed up beautifully in the sunshine.
The Canada Geese were much in evidence.
We also saw Moorhens ...
and Coots.
And finally something of a mystery which I'm hoping someone can help to solve. I have to admit I'm not terribly hot on water fowl identification and before being disturbed by a dog the Mallard below was snoozing in the sun and cuddling up to this duck which I haven't been able to identify.
The duck below may be the same one with the light falling on it from a different angle or it could be another one which I can't identify, I do hope someone can help with this.
Well done in getting your LTTs on record. They don't hang about long each visit. Love the close up of the swan's head, lovely detail. Looks as though you had a nice stroll in the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteI agree with John - well done on your long-tailed tit pictures; not an easy bird to capture. And good pictures all round.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find your "mystery" bird is, in fact, a mallard cross. Mallards are, shall we say, not all that fussy when it comes to choosing a partner and a bit promiscuous too, which often results in their looking as your mystery bird does!
Love the long tailed and the mute swan photos are lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love LTTs....we get a lot here but I have never been able to capture them on camera...well done.
ReplyDeleteThey are a pretty and delightful little bird.....
The swans are magnificent....such beautiful creatures....they are lovely photographs especially the close ups....
I can't help you with the duck.....not my department either......hope that someone can identify for you.....
These photos are absolutely stunning. I love the long necks of the swans and Canada Geese. They personify grace and elegance and, for me, deep peace. Just magnificent photos filled with beauty.
ReplyDeleteLovely set of photo's today. I havn't had a LTT in my garden for a couple of years now. The duck is as Tricia says - a hybrid mallard.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, Jan. I've only had one visit from LTTs and they are top of my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteMallard cross is cool - I ought to pay a visit to Straw's Bridge (10 minutes drive from here) where they have water fowl.
Lovely shots of the pretty Long tailed Tits there shysongbird, I have a feeling ours are nesting at the moment they have gone very shy, they normally stay and feed even whilst I'm hanging out washing but they seem a little jittery of late!!
ReplyDeleteJayne
some lovely birds there shysongbird and the photos are so clear and beautiful
ReplyDeleteSheila
If any blog can cheer me up your blog is one of them!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are beautiful as ever, I have tried so hard to get pictures of birds in my garden, it is not easy, I was hiding and keeping very still when Poppy decided to see what I was up too and that was the end of it! Bless her, not!
Thanks for your lovely comment it means a lot!
Love Lou xxx
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteThank you, I was really pleased to get the LTTs at last, they are such lovely little birds and as you say don't hang around long.
We did have a lovely afternoon out on Sunday and it seemed the whole world and his wife was out and about as my dear Dad used to say.
Hi Tricia,
ReplyDeleteThank you, my patience was rewarded eventually and it was worth getting frozen!
I think you are definitely right about the mystery bird, funnily enough HLH said he had read somewhere about their rather promiscuous habits so you have confirmed it, thank you.
Hi Kallen,
ReplyDeleteThank you, you are very kind.
Great little birds those Long Tailed Tits, like teddy bears on sticks. I have a gang raid my feeders quite often; always a pleasure to see them.
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your very generous comments. Yes LTTs really are fascinating little birds, up until last year I had only ever seen them flitting through the trees on the edge of our local cemetery, so was thrilled when they visited the garden.
I agree Swans are beautiful creatures, and it seems my mystery has been solved. I was sure someone would be able to help.
Hi Robin,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting and for your very kind comments.
You are so right, the Swans do have such elegance and grace and certainly give me a sense of serenity.
Hi Warren,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, I hadn't seen LTTs at all in the garden until last year so was very pleased to be able to get a photo at last.
Thanks for the identification you and Tricia have definitely solved the mystery.
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI suspect you will get another visit from the LTTs before too long, according to the RSPB they are number ten on the list of garden birds this year for the first time in the surveys thirty year history!
Isn't it strange how we never think to visit the places that are on our own doorsteps? I'm finding that blogging is making me think about the local area far more than previously.
Hi Jayne,
ReplyDeleteThank you, although the LTTs flit about a lot they do seem to be brave little birds I have seen them myself whilst actually out in the garden. I suspect you are right about them nesting. I have seen pictures of their nests and they really are beautiful works of art.
Hi Sheila,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your very generous comments, it helped to have some nice weather for the water fowl photos.
Hi Lou,
ReplyDeleteThat is very kind of you. It certainly can be a very frustrating business trying to photograph birds. That made me laugh picturing you hiding in the garden and being discovered by a curious Poppy I'm quite sure you forgive her anything!
You and your family are very much in my thoughts.
Love and XXXX to you and Poppy.
Hi holdingmoments,
ReplyDeleteYes they are interesting little birds, I remember seeing them described as a ball on a stick!
Hello Shy.S.
ReplyDeleteNice variety oof photo's I think the best one is the close up of the Mute's head.
I would say the strange unusual duck is a typical farm yard bird.
Hi again ShySongbird :-) Congrats on your LTT pics - I bet you were thrilled.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the Swan pics too, funnily enough earier this week I posted some on my bird photos blog. They are quite characters too aren't they? Loved the duck pics too. Enjoy the rest of your week :-D
Thanks Ken,
ReplyDeleteI was pleased with that shot as well, this photography lark is rather new to me still and I have a lot to learn but it is so nice when the subject stays still long enough to get a half decent picture!
Tricia and Warren think the mystery duck is a Mallard cross, I think they are more than likely right but I'm definitely not too hot on water fowl.
Hi Shirl,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and for the lovely comments. Yes I was thrilled to get the photos of the LTTs at last, even though I got frozen to the bone waiting for them!
I am off to check out your Swan photos now!
Have a lovely weekend.
just passing through thought i would say hello.
ReplyDeleteJohn, thank you for visiting, come back any time.
ReplyDelete