Of Birds & Cake the Blog of Paul: Firecrest Consolation

I headed out today in the hope of a bit of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker action, however on arrival at my chosen spot it became clear that the pretty dense fog was going to limit my chances!! Finding a small black and white bird, loitering in black and white trees in white foggy conditions seem unlikely and so it proved!! I wandered about the area but it was pretty quiet, the Merlin app, picked up Great Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Tit which I managed to see and Siskin which I didn't. Obviously hearing played a big part with visibility so bad, but I heard nothing in the areas I tried !! Pictures were at a premium, but the day was saved by a couple of fairly cooperative Firecrests which I stumbled upon!! Hope you like Firecrest pictures?😀😀😀😀😀😲

Scene setter, visibility not good!!

Stonechat, was a pair, but never came close enough for a decent pic, although considering the fog would have had to have been sat on the lens to get any quality!

Great Spotted Woodpecker, heard about four but this was the only one I got eyes on! Didn't see or hear Nuthatch or Treecreeper either which is unusual for the area

Marsh Tit, singing in a tree above my head, again difficult for pics! I know a lot of excuses!

Not mushroom left on this tree trunk!! 😀See what i did there? I'm such a Fungi😂!

Beware incoming Firecrest pictures!! Amazingly I heard them before I saw em, confirmed on the Merlin, apparently most people can't hear them past 45, I must be young at heart, though Margie often says I need to grow up!! 😁

Pretty sure there were two flitting about in the Holly, bit of singing as well and a brief display flash from the male!! My new camera set up really comes into it's own in this situation much lighter and the tracking keeps the focus on the bird! Although saying that probably half the pics I took were of places where Firecrest had been moments before, they really are tricky little blighters!

Firecrest

Funny how a good ten minutes can turn what was shaping up to be a pretty crap day into a very good day!

I popped into Weirwood on the way home, not much on the water a couple of Great Crested Grebes and a Mandarin the best of it, though the Mandarin flew off before I could get the camera on it! The feeders were quite busy with up to four Marsh Tits among the, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, a few Chaffinch and Goldfinch about as well!

Coal Tit

Some sort of Vole under the feeders

Marsh Tit, been a good day for Marsh Tits saw/heard about seven today

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Not a bad morning in the end!

Exciting developments in the Garden as well with a pair of Greenfinch on our new Squirrel Proof feeder! Been a while since we've had a visit! We also had a visit from a Rook !! Pics are bit ropey as they are threw the window, whilst I was sat of the sofa!