23rd March : River Thame at Ickford.

View from the two bridges over the River Thame at Ickford on the borders of Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire.

 

A flock of 5 Oystercatchers feed in the distant scape in the above photo.

3 of the 5 Oystercatchers.

Wigeon in flight.

Great White Egret.

Saw my first Swallow of the year as it flew through heading north. Other birds seen included 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Wagtails, 5 Teal, Cormorant & a Kingfisher all viewed from the road.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Chess Valley

A few photos taken on a couple of recent visits to the Chess Valley. 

A Grey Heron was very approachable, mainly as it spent most of the time looking in the opposite direction.

Little Egret was also very obliging.

Kestrel as it hovered just above where I was sitting.

 

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

17th March : Brambling.

It's not often that we get a Brambling visit the bird feeder during the Winter, in fact today's female was the only so far this Winter. It was only by chance that I happened to glance out of the window, stop what I was doing grab the camera, take three photos & she was gone in the blink of an eye, returning later for another sharp feed.

  

Coal Tit enjoying the seeds.

Magpie watching proceedings.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

10th March : Dunnock.

Dunnocks are often over looked as being boring little brown birds, if you take a closer look they have a certain charm with intricate markings, basically in various shades of brown & grey. They spend most of their time quietly going about their business on the ground under hedges & bushes, mostly going unnoticed. 

 

Image : Copyright © Don Stone.

Garden Frogs.

This year the first Frog spawn appeared in the garden pond on the 27th February.

Frogs always provide great photo opportunities, whether in the water or on land.  

Been doing my bit with the local Frog Patrol.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

10th March : Blackcap.

Although Blackcaps spend the Summer in our garden, they are rarely seen during the Winter months. Today's visitor being only the 3rd here in 21 years, they've all been males including this one, but surprisingly after 90 minutes a female joined him with them both feeding on sunflower hearts throughout the day. As I type this the male is still with us, but no sign of the female.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

3rd March : Fox. 

We had a surprise visit from this Fox at breakfast time this morning as it did a quick circuit of the lawn where I scatter bird seed for the ground feeding birds.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

2nd March : Tree Creeper.

A highlight of short wander on Chipperfield Common was this Tree Creeper'

Majestic looking tree.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

28th February : Raven. 

Pleased to get close to one of the local Ravens this morning.

Arching it's wings as it emits it's "Kronking" call.

 Roe Deer browsing nearby.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Wood Pigeon Deterrent

Every morning as soon as I scatter seed for the garden birds a mass of Wood Pigeons descend from the trees & devour the lot before the smaller birds get a look-in.

  

There's a couple of Stock Doves in the mix, I don't mind them.

I've now found an effective way of keeping the Pigeons off the seed, a super market basket that I hauled out of the hedgerow at Shabbington, cut out a bar on either side & the Robins & Dunnocks can feed in peace.

I've made a larger version for the Blackbirds.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.