Allerthorpe Woods

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to the car park at Allerthorpe for some close encounters with the common birds at the feeders.
This year the photos are given a festive feel with the recent weather making for some nice shots.
Some of the robins were coming as close as 2ft.
I had a walk around the reserve and elsewhere there was very little activity disappointingly there were no crossbills or bramblings.
In the trees around the car park was a shy jay and a great spotted woodpecker and a couple of fieldfare flying over.
Other than that it was very quiet.

Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year provided some superb opportunities to capture mid winter.
Allerthorpe woods was particularly spectacular and the birds (albeit only common species were very obliging some coming as close as 2ft.

Out and About

Not been able to postjust lately because of some problems with the blog.
Thankfully they are now sorted.
Went over to Chowder ness a couple of weeks ago for the red necked phalarope.
It was quite blustery and dull, but still managed a couple of decent shots.
i went again yesterday for the bearded tits they showed first thing but the light was poor.They didn't come back again within the 2 hours I waited.
I went round to theHotel Pit and there was a superb male smew always distant but as the sun was dropping the light was fantastic.
I managed a couple of hours at South landing today.
The water pipit was quite mobile at first then once it settled down to feed was quite obliging.

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Smew

Smew

Rock Pipit

Kestrel

Bearded Tit

Red necked Phalarope