St Margaret's at Cliffe Photo Diary

Some lazy, armchair photography, sliding doors open and listening to 15 to 1. Watching the garden birds coming to drink and bathe.







This was from the other side of the house, though a closed window. I had a quick dip in our exercise pool, trying to improve my leg muscles, came out, showered and sat at my desk. As I looked out of the window all the finches left the feeders in a panic, and the reason was staring me in the face. A handsome male Sparrowhawk.

Back to the armchair to watch a Wren collecting nesting material from round the pond.



Thsi Collared Dove is a short tailed version, perhaps having lost it to a local cat, or even the Sparrowhawk.

 Male Chaffinches gain their colour as the soft tips of their feathers abrade to reveal a more colourful plumage underneath.

 Goldfinches stay nice and bright through the winter. Their melodic twittering is the main noise in the garden at the moment.



 Lots of Blackbirds around, form duller 1st winter females to handsome adult males with bright yellow bills.




A much duller cock Blackbird with a dull bill. Not sure is this is a young local bird or one of the many continental visitors we host in winter.

Today was as much about what I failed to photograph as what I managed to photograph. After watching and photographing a Chiffchaff  playing in the fountain, I was messing with the computer while half watching England bowling at Bangladesh in the ODI, when I had a quick look out side andf theer was a male Brambling feeding on the ground. By the time I'd got my camera it had moved on, not to be seen again. From where I was "working" I can seen the little waterfall that goes into out pond, and a few minutes later I looked up, saw a very small bird drop down into the bathing pool, and grabbed my binoculars and was pleased to see a stunning Firecrest. Of course by the time I had my camera it had gone, and it didn't reappear. I did take a few pictures of the comings and goings, mainly of the hundred or so Goldfinches feeding outside the lounge.

On Saturday I reach the milestone of 73 years, I say milestone because at this age each one is worth noting. I spent a great time with Simon, my youngest son, visiting the RSPB Reserve at Rainham. This was my first visit to the new reserve, although I had been there in the old days, before it was a reserve. 





















 Later in the afternoon we visited Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, an Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve. As the tide was out the waders were a good distance away, but this reserve is looking good and will almost certainly attract some good birds and many birders.

Very foggy this morning, but a lot of activity at the feeding station. Long tailed Tits never stay for long, the just seem to pop in for a while and then continue on their circuits.

There were four feeding on peanuts this morning. So far I haven's seen then on the seed feeders at all.

There are many scruffy looking individuals around, so it's nice to see a sharply dressed Great Tit.


Many of the Goldfinches are looking tatty, they seem to be in active moult , so I guess they need to feed well to nourish their newly growing feathers.

Chaffinch numbers are good, they are mostly pretty plain looking at the moment, the spring plumage comes not from a moult but from abrading the softer ends of the feathers they obtained at the end of the summer to reveal their brighter colours.


Watching this bird bath from my study window can be entertaining, with several species their at the same time. House Sparrows like to get in and have a real splash about.

Spillage from the feeders above provides good foraging for birds feeding on the ground.