Friday, December 16, 2011

Common Or Garden

The first snow fell today, so heavy at times that the large flakes settled, but by mid-afternoon it had more or less thawed when the clouds headed in a south-easterly direction.

It took an hour or more for the Blackbirds to pile into the garden, 16 at one time attracted in by the windfall apples deliberately left for such an occasion. Last week there was a single Fieldfare amongst them but not today. I hadn’t seen a Fieldfare for weeks and I don’t know anyone who has, even though their European population is reckoned to be close on 50 million with many supposedly wintering in more temperate Britain. They may be in other parts of the UK but they are pretty much absent from these parts for now.

So for an hour or two I made do with taking photographs of common garden birds in the less than ideal and grey, snowy light.

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

House Sparrow

Robin

Goldfinch

Blackbird

Blackbird


Chaffinch

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11 comments:

  1. Derby TupDecember 16, 2011 at 4:36 PM

    Splendid portrait of a robin. Very Christmassy!

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  2. Kay L. DaviesDecember 16, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    If these were common in my garden, Phil, I would be delighted.
    Your robin is so much cuter than the North American variety, which is larger.
    Your blackbird beats the crow for cuteness hands down.
    However, even though we don't see many finches here since The Great Merlin Deck Disaster, we do have lots of friendly little sparrows.
    All the best,
    K

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  3. eileeninmdDecember 16, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    Lovely birds, Phil! My favorites are the robin and the Goldfinch is beautiful.

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  4. grammie gDecember 17, 2011 at 1:52 AM

    Hey Phil...Oh no Snow...; } I feel so sorry for you hee-hee...glad it's not here 45 degrees and sunny!!
    I will shut my mouth,,because anyday there will be the snow storm that will be on for the winter eeeks...
    Phil these are great photo's ..that bit of snow just adds to them..they look good to me !!
    Get your long johns on and get out there... ; }
    Have a great weekend my buddy ...are you going Christmas shopping??

    Grace

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  5. Russell JenkinsDecember 17, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    A nice collection and I like the lighting. It snowed here for the first time yesterday too. (16th). -Quite heavily and the landscape is all white and grey as it will be for the next four months. Sigh. I'll have to toughen up.

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  6. newsDecember 17, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    Hi Phil: Although "common birds" they are still very enjoyable Best wishes JWB.

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  7. Mary Howell CromerDecember 17, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    I was smiling as I scrolled down past your grand images and then when I got to the bottom image of the Chaffinch, I was beaming. They are all wonderful Phil and yet that bottom image is one that could be placed on your header, a greeting card, calendar page...it is simply divine;')

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  8. DeniseinVADecember 17, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    Marvelous selection of birds. I think my favorite will always be the robin. I'm getting a lot of Christmas cards from the UK with his portrait on them.

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  9. PatDecember 17, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    What a lovely group of birds!

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  10. AnonymousDecember 18, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Magnificent shots of these lovely birds!

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  11. catDecember 18, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    So many lovely bird shots! The little robin is just gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete

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