A secretive Nuthatch

The sun warmed the air and the birds again today, once last night's heavy frost had lifted. I nipped out at lunchtime, both the birds' and mine, for another session with my camera.

I'm not sorry for blipping more birds as they are colourful and there may not be many more opportunities in the winter ahead.

This nuthatch visited our neighbours small bird table that rests under the elder tree just on the other side of the fence. It is normally difficult to see clearly which birds are eating there.

But I stood still for a while and managed to fool this Nuthatch, which seemed remarkably happy to just stand and contemplate the various nuts on the table and in the hanging peanut feeder. I watched it eat at least four different foods before it finally flew off. Normally when they visit they flit onto a branch, check out the safety factor, and then walk headfirst down the branch to the food. To see it perching like this was to good an opportunity to miss. I love them.

I took Helena from one job to another, as I had an appointment at the hospital to get some treatment for my hand and couldn't pick her up at the end of the working week as I normally do. We arrived early at the small trading estate where she teaches in the afternoon, and when I saw the two resident swans on the still very full river, I stopped so we could look for a blip.

We went onto the bank and watched them trying to feed and cope with the fast flowing river. It was interesting to watch one of them fighting like mad against the flow, such that a bow wave formed agains its neck and it only just managed to get back to the quiet of the bank side. Unfortunately, when it did get there I decided to get out onto the grassy edge and march steadfastly towards us in a rather aggressive manner. I retreated quite quickly to shelter behind the car door, but it seemed intent on coming to us anyway. I think it was actually hoping to be fed, but its body language left a lot to be desired.

I have posted a couple of these shots of the swan and some other birds at the feeder on my Blipfolio again. I won't be doing birds for much longer, I promise.