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Wonderful Willsbridge

I visited the park on Monday 8th March armed with camera and long lens. My intention was to look for a sparrowhawk seen on the previous Thursday, and also try to spot and photograph goldcrest. The latter is Britain's smallest native bird, smaller even than the diminutive wren. It is very active, seeking out insects and grubs in nooks and crannies in the woodland trees. It has a preference for conifers but will visit deciduous trees as well.


At the Mill I disturbed a grey wagtail which headed down to the brook. Seeking to stalk it for a photo, I failed dismally, and already alerted, it took off upstream. But while on the stream platform I saw a tree creeper. Although I got a few shots, none were particularly exceptional. While watching that bird, I was distracted by two goldcrests directly in the tree above me. I frantically ran off a dozen or more shots trying to catch one or the other. The tree creeper was joined by two others, and although I would have dearly loved better shots of these, the goldcrests were the bigger draw.


I caught the sparrowhawk later along the footpath, and also nailed a couple of 'lotties' for good measure.


A cracking day out, Gromit!


The somewhat elusive tree creeper, there are several in the park currently. It grips the treetrunk with its long claws, using its curved beak to probe for grubs in the bark.








The diminutive goldcrest, Britain's smallest bird. Named after the yellow flash on its head. Can be difficult to spot as it hunts for grubs and insects in nooks and crannies in the trees.






As agile as a bluetit, the goldcrest is very active so I was as pleased as punch to capture this delightful little bird.










This sparrowhawk had surprisingly cryptic plumage. It was only when I saw it move briefly that I spotted it. Even then it was only easily visible through the telephoto lens of my camera.








Longtailed tits, often called 'lotties' by birders, must be one of Britain's favourite birds after maybe the robin and bluetit. Sometimes likened to a ball on a stick, they roam the woods in groups of up to a dozen or more. Numbers have been hit by the hard winter but they are still easy to spot around the park. They make delightful photographic subjects, if you can catch them!





Another 'lottie'.

Buzzards

A pair of buzzards have been flying around the valley recently, giving me speculation that they may be considering nesting at Willsbridge. I'm not sure what the effect such an event may have on songbirds nesting in the park but they are nevertheless stunning birds to watch. Listen for their plaintive high call as they maintain contact with each other.

The shots below were taken on Monday March 1st.

Mike.

A hint of Spring

There was a hint of Spring today in Willsbridge Valley this morning (24th February). Crocuses were on display in the wildlife garden and on the slope near the barn, and were visited by honey bees.

Until the rain clouds rolled in that is...

Where have the frogs got to?

February

February has a hint of spring with hazel catkins appearing almost overnight and snowdrops rising from the woodland leaf litter. Food for birds is still scarce however and robins are at their boldest at this time of year when offered seeds or mealworms.

Robins are Britain's favourite wild bird. They are an easy photographic subject with even modest cameras. The spot at the north-eastern end of the reserve at Willsbridge is a favourite territory for at least one robin. Just drop some food on a couple of the old fence posts there and wait for a few minutes about six feet away. Then snap away as the current resident tucks in. Catch him away from the food for a more natural looking shot.

Hazel catkins are appearing now. The "lamb's tails" are the male flower that disperses pollen on the wind. The female flowers are red and much smaller.

Snowdrops are the first ground based flowers to appear in the woodland. These were snapped in Catscliff Wood near the cottage bird feeders.

Robins always make delightful photographs and are an easy photographic subject because they are surprisingly bold at this time of the year. Tempt them close with seed or mealworms.

Willsbridge Wassailing 2010

The Willsbridge Wassailing event, which celebrates the turning of the season and waking up the orchard in preparation for Spring, is always well attended. Wassailing 2010, held on Sunday 24th January, was no exception. A cracking event.
Photos can be viewed here: http://willsbridge.fotopic.net
Mike.

January

The big freeze continues into 2010 and at the time of writing (9th January) looks set to continue. This means particular hardship for the birds at Willsbridge, but I have noticed that walkers are once again dropping food on the wooden posts at the north-eastern end of the reserve. I'm sure it's a welcome addition to the birds' regular forage to top up their carbohydrate intake and keep them fit and well. Bluetits and great tits love peanuts, swooping down to grab one then flying to a safe place to peck away at it with relish. Robins are well known for loving mealworms but will take grass and other seeds at a pinch as well.

One effect of the cold weather is to send large numbers of winter thrushes to the west country, so look out for fieldfares and redwings feeding on berries in the Longwell Green area. There was a mixed flock of around 20 birds feeding on berries in tall shrubs alongside Woodward Drive on 7th January, and there were also two or three redwings in Catscliffe Wood at Willsbridge, joining a resident songthrush and blackbird, foraging amongst dead leaves and ivy.

A redwing. A winter thrush that visits southern counties in large numbers during hard winters. Note the pale eye-stripe and the reddish underwing. Once they have found a source of berries they will remain, voraciously consuming them until they are gone then moving on. So if you see them, make the most of it!

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Fieldfares often accompany redwings in winter visits to this country. It is a very handsome bird, a little larger than the redwing. Note the slate grey head. Another nomadic feeder that can be rather shy, so I was chuffed to bits to capture this one.

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Wrens suffer real hardship during cold winters. Sadly, many won't make it. The species relies on large broods to recover those lost in such winters as the current one. The delightful individual right was snapped in Willsbridge today (9th Jan).