Woodcock in my Garden!

Two weekends ago on the very frosty Sunday morning, upon opening the curtains downstairs I saw a very rare bird indeed. A Woodcock, casually sitting under the bird feeder station without a care or stress in the world. It occasionally fed around the base of one of the feed stations feet for a few hours on and off. Then around lunch time gradually made its way to the bottom of the garden (charging at 2 Jackdaws that landed in the garden in the process). It then resided between the 2 wire boundary fences for a couple of hours. I managed to get photos of the bird with my long lens shooting through the window. These pics follow the timeline of the bird moving to the end of the garden and even meeting our resident Moorhen that was doing a "What the hell are you?" to it... haha.

Just fed

Looking inquisitive

Back detail

About to charge the Jackdaws

Feeding

Out in the garden after charging the Jackdaws

Meeting the Moorhen

In all the bird stayed for around 6 hours in the garden. Those 6 hours were one of the most magical I have had the pleasure of with wildlife. I hope it will return one day after being left undisturbed.

Garden Visitors 4

With the garden being so abundant, it has been hard to fit all my images into least amount of Blogs possible...lol. So this shows the rest that call our garden home most of the time...

First up is the Greater Spotted Woodpecker. A pair (in fact at one point 4 were seen) make daily stops on the Peanut cages at various spots in the garden. The images I have are from a branch I set up extending from the feeder station and only some 25-30ft away from the window shooting from. I have also brought in a dead tree's trunk and fixed it onto a fence post with feeders either side at the bottom of he garden, but time and weather has prevented me from capturing them sitting on it. They are very nervy but bold against other birds on their feeder. We believe to have the Lesser Spotted turn up too but I have yet to capture them. 

 

Looking Disgruntled

Posing

   

I am so privileged to have the wonderful birds visit our garden so regularly. It backs up how safe all the birds in the area feel in our garden. 

Of all the Tit species, this one, the Coal Tit is the most elusive in the garden. A pair do spend a lot of time in the garden picking a Peanut and flying off somewhere to eat it. But they move so quick and within all the shrubbery/ Cherry Tree branches that its been nigh on impossible to capture them. I have managed 2 shots but not of what I really want of them. The first is of a brief landing on the washing line and the second only 7ft or so from my bedroom window.

Life on the Line...

They are like the badgers of the bird world with their White stripe down the back of their heads. The colouring is great too with the Grey wings offset by the Yellow/ Greenish breast area. 

One Storm ridden evening a Song Thrush decided to sing on top of next doors Connifer. With the dark cloud in the distance, it gave me a perfect backdrop to capture him singing (if not quite in the Rain). The light hitting it really made it stand out giving a pleasing record of this behaviour. 

Distance wise it was around 35-40ft away but luckily having the 500mm lens I could get the reach required. 

Every shooting season sees the release of Pheasants on the Park behind us. Some of those each year also become brave and tame I would say, as able to get 12ft from one particular male in 2014. They come in to feed on the seed in the Apple cage like other birds. But with one advantage over the others, in that, they have the height to knock the feeder to get seed to drop out of it onto the ground. Its like ringing the "Dinner Bell". The following captures this in action plus some of the "Tame" Cock Pheasant and the Hen in lovely light.

In this last frame I was actually against the fence looking back to the house, which shows how trusting she and he was. Even though a common sight in the countryside, they are so full of colour and patterning that is always pleasing to see and even more special when seen up close with a wild one.

The Rare Garden Visitors

Over the last few years the garden has been full of diverse Wildlife. Among the common visitors there has been a few surprise visitors too. This Blog documents them I have captured on camera...

Blackcap 13/4/2013

Starting with the rarest and one time visitor. A Male Blackcap, that for just a morning fed on one of the few Peanut cages. The following year I saw one at my local lake (Seen in Eastwell Lake blog) so this may have been the same bird moving through the area.

Flycatcher 29/9/2014

Flycatcher 29/9/2014

Next to appear was a Fly Catcher. The bird darted about in this Shrub for 30 minutes or so. The next rare, well I say rare, but visits on and off hunting is a Male Sparrowhawk. I finally captured him with the camera February 2015 when he landed on top of the bird table. The piercing stare from his yellow eye clearly visible along with the pristine blue/ grey plumage down his back. Talons so dainty too that defy the image of a formidable hunter.

Male Sparrowhawk 24/2/2015

The latest bird to appear is a Tree Creeper on our Cherry Tree in the garden. He appeared on the 13 January 2016.

Tree Creeper 13/1/2016

Another venturer into the garden was a Red Legged Partridge. Previous to this and unseen by me about 9 had come in, but this occasion just the solo bird. I had 2 quick grab shots from hiding in the conservatory shooting through a very narrow gap in a bush and was lucky to get the following shots...

Red Legged Partridge (also known as French Partridge)

Another colourful bird to appear on the front garden was a female Green Woodpecker. They are normally seen out in the back field feeding on bugs or heard calling in the mid distant trees. There was a youngster around too, but was found dead several days later under our Kitchen window. We couldn't believe how we had 2 young bird deaths in one summer. We put it down to the male Sparrowhawk flying through and spooking them as he was common at this point! 

Feeding by front path

Green Woodpecker female

Last of the infrequent visitors was a Pied Wagtail also at the front of the house. He visited the small feed table we have at the Kitchen window for just 2 days. They are normally out on the village green but one felt brave and made a journey over in front of the row of houses we live in. I love the quirky movements they make, darting about so fast in sporadic directions. Not akin to the dainty design the bird has...

Pied Wagtail on front parking place

Lastly, well not actually in our garden, but flew over the bottom of it was a Red Kite in 2014. I was told by my neighbour of its location he had actually seen it after I said to him we saw it. So we proceeded there that very afternoon and was in luck as it did appear high in the sky. The first of the 2 is the grab shot of it from my bedroom window and the second, if still not great was at the location at Challock, Kent. In fact walking the dogs twice to Eastwell Lake and once in Kings Wood Challock, I have seen one on these occasions too. All when I had no camera with me! Doh!. And at the woods he was really close and low too... just to rub it in!

From Bedroom

 

Over Challock

Over the years we have had other 1 off's but at those times I did not own a camera. But these are a Snipe, Yellow Hammer and even a Kingfisher stuck in our conservatory!!! More recently just this month too a Grey Wagtail appeared at the edge of our Fish pond, but just as I got to the camera (always set-up ready, but upstairs this time...lol) it flew off and as yet not returning. It really is amazing how diverse the wildlife is in our area over time.

Flies 2

After my last blog on Fly Macro I have been busy doing more of them. The first two images are from 2013 as could not fit on the first blog. The second of these images is full of drama. I knew there were some species that actually would prey on general species of Fly and other insects, but had never witnessed it until this point. I had wondered to a lane some 20 minutes away, where I know has diverse vegetation. From a garden perimeter hedge some 10ft high, through to a small Allotment then public bridleway with natural plants like Nettles and Cow Parsley etc. It was on the gargantuan hedge that this act of violence was captured. 

The cannibalistic nature of the smaller fly is a sight to behold. They are the predatory genus known as "Robber Flies". I spent minutes observing and capturing this event. I believe the first photo here is of a similar species that also hunt on regular flies. It is evident that they are hunters with the shape of the head. There is a sinister, devilish look to them. More angular and focused in design than common fly sub species. Just like that with Birds of Prey.  

Jumping forwards to the last couple of weeks, the next photos in the blog have been taken in the recent weeks. With spring 2015 now in full swing, fauna and flora jumping into life and nectar available to those who duly rely on this natural food source. It has been time to get out with the macro gear again. The Cherry tree in the garden has been in full blossom and a haven of insect activity. Various Bee species going about collecting Nectar and scurrying off to home. With even Mason Bees (Bee blog to come) taking up residence in a box with bamboo cane in just for them. Another Bee species, never seen before by me (due in part to misidentification as Wasps) are Nomad Bees moving about the blossom too, but higher up and inaccessible. They are super active anyway and would make it nigh on impossible to capture.

St Marks Fly

Of the flies on the tree, most were that I have already portrayed in the first blog but there were some newcomers to the party. Above is the St Marks Fly, a fly fairly docile and clumsy commonly spotted in fields where Sheep or Cattle could graze. Large in size (10-14mm) and pure black with big bulbous eyes. Its name comes about from the fact they normally appears around St Marks day at the end of April. They to me, are a more friendly and non intimidating fly that can also live a less grotesque life than other species that feed on animal excrement. 

These next two flies are the same species and constantly seem to love Sunbathing. The first is sat on the edge of planks that from the structure of the raised flower bed. The second on tarpaulin covering garden furniture. A small species, some 7mm in length and 50/50 in tolerance to me. Some 2ft away vanish while others allow some 100mm distance. The second is one of my favourite images as the whole overall tones of the diffused background and that of the fly work so well together, along with the compound eye lenses being in focus too. 

The next set depict the stunning metallic coloured "Bottle" sub species. First up a large Bluebottle residing on he wooden planks again. About 15mm long and very common throughout the UK. Next a smaller but equally colourful Greenbottle. The metallic Green shimmers glorious in the Sun. Found amongst the plants in the raised bed area. Then a smaller Bluebottle again. Although the wings are different on this one so I am not 100% sure of the ID. 

Bluebottle Fly

Greenbottle Fly

Smaller Bluebottle species

 The following is a species I have seen in several locations I have worked at or visited. The eyes are so comical in look with a "Crash Helmet" shape. 7mm or so long also a smaller fly. Found on the raised area plants again. A beautiful dark metallic colour to these, complimented by the metallic Orange compound eyes.

species unknown currently

The following is a very miniature fly of only 4mm in length. Found on the slabs that run along the back of the fish pond, suggests it prefers a damper location. This was the 5th attempt of capturing one as they spooked easily. Being so small it was impossible to see the detail and colour these actually adorn, but with the macro gear it allows this to be visible. This is what I love about macro, to be able to see hidden detail of minute creatures.

After the above fly, I headed out across the field at the bottom of my garden to the boundary fence opposite. Having previously patrolled this fence I know it is rife for insects and Jumping Spiders. It was plentiful of common small brown flies sitting in large groups in the Sun. Then up in a corner that is shady by overhanging trees this Greenfly below was captured. Being quite large for this species and distinctive with its bright red eyes too. How the light was hitting it really makes it stand out against the darker background.

Greenfly

A bit further along my final fly (Anthomyia procellaris), in this series was seen. I have shot these before and is included in my previous fly blog. But on this occasion how the light was hitting, gives atmosphere and highlights all the little details on the fly. The small hairs on its legs, the yellow underneath its rear abdomen and the armour plating look to it too, really is evident. This particular one was much larger than those I have normally seen at various locations, allowing greater opportunity to see those small intrinsic, unique details.

Anthomyia procellaris