Winter birds

My poor mother.

Imagine the scene - Christmas day and her daughter walks in, only to exclaim "wow, look at the birds on your bird table! Must go and get the camera" I think I did manage to give her a hug and wish her a Merry Christmas - didn't I? Anyhow, I'm sure she's well used to me and my strange ways by now.

What an array of birds though, I was quite envious I can tell you.

 

 

The above are a blue tit and a coal tit, both of which frequent Shep's garden but not quite as close to the kitchen window as these were.

 

A great tit, again to be found in Shep's garden.

 

Goldfinches are a rare sight in Shep's garden and so pretty it's a shame they don't like where I live.

 

These were the Daddy of them all, long tailed tits. Now Shep has been aware this back end that small flocks of very noisy long tailed tits do alight in the rowan at the back of the house, it is very much a fleeting visit before they take to the air once again and set off as a flock with their undulating flight pattern, chirping away as they go. Oh how I wanted a photo of these, I was well chuffed I can tell you!

 

I can still remember as a young kid seeing these little birds for the first time (I could still take you to the exact spot), I was so excited to see them, there is something almost magical about them and here I was able to get a snapshot of them through Mams kitchen window. How exciting was that?

I made it up to Mam, she understands (I think) or ought I say she's very understanding!

 

She too gets visits from the gregarious and greedy starlings which does tend to upset her somewhat (maybe that's where I get it from)

Anyhow, what a grand start to Christmas day, not only did I get over to enjoy Christmas with the family, I got to photograph the birds at Mams bird table and sneaked a few pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon) which she unwittingly laid on the bench beside me whilst I was snapping away. I also now know what to get her for a present next year - bird feed!!