Goshawks and Ravens

The sky was blue and the sun was shining so we headed off out for the day, not knowing what we would see. It then turned into one of those magical days. Not one but five goshawks, two pairs of ravens and 3 marsh tits. Pity the sun didn't stay long but still a grand day out !!

Goshawks 

A pair of ravens 

Blackbird 

Long-tailed tits of the two tailed variety !! 

Marsh Tits with leg bling 

That many nuthatch we lost count !

This weeks bits and bobs

The weather has been horrendous this last week so I have got caught up with a few books (still plenty to keep me going though), and a day in with 2 Sky engineers installing my free upgrade, yes FREE !  Spent a bit of time booking our accommodation for South Africa, we do have 17 nights already booked in Kgalagadi that we were so lucky to secure with the help of a lovely lady in the Sanparks office. These bookings sell out within minutes and booking a year in advance is necessary.  Our flights are also booked so put together a decent itinery and now have the accommodation  and car hire that goes with it. Can't wait !

These are a few pics from our local trips out this week.

A barn owl in the gloom - just look at those claws ! 

Bullfinch 

Hares starting to chase and pair up. These were 5 in this field but afraid never close and never still ! 

Red-crested Pochard 

Willow Tit

It's flipping windy !

Well the wind is blowing a flipping gale out there and for once, the weather forecast was right. Pity as we are 3 fence panels down at the moment !  Glad we have a joiner in the house !  

A couple of Great Egrets and a nice sunny view to keep you going through the gales !

Update: best make that 4 fence panels and 3 posts !!

Green-winged Teal, RSPB Blacktoft Sands

From Ousefleet Hide in the greyness and gloom

Sunny wigeon from a previous day

Water Pipit & Grey Wagtail

Never still, never close 

Mick Ronson Memorial Garden, East Park, Hull

Lovely to see that he's remembered in his home town of Hull. This memorial is in East Park. We can remember him with David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars in our younger days. Although we have seen David Bowie many times it was without Mick Ronson. Peter Frampton was his guitarist last time we saw him and that was about 30 years ago !!

Hope you are both jamming in heaven xx

Black-throated Thrush, Grimsby

Another trip to Grimsby today (Saturday), this time with Karen to see the black-throated thrush which is a first for Lincolnshire. It seemed to favour the warmth of the  back wall where it spent the whole morning, feeding on worms around the bin. At one time it seemed to cough up a pellet. 

Looked splendid when the sun shone 

Lots of worms were consumed 

The red feathers that seem to be causing a bit of controversy this afternoon 

After half a dozen worms, the thrush appeared to cough up a pellet