This bird box is positioned directly below the cafe balcony. It hasn't put the birds off from nesting in it though. The great tit has just been to feed its babies which we could hear chirping away.
We always see robins around the reserve and they're quite happy to sit and pose for any passing photographers, perhaps serenading them whilst they're at it.
We had Archie with us so we decided to take the walk by the river so that he could come off his lead. The path is far enough away from the river to prevent him jumping in which he would do given half the chance.
I noticed all the different greens yesterday, some are still bright and vibrant as new leaves often are, other foliage is taking on a more mature shade now.
It was lovely to see things blooming and blossoming along the sides of the path.
There weren't very many birds on the lake yesterday and you can see how dull it was by this time.
I'm not very good at identifying water birds, I'm not sure what this bird is.
This moorhen was happy enough hoovering up the seeds which had been dropped from the feeders.
While this mallard was taking it easy.
We may not have seen many birds on the lake but a first for us, we spotted a kingfisher on our walk back. Thank you to Eleanor for these photos, mine were rubbish.
It was back home after our walk to start on the garden jobs. I'm pleased to say that we made quite a bit of headway, though there's still more to do. Isn't there always?
Fabulous shots of the kingfisher! I've never even seen one, let alone been able to get a photo.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely struck lucky yesterday. It's the first one we've seen at Fairburn yet we've been many times before.
DeleteMy day was in the garden with a walk after dinner. I agree that the variety of tones of green is amazing. How lucky to see a Kingfisher, and to get a photo.yes there is always something to do in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI think it will have been a gardening weekend for many people. We visited a couple of garden centres on Saturday and they were both very busy, I think the bank holiday mixed with some decent weather brings everyone out.
DeleteLovely pictures of the birds.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that Eleanor got some of the kingfisher as my photos of it were rubbish.
DeleteYour mystery bird is a lapwing. ;) Looks like a great day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, I knew there'd be some knowledgeable soul who could let me know what it is. I must learn more about water birds, there's very few I can recognise and name. It was a lovely day, I always enjoy a stroll around the reserve.
DeleteHow wonderful that you saw a kingfisher!! A real treat indeed. It is always love to see robins flying about doing their robiny things too isn't it. xx
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to see a kingfisher, we all were. I think robins are a favourite of many people, I'm always happy to see one.
DeleteA gorgeous place for a walk, and you saw lots of nice birdlife. Well done for going home and doing the garden. As you say, there's always more to do. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteFairburn is somewhere we often go when we want to stay close to home, it's great to have somewhere like this nearby.
DeleteWhat a lovely walk Jo..that really was a nice photo of the kingfisher....I often see them when walking along the canal but they are never still enough to photograph.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely place to go for a walk and not too far from home either. We were lucky to see the kingfisher and to get a photo too.
DeleteStunning photo's
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm no photographer but some photos seem to come out ok.
DeleteA most enjoyable post, and lovely pictures. Lucky you seeing, and photographing, a kingfisher. I'm a touch envious as all I've ever seen of one was a quick blur of colour flying past. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky that it stayed around so long, as you say, they're quick birds and sometimes you just catch a glimpse. It's a shame that my own photos of it were rubbish, I'm just glad that Eleanor was with us.
DeleteThe Bluetits who nested in the nesting-box I made earlier this year have managed to raise some chicks. Jane saw them today having "flying lessons". She only saw two chicks, but we think there were originally more. I have found two dead Bluetit chicks, one at the foot of the tree in which the nesting-box is fixed, so I reckon there were at least 3 chicks to begin with.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when they don't all make it but that's nature, very cruel sometimes. I'm not sure if the babies in my nest box have fledged yet or not, I shall have to go and have a listen as they're very vocal and you can hear them chirping for their food.
DeleteWell done on seeing the kingfisher at Fairburn - we have seem one there a couple of times but not long enough to get a photo. I love the great tit photo.
ReplyDeleteThe unidentified bird is a lapwing,
The kingfisher was sat there for ages. At one point it took flight, but only as far as a nearby branch. In fact, we left before it did. The great tit was a busy little bird, back and forth feeding its babies. Thank you, I shall try and remember a lapwing for when I see one again.
DeleteOh what a great spot to blow away the cobwebs Jo and put you in the right frame of mind to tackle the jobs. Sounds like a most productive day.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely place to go, very peaceful. It was actually really busy on Monday but still such lovely surroundings. We managed to get quite a few jobs out of the way so I was pleased about that.
DeleteAlways something to do Jo :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful image of the kingfisher.......how fortunate you were to spot it. In my experience they are quite shy.
We sometimes get them in the garden, ........for me a heart stopping moment.
I love the face the Great Tits were nesting so close to people.....it shows we can all live together in peace and harmony :)
Love the lush green images Jo..........
There's always something to do in the garden, especially at this time of year, it's such a busy time. How wonderful that you get kingfishers in the garden, it's the first time we've seen one at Fairburn so I was really pleased to spot it. My nest box is right next to my window and it hasn't put the bluetits off from nesting in it. I can sit and see them coming and going from my chair.
DeleteSome beautiful images of birds here, how lovely to hear the great tot chicks peeping away! There always seems to be a friendly robin doesn't there? Oh....a kingfisher! What a beauty, to see it just sitting as well, when we had the narrow boat we only ever saw them zipping down the canal,I never ever saw one close up!xxx
ReplyDeleteWe always see lots of robins at Fairburn, Monday was no exception. We were so lucky to see the kingfisher, it was happy just sitting there above the water. I shall be watching for it each time I go now.
DeleteWhat a fabulous picture of the great tit! I've never seen a kingfisher before - it's lovely. I really would love to place several nesting boxes around the backyard - yet another project to add to the ever expanding list.
ReplyDeleteI had to be very quick off the mark to get that photo of the great tit. We've had blue tits nesting in a box in our garden this year, a first for us. I'm hoping that now they know where the box is, they'll return next year. It's lovely to watch their comings and goings.
DeleteBrilliant action shot of the bird box, Makes it look like a cuckoo clock. My nest box has been up a year but is still unoccupied.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, it does look like a cuckoo clock. I managed to press the shutter button at just the right time. I had a nest box up for a few years and it eventually rotted and fell down, it had never been used. I bought a new one a couple of months ago, hung it in a different position and I've already had a pair of bluetits raise a family in it. It's worth checking that you've got it facing the right direction as I think that's what was wrong with my other one and the reason why it had no occupants.
DeleteWow, a kingfisher! Despite living a stone's throw from a river where I've heard they live, I've never seen one, those pictures are fabulous. I'm off to RSPB Minsmere next week for a birthday treat.
ReplyDeleteYou might get lucky at RSPB Minsmere, though we've been going to Fairburn Ings for years and this is the first kingfisher I've seen there. It's a case of being in the right place at the right time.
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