Lard Arses

Well you don'r need me to tell you how bad the weather is/has been, it really is starting to get me down now. My plans to photograph the Hares is on the back burner, they are keeping their heads down, Spring is delayed I'm afraid. I did venture down my hide yesterday for a few hours though, there were plenty of the usual species about and the bickering between them is certainly getting to fever pitch as they each try to dominate the pecking order. Plenty of signs about that tell me they are pairing up and looking for territories also, I even found a pair of Long-Tailed tits in the process of building a nest, I will try and bring more of that to you soon. There were two Buzzards flying low over the patch when I arrived, but as usual they drifted off as I walked to my hide. Shame really as I had just stopped to pick up a rabbit road kill for them. 

I put some food around my feeding station and sat back to see what came to visit, it wasn't long before the Greater Spotted Woodpeckers paid a visit, flitting between the lard and the peanuts.

GSW

Here is a short video showing what they were up to. Lard arses.

What I did notice was two different females, I am guessing that these might be the chicks from last breeding season, I hope so anyway. At one point there were three GSW's feeding at one time so its looking good for their breeding programme down the patch this year.

It was interesting watching them with the peanuts, if they took one of the free offering, i.e. a whole nut, they would instantly fly away to a favourite tree behind the pond in canal spinney and wedge it into a crack in the tree eat it that way.

Whole nut.

If they had taken a piece from the nut feeder they would lodge it into a self created ledge so they could peck at it better. I know I have not explained that too well, but from the following still image and the next video clip you will see exactly what I mean.

I hope to bring you more images and video of  these wonderful birds throughout the coming season and hopefully their chicks.

Just as I was about to pack up a Wren appeared after just having a bath in the pond, it sat preening a while before having a forage around for food.

Jenny

Here is a short video clip of my new friend.

I decided to look at a Little Owl box I had sited last year on my way back to the car, last year a Great tit nested in it can you believe, I was hoping for better this year.

The Little Owl box.

You can see from the scratching etc below the opening that this was caused by something a little larger than a Great tit, on closer inspection I was pleased and surprised to see Owl pellets at the base of the tree below the box. Is it being used for roosting in the day, or has a Tawney Owl moved in? I will let you know when I find out.

Owl pellets.

Not a bad couple of hours on a miserable day. See you soon.