Monday 2 February 2009

The inch of snow that fell overnight was enough to close the school, so I was told to go home at 09:30! Hardly the extreme weather event we were told to lookout for, and even though it did snow on and off for the rest of the day, it only settled where the previous snow had fallen, and the local roads remained clear. I sometimes wonder what would happen if we really did have an extreme weather event! just like in 1987, or 1963 or for you real oldies 1947.

Anyway, as I had the rest of the day off, I spent it garden watching, the snow always brings in lots of birds to the feeders. Three new species for the February bird count - SPARROWHAWK, SONGTHRUSH, and best of all a superb male BULLFINCH, that I just failed to get a pic of.

Here's all the photo's.

Above and below are JACKDAWS
Then there's the SONGTHRUSH (one of two that came in )
Next a couple of STARING pics.



Below is a male CHAFFINCH
Then a GREAT TIT
And a BLUE TIT
Next are a couple of GOLDFINCH photo's

A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
Then the COLLARED DOVE
Another, male chaffinch.

A DUNNOCK
next up a NUTHATCH

and lastly,a couple of pics of the classic ''ROBIN in the snow'' shot


















11 comments:

Greenie said...

Warren ,
You had an inch , we had 8 or nine . I thought it was meant to be the other way round . There is now almost a foot where it hasn't been trampled .
We almost matched garden species today , and photos .
Bit of an ageist comment for us 'war babies' , never mind - what goes around comes around !

Warren Baker said...

Now When I were a lad.............

Tricia Ryder said...

Like Greenie - we had about 8"+ of snow today. But it's certainly brought the birds to the garden again! And I do remember......

Tricia Ryder said...

oops - meant to say you've got some great pictures there Warren :)

Steve said...

We had at least 6 inches today about 6 miles away from you Warren...you were lucky...

Warren Baker said...

In 1987, January 11th, The temperature was -13 at breakfast time, and rose to the giddy heights of -8 by early afternoon. On the 14th much of kent was under 29inches of snow!
Now that's an extreme weather event!

Steve said...

Ay. Them were 't days. We 'ad proper weather then 'app'n. A goodly collection to start the month Warren, an some great photos as well.

Fraser Simpson said...

Nice snowy photos Warren... and the birds seem to have been coping better than the humans yesterday!

Chris said...

Hi Warren,
it looks like we are not the only one to get snow, but you are the only one to see that amount of bird species per day!!! Last walk I only saw 5 species!!!
I love the jackdaw photo, probably hard to do with the snow in order to get a good contrast. Great job mate!!!

Phil and Mandy said...

Some nice photos there Warren, forgot to charge battery on mine so had to use small Casio camera today.

The Wessex Reiver said...

Good selection of garden birds there Warren, has one of those Jackdaws got some leusictic wing feathers? or is it just the photo