Taking the left loop

December 15th and I decided to head out later in the day, forgetting how soon it gets dark and it was already a dull day but I like to walk every day if possible.

I headed over to the sheds and round the back as usual, nothing special to see, the Barn owl popped back into the box as I appeared so no photos and it was too dull in the shed.

There wasn't much to be seen down the hill either, any birds in the hedge were keeping ahead of me, I did see Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Blackbird and a Wren. I could see various small birds flitting over the marsh area but again too dull to ID so I headed up the hill aiming to drop food at the posts.

I dropped some at both posts but nothing appeared while I was there so I headed on down the hill.

Spur of the moment decision, I turned up the first grass path and up the hill, first time I'd been up here.

It's a reasonably steep climb up that first bank then mostly levels out with woods to the right and sparse gorse, grass and trees to the left but that's where I spotted the first Bullfinches.

I must add, all these shots were so grainy they've all been well edited to draw out a reasonable shot.

Male Bullfinch

Male Bullfinches are so bright, beautiful birds. 

I love when they do that hanging down to grab at tasty morsels. This one was joined by another male.

You may be able to tell how dull the day was from these shots, they looked really grainy until I cleaned them up a bit.

I carried on up the hill onto the flat and spotted, yet more Bullfinches in the trees.

Again a male munching on the buds.

And a female, I didn't think I was going to to see any but this was a group of two females and one male.

Bullfinch female

As is often the case in nature, the female isn't as bright but is still a beautiful wee bird in my opinion.

I headed on along the path, turned down the hill where I startled a lone Roe deer which ran off down the hill in front of me. I could hear Jays squawking in the trees nearby but, as usual, saw none.

I turned to my right at the next gate, heading back through the woods to the lane by the apple trees. I checked the Rowans, which are bare of berries now but nothing to be seen so I turned up the lane heading for home again and there ......

More Bullfinches!

Yet another pair of males hanging out together.

They were edging away from and me it was getting darker quickly so I carried on up the lane, back to the old Oak, see if anything had shown up yet.

A few Coal Tits were dashing to and fro at the feeding post and I did get one shot but it was too noisy to use.

So the Nuthatches, again :)  This one was very obligingly foraging on an old stump next to the old Oak but, in a dull area. I tried to keep the dullness in the photos.

I almost threw all of these shots out, they were so grainy,

I tried to keep an eye on all the movements, I think there were three or four around.

I love the look on this next one!

Yes????

Choices...

One bird was foraging around on the dead branches around the Oak and in slightly better light.

The final few were of the same bird maybe, as it foraged around the base of the Oak.

I like these shots but, in better light they could be fabulous, maybe tomorrow?

I messed around with a few of the shots.

All in all a very Nuthatch and Bullfinch kind of day :)

With hindsight I wouldn't go out with the light so low again but I just can't go for a walk without a camera ........... who knows what I might miss? 

:)