Garden Birds Christmas Special

As the extreme winter conditions continue it is becoming more and more difficult for the birds to feed themselves as the ground is snow covered and frozen. As a result more birds are being forced to visit our gardens to find food, harsh times for them but great for wildlife photographers to take advantage of. My own garden has got busier and busier as the bad weather continues, and it is great to see new visitors on a regular basis, such as Bullfinchs and Marsh Tits. A tough time so it is really important that we offer food in our gardens to see them over this tough time.
I would like to wish all my followers and readers of my blog a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.



Lots of Robins in the garden, constantly bickering and chasing each other









Brilliant to see Bullfinchs coming in regularly













A bird that I have not seen in the garden until recently, a Marsh Tit







Small groups of Long tailed tits descend onto the fatball feeder







My perennial favourite, Blue Tit







The blackbirds are slowly stripping the berries from the bushes





Another berry down the hatch!



Great Tit



Dunnock





Coal Tit



Chaffinch

Blencathra Via a very Icy Sharp Edge

On what was forecast to be a clear morning, decided to go up onto Blencathra via Sharp Edge and back down via Halls Fell Ridge, one of the classic mountains days in the Lakes.A trip of two contrasts, it was cold, claggy and snowing all the way up to Sharp Edge and sunny and bright back down Halls Fell.
I knew getting up to Sharp Edge it was going to be touch and go if I went across it, it was extremely icy all the way across, but the crampons gave me good grip and it was a great buzz. Once on the Summitt of Blencathra hung around a while as the cloud was clearing and the views opening up, and then it cleared the sun was out and it was a very pleasant decent of Halls Fell ridge.

Arriving at Scales tarn, Sharp Edge looked quite dramatic in the cold misty air



The steep climb up to the start of the arete



The icy climb up onto the ridge



Looking down the arete, to the climb out up Foule Crag



It was very icy across the ridge, certainly not for the faint hearted or inexperienced



Approaching the 'Bad Step'



Looking back after negotiating the bad step



The Bad Step!!



Looking back down the arete



Now just the steep climb up Foule Crag to the summitt ridge



Sharp Edge disappears into the mist below as I climb Foule Crag



Cold with no view at the summitt, although it did start to clear so I hung around a while



Starting to clear, blue sky and the distant Pennines



My route of descent down Halls Fell ridge



Further down Halls Fell looking back up



Blencathra from the waterfall at the foot of Middle Tongue



The view across Scales to the North Western Fells



A great mountain day out, superb over Sharp Edge, but I would not recommend it to the inexperienced or faint of heart!!

Garden Birds

All this recent bad weather has meant that the supply of food for birds becomes more of a problem, and my garden feeders have certainly been a lot busier as a result. So recently spent a little time with the camera in the garden, and if nothing else it really made me appreciate the beauty and real pleasure watching them brings, that I normally take for granted. Also the free food on offer is also attracting some rarities for my garden. Lastly, I have included some pics of a very friendly Robin that I met up at RSPB Leighton Moss recently, it was an absolute thrill to have it feeding out of my hand.

Goldfinchs are always welcome, and I do get alot feeding on the Sunflower hearts



It was a nice surprise when this Wren popped up on the feeders



I just love Blue Tits







A real treat to get Bullfinchs of both sexes coming in to feed





Once again I am struggling to identify, either marsh or willow Tit?



Lastly, an extremely friendly Robin up at Leighton Moss, loved my butties and also posing for the camera