Starlings

I decided to go back and have another look at the Starling roost at Middleton Moor after hearing that the numbers of birds had increased, and believe me since going early last December the numbers have certainly increased. For me it is not about the numbers it is just witnessing the great show put on by these birds, and to be honest I don't think the following pictures do it justice, you have just got to get up there and see it for yourself.

It starts off with a few birds coming in; and unlike last December the birds were coming in from different directions.

The birds steadily increase in numbers.

And again they kept coming.

Until the sky was full of Starlings, they flew around for a good length of time and then without warning they started to drop into the reed bed.

And as it got darker the birds started to drop in on mass, a fantastic display and one that has to be seen.

Back at the feeding station

At long last I got some decent weather whilst off from work and so decided to try back at my feeding station this time for Nuthatch.

I had been off during the Christmas period and was kindly invited to set up another feeding station at a friends house, this I did but for what ever reasons I could not get the birds to come away from the feeders already set up, and so decided to try for a third time at a site I have used before and in no time I had birds coming to the food.

On leaving the site I had two Roe deer cross the road in front of me; now there's a challenge

Woodland feeding station

I have at long last found a place where I have set up a feeding station for woodland birds and mammals, I say mammals but I can see it being Grey Squirrels and not much else.
I have wanted to try and capture shots of the Great Spotted Woodpecker and to try and picture it as you might when searching for it with binoculars, as nearly every time you hear the call or the drumming of this bird you glimpse it on the other side of the tree from were you are looking!

I had my first session at the feeding station over the Christmas break and was pleased that both the male and female were in the area along with a fair few other species of birds. What was more annoying was that the Woodpeckers for some reason were very flighty when coming down for food. A few adjustments to my surroundings and the female started to appear where I wanted her.

This is hopefully just the start and so long as the feeding station stays intact; the first one got destroyed! I will spend a fair bit of time photographing what turns up.

Mountain Hares

Until recently I have not had much luck with Mountain Hares in Derbyshire until I came across an area that was easy accessible and held a good number of Hares, I shall no doubt be back in the near future.

This is the usual sighting you get when first approaching your quarry!

This is what mostly happens unfortunately, on this particular day all the Hares seemed very nervous

But then sometimes you come across the one that will ignore you and just stay put.