Pussy Willow (Curly Locks) breaking out in anticipation of spring.

 Yellow stamens carrying pollen are just showing under the fluffy winter coat

...and breaking through.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker; Kestrel and Jay share a bath!

 The camera trap picked up a few short clips; I was surprised to see the Jay and Kestrel getting along so well.

Blackbird looking a little sheepish (if that's possible).

 The omnipresent blackbird was the only one to oblige me with a picture today!

Question: What's better than a Kestrel? Answer: A pair of Kestrels!

Yesterday I made a shallow bird bath/drinking station with a seed feeder built into one end and set it up at the eastern edge of the coppice next to the veggie patch. I wanted to wait a few days before attempting to take pictures of the birds drinking and washing. Because I'm impatient, and while waiting for the birds to become accustomed to the bathing station, I decided to set up the pop-up hide under a nearby yew tree in the hope that they would also accept the hide  after a day or so. 

I was thinking along the lines of wrens, robins, fiches and tits being the likely visitors as they are fairly abundant at LBF. I was curious to see how long it would take until the birds felt comfortable to take a dip, so I set up the trail camera to check in and see when the birds actually start to use their new ensuite bathroom. Once the birds were settled, I fully intended to spend some quality time in the hide with my new (refurbished) Nikon D500 Camera and my new (refurbished) Nikon 200-500 zoom lens!  

So today (Day 2), it was a cold and misty so I did not bother to check the camera trap until about 1pm and did not expect to find much.  On checking the footage (with the camera trap still strapped to the tree), the first three video clips were disappointing because the camera lens was misted up, so I promptly deleted the videos. I could see from the still previews that the fourth and fifth videos had managed to capture a Jay and a Great Tit and the misted up lens had started to clear... I felt a little happier.

When I saw the preview screen of the sixth video, I became very excited, I could clearly see an image of a bird of prey but could not tell if it was a Buzzard, Kestrel or Sparrowhawk. The preview screen is tiny about 2" x 1.5" so it's not easy to see in any great detail; it was with growing excitement  I pressed the playback button on video six...  The results are in the video below, enjoy! Feel free to watch this beautiful pair in full screen mode. 

Let's hope they come back on a day that I am in the hide with my Nikon! The camera shows that the birds were there at 10.15 am so it will be interesting to see if they the birds keep a regular wash time and show up at a similar time tomorrow.

Short clip of the Jay in slow motion flight.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly... Beautiful?

Walnut Orb weaver - (Nuctenea umbratica) found  in the crevice between the tree and some loose bark. Apparently it is the second most venomous UK spider and is capable of biting humans causing itchiness and a burning sensation followed by a red patch with white lumps; some people have compared their bite to an electric shock. Thankfully these spiders are shy and unlikely to bite humans unless provoked. - I have no intentions of getting any closer than a camera lens away.  

Click Images for detailed (full size) Images

Witch Hazel - (Hamamelis) Mollis - (Yellow) & Diane (Red)

An explosion of yellow streamers!

On the cusp of bursting into flower; a slow motion firework display.

Thorns and hips from a climbing rose.

'Moon crater' on diseased tree

Lichens: Common Sunburst Lichen - Xanthoria parietina

Snowdrops signalling the anticipation of spring

A free meal for Mr. Fox...

Sadly one of my cockerels died of natural causes so I decided to put it to good use and staked it out at the edge of the meadow next to the small wood in the hope that either the buzzard or fox would get a free meal, and in return I would be able to capture some footage on the camera trap. The fox showed up on the second night and so took first prize; I had seen the buzzard in nearby trees in the proceeding days, and I have to admit that secretly I had hoped it would provide some interesting footage of it feeding on the bird during the day, but it was not to be, maybe next time I will get lucky! The handsome fox with its black tipped ears, black stockings and fulsome tail, was however a worthy recipient of the free meal.  

If you keep chickens then please don't feel like the fox is an enemy that has to be destroyed; as keepers of chickens, ducks or geese, invest the time to make your pens fox proof and then you can happily coexist without any issues. 

 

Our 'fox proof' chicken run with electric fence!

Blue and Long Tailed Tits were out today.

 Dinah Beautiful Blue... 

Dinah and the beautiful blue
In the fields
They will sing for hours
Dinah and the beautiful blue
Letting through
All the hidden powers
Dinah and the beautiful blue
With the force
Of a million lifetimes
Dinah to the beautiful blue
Bring me love
Make me smile again

(Song by Anywhen).

The beautiful yellow waistcoat of this bird magically matches the yellow lichen on the stems of the viburnum shrub in which it pauses, ready to return to the freshly stocked bird feeder situated just a few meters away.

Long tail, 'Does What it says on the tin'

Peach / Apricot highlight over the eye.

Bank Vole ( I think due to the chestnut colour)  was doing a little house keeping in one of the habitat stacks. 

And the fox skulked by on the far side of the meadow, while I was tucked away inside the pop up hide...

Let's just call this post 'Jack Frost visits Longbeach Farm!'

 Out with the camera around Longbeach Farm today. Very cold, but extremely pretty. 

Click Images for option to zoom into detailed (larger) pictures.

The House and pond from the North side.

 The frozen pond surface looking like a solid sheet of brushed aluminum.

View across the bottom pool facing East.

Partial view across the pond.

Weeping Birch by the pond.

Ash seeds with a frosty coating.

There are bullrushes outside my window
And their leaves whisper words in the breeze
Well tomorrow I'll walk to the harbour
And catch the first boat that's coming in

(Paul Weller)

Norfolk Reed.

Frozen Pussy Willow stems.

Pendulous Sedge.

West view from below the bund towards the house.

Frozen Handrail on the bridge over the Haha. 

View North from the Wildflower Meadow Gate.

Wild carrot Seed head.

Views east towards the Chicken and Goose Pen.

Well there just had to be a Robin!

Great Tit was a welcome visitor, nothing else showed up to face the camera.