RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

 

D and I spent an hour watching the birds in the garden last Sunday for the yearly RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

Unusually most of the regular species put in an appearance - in the last 5 minutes we were willing the Collared Doves perched a few gardens down to visit our garden. Unbelievably they finally did just within the hour!  None of the species that visit less often decided to appear though.

Dunnock and Wood Pigeon - sorry photos are record shots only  and  I only took a few. I nearly didn't bother including them until I realised I don't think I've ever done a post before without photos!

The last few years I don't seem to have seen as many species as I used to but this year we managed to get the total up to 14.  I think it helped that D took part as well as these days I normally I end up doing the count on my own. 

The full list of birds seen is as follows:

Blackbird x 3

Blue Tit x 2 (one bird was investigating the nest box)

Goldfinch x 6

Wood Pigeon x 5

Coal Tit x 1

Dunnock x 1

Great Tit x 1

House Sparrow x 2

Robin x 2 (nice to see a pair in the garden)

Long Tailed Tit x 2

Carrion Crow x 1

Magpie x 1

Wren x 1

Collared Dove x 2

One very scruffy list!

I am really enjoying reading about what other people have seen.

Hobs Moat - an Ancient Scheduled Monument

 

Surrounded by housing estates, busy roads and a shopping centre in Solihull is located a small patch of woodland which is a local nature reserve and also an Ancient Scheduled Monument known as Hobs Moat.  On the site are the remains of medieval earthworks where once a large manor stood.

I paid a visit with D on one cold January day as he wanted to write a blog post on Hobs Moat for a blog he writes occasionally on the Historic Buildings of Solihull.

I only plan to post a few photos as D has written a far more informative and researched post than I could.  If you are interested and want to learn more about the site here is the link to his blog post  Hobs Moat

Surrounded by woodland you come across what remains of the manor ie the earthworks surrounded by a moat.  

It was certainly an interesting site to visit - a little bit spooky if I am honest as there was no-one there but us! It might be worth a visit later in the year when the spring flowers arrive especially the bluebells.

I am hoping to take part in the RSPB Garden Birdwatch this weekend and I am sure many of you will be doing the same so I look forward to seeing your posts and reading about what you have seen.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks)

The "Octopus" Tree and the "Constable" Tree

 

As promised a few photos from last year of the "Octopus" Tree and the "Constable" Tree  in Herefordshire. The former is located on the site not far from the caravan whereas the Constable Tree and the Herefordshire Oak (seen in the last post) are in fields nearby but viewable from the caravan.

Octopus Tree

I first decided to take photos of this Ash tree in April and its shape really reminded me of an octopus hence its name!

26th April 2024

As the leaves appeared I have to admit it looked far less like an octopus!

20th May

3rd June

7th July

20th July

7th August

Mid September

Late October

End November/Beginning of December

It finally looks more like an octopus (well at least to me!) again.

Late December

The Constable Tree

It wasn't until May that I first started to take photos of this lovely tree. I called it the Constable Tree because the landscape around it reminded me of a scene in a Constable painting.  I am not sure of the species as its some way away but if anyone has any suggestions on what species it might be please leave a comment.

20th May

15th  June

23rd June

7th July

20th July

 August

28th August

Mid September

Late October

Late November/Beginning of December

The leaves on all the trees seemed to disappear within the space of the month of October when I don't think we visited for a while but we had had several gales.

Late December

Paintings

As promised photos of the paintings B has bought me from an art gallery in Leominster.

This is the one I picked for my Christmas present last year as I love hares and something about the scene reminded me of the caravan site.  I am not sure yet whether to hang it  at  home or  take it to the caravan.

I've posted a photo of this painting before as some of you may remember.  I chose this for my 70th birthday present from B from the same gallery as it reminds me so much of a view from a country lane. The painting is by an artist called Cassandra Clarke who opened "Art 24" having relocated from Stourport. I did hope to buy another Cassandra Clarke painting last Christmas but there didn't seem to be many on sale this time.

Last December I also spotted some paintings of Herefordshire countryside scenes which I nearly chose instead of the hare.  So perhaps that is my Christmas and Birthday presents sorted for much later this year! If the paintings are still there of course!

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one or one of my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks so much).

The Herefordshire Oak in 2023

 

A selection of photos from Herefordshire showing my favourite oak tree throughout most of the year.  The site is closed in January and February so sadly its unlikely I will get photos for those months and this year the weather was so horrid in March we didn't make our first visit until the beginning of April.

Beginning of April

April 20th

Beginning of May

There was then quite a change in the next few weeks as the leaves emerged.

20th May

3rd June

19th June

7th July

August

September

By late October there was perhaps a hint of change of colour in the leaves.

Late October

15th November

Late November 

Late November Beginning of December

when it was very cold with hoar frosts - the leaves presumably because of winds and the cold weather had more or less all fallen.

End of December

I will do a post on the Constable and Octopus Trees later in the month although I only started to photograph them (especially the Constable Tree) later in the year.  Hopefully, this year I will have a fuller set.  I haven't forgotten the photo of my Christmas present painting but need to get a better picture when the light isn't so poor.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

(All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).