Happy New Year

Just like to wish all my friends, contacts, fellow tortoise riders, and arch enemies a fantastic new year, with lots of great wildlife encounters. We have had a few nice sunny, and quite still days over the holiday, but today its all change, and as i look glumly out of the window, i'm willing on tomorrow, which looks a lot better. Great to see the Bearded Reedlings (Tits) showing so well around the concrete bridge area, and along the path to the Roundel at Radipole. Below are a male and female, with the male in that familiar two stem grab, and the female feasting.

Also in the same general area were lots of mainly female Reed Buntings noshing on the seed heads.

On one of the more drafty days, i togged this male Shoveler, bouncing on the swell at the Roundel.

So,, with the Beards now pretty much covered, perhaps i can turn my efforts to something different. I'm dying to get some thrushes, Redwings and Song Thrushes in particular. Itching to get closer to the Marsh Harriers,,, and the hundreds of Golden Plover in the Maiden Castle area. I was gobsmacked to learn that several Jack Snipe, and a Green Sandpiper were sighted at Steepleton Pond which is only just down the road from me. So its your favourite tortoise jockey signing off for now,,, goodluck to you all.