Thursday, 13 September 2018

Colchester Zoo: 9th August 2018

Until a few years ago I wasn't aware of Colchester Zoo, but this was my third visit, and it really is one of the very best zoos, not pnly for the range of animals, but it is nicely laid out and the animals are well displayed in first class enclosures.


 
















































Wednesday, 5 September 2018

Calke Abbey Bird Hide: 30th August 2018

Calke Abbey
The Car Park Bird-Hide



Such a small hide, easily overlooked in the corner of the car park, looks out onto a small clearing surrounded by trees and with feeders in the middle. A range of woodland birds use the feeders, generally settling in the trees, swooping down to take some nuts or seeds then returning to the trees before disappearing, returning again a bit later for more food.

On most days you can expect to see a dozen or more species, and the feeders and trees are rarely empty. A family of rats currently lives beneath one of the trees and they thrive hoovering up the food the birds drop.

The Buzzard in this set was taken just outside the hide circling above the deer paddock.


Brown Rat


 Greenfinch




Great Tit

 Greenfinch

 Jackdaw

 Brown Rat

 Linnet


Nuthatch

 Collared Dove

 Female Pheasant

 Collared Dove

 Willow Tit

 Blue Tit

 Blue Tit

 Nuthatch

 Goldfinch

 Goldfinch

 Great Tit

 Willow Tit

 Dunnock

 Chaffinch

 Robin


Robin

 Buzzard