I took my Panasonic FZ72 with me, I bought this camera about a year ago but I still haven't really got to grips with it. It was the 60X zoom which attracted me to it, a similar lens for my Nikon DSLR would have cost much more than this camera did so it was a bit of a no brainer. I'm pleased with the photos it takes even with my lack of skills, it's so easy these days to set the dial to automatic, point and shoot, the camera does the rest.
We're rarely lucky when we visit Fairburn, the birds seem to realise we're on our way and decide to make a hasty exit. As we passed the kingfisher screen there were a crowd of people who were quick to tell us that we'd just missed this beautiful bird, it had been and gone. We hung around for a while before continuing on our way, only to be told, as we passed again on our return trek, that it had come back and we'd missed it yet again. It just wasn't to be. We've only seen a kingfisher here once and that was a couple of years ago, I wrote about it on my old blog in A Bank Holiday Outing post. The thing which did thrill me though was a little robin redbreast landing on the fence right by my side and serenading me. I have lots of encounters with robins at Fairburn.
Just like the kingfisher, the water birds were rather scarce too, however, there were plenty of garden birds at various feeding stations around the reserve. The great tit was enjoying the suet and it was nice to see lots of greenfinches which have been missing from my own garden for a while now, though I've actually seen them returning this past week or two, they must have been away for the winter.
The ducks realised that they could find plenty to eat underneath the feeders where tasty morsels had dropped.
Another robin. His long legs made me chuckle.
I do hope this coming weekend is dry again, it's so nice to get out and about.
Another lovely outing and some lovely photos too.
ReplyDeleteRobins can be quite cheeky can't they, the one that comes in our garden gets quite close if i'm weeding, and like you I'm thrilled when he does, I've even been know to say 'hello' to him, lol I bet the neighbors think i'm mad if they hear me!
I've never been lucky enough to see a kingfisher, shame you missed it this time around.
We could do with some dry weather to get out and about, it's blowing a gale here at the moment, hopefully it will have gone over by the weekend.
There was often a robin close by when I used to dig over the allotment, they know we'll uncover some tasty morsels for them and they don't want to miss out. I admit to having little chats with them too so you're not alone in that respect. We've had a couple of windy days and it's really getting up again now, I hope it doesn't last long.
DeleteMy camera got an airing whilst we were away this month as in January it was little used. Great shots of that friendly robin.
ReplyDeleteI tend to use my camera more in the summer months too, it always seems too cold to take my gloves off in winter. I think I could do with some fingerless ones.
DeleteYour camera does a great job, such detailed pictures. Hope you are safe in storm Doris that's here today.
ReplyDeleteEleanor's got the same camera so I knew it was decent before I bought it. It's a good alternative to having to shell out a lot of money for a new lens for my DSLR. The storm's just getting going here, take care.
DeleteShame you missed the Kingfisher but you managed to get some great shots. Love the Robin.
ReplyDeleteWe were stood for quite a while listening to the robin singing, he wasn't nervous of us at all.
DeleteLovely photos, glad you enjoyed your walk and next time the kingfisher
ReplyDeleteI appreciate any good weather we get during the winter months, I'm not a fan of the cold so I make the most of any time we can get out and about.
DeleteYou got some great shots, Jo. I especially love the robin and the catkins. Next time, you'll get the kingfisher, I bet!
ReplyDeleteWe've visited Fairburn many times but have only seen the kingfisher on one occasion, I'm glad it was a time when Eleanor was with us though so that she got the chance to see it too.
DeleteYou managed to capture some wonderful photographs. I love the long legged Robin. What a shame you missed the Kingfisher. X
ReplyDeleteThat long legged robin looked as though he was on stilts, he was scavenging underneath the feeders. It was a shame we missed the kingfisher, we didn't wait around too long to see if it came back so we ended up missing it again.
DeleteWe have exactly the same problem when we visit Fairburn Ings or any other reserve for that matter. Did you walk around the new part?
ReplyDeleteI often hear that people have been lucky with their sightings when visiting Fairburn but we rarely are. We walked by the side of the river as we let Archie off his lead there, he's really good and stays by us but it allows him to have a good sniff around, and then we visited a couple of feeding stations and popped in to a hide.
DeleteLovely photos, Jo. I hope Storm Doris doesn't pose a problem to you. It's just very windy and rainy here with us - thankfully no snow!
ReplyDeleteIt's the same here, the wind's getting worse as the day goes on, I hope it doesn't get too bad, for either of us.
DeleteSome really lovely photos, I do love those Robins, especially the long legged one xx
ReplyDeleteI have a fondness for robins, I suppose they're a bird we all know from a young age as they're so easy to recognise. They've got a cheeky personality too.
DeleteA most enjoyable post and lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteI've only ever caught a couple of very brief glimpses of a kingfisher. Flighty xx
They're such beautiful birds. They're always around the lakes where we stay when we go on holiday in Cornwall, it's lovely to see them.
DeleteI've never seen a kingfisher ..... maybe one day!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, they're quite elusive. I haven't seen many either.
DeletePity about not sighting the kingfishers, but you saw many others from the photos. When the trees are bare, I find we sometimes see even more birds, as they can't be invisible amongst the leaves. Robins are so cute & I've a good photo from near Bolton Abbey last year. Have a good weekend and take care.
ReplyDeleteI think everywhere looks rather dull when the trees have lost their leaves but you're right, it does make it easier to see what's in them. Robins endear themselves to us with their cheeky ways.
DeleteI just love robins and their cheerful redbreast.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing all of your photo's, especially the birds.
I hope you've been ok with Storm Doris. We experienced very strong winds which bought down some of the lighter tree branches, but the wind has since died down.
Keeping fingers crossed for a dry (and sunny would be nice) weekend
All the best Jan
I have a robin which visits the garden but it tends to go missing during the summer months returning when autumn comes around again. We had rain and wind yesterday but it's all died down now and today has dawned bright and sunny, let's hope that sun sticks around for the weekend.
DeleteWhat a lovely walk, even without kingfishers. We live very close to a forest so get lots of lovely walks too. It's great to watch the changing seasons. I saw my first lambs of the year last Saturday - joyful!
ReplyDeleteThis morning has dawned calm and bright after Doris. I hope it's good with you too.
Lambs already, that's early. It will be a while before the lambs are born here, we're usually well in to spring before we start seeing them. It's the same here today, bright and sunny, such a change from yesterday.
DeleteLooks like a lovely day, all those birds certainly made it a more colourful one. I think Robins are my favourite bird. We have a lot around the farm. Andy has one that lives in one of the workshops, they call him Bob and Bod gets very angry if someone dares work in the workshop.
ReplyDeleteI think robins are many people's favourite birds, not surprising really as they're cheeky and happy to interact too. How lovely that you have one living in the workshop, they do nest in surprising places. I remember our local B&Q putting a sign up near their bedding plants once asking customers to keep away as a robin was nesting in them and was sitting on eggs.
DeleteI'm always missing the kingfishers too, I think they see me coming and hide!
ReplyDeleteThey're such beautiful birds but it's often a fleeting glance you catch as they're whizzing past, and that's if you're lucky.
DeleteGorgeous photos, Jo! We have just had a blackbird singing in a nearby tree - what a joy it was to hear it!
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
I think birdsong is magical, such a beautiful sound.
DeleteHa ha. Cheep cheep.
ReplyDeleteI do love robins, my little friend is back and was following me round the garden this afternoon. Such a perfect partnership between a gardener and a bird.
Robins tend to be great company in the garden, there was often one perched nearby when we were working on the allotment, no doubt waiting for some tasty morsels to be uncovered whilst we dug.
DeleteSounds like a lovely outing and some wonderful photos you took. The robin in the first photo almost seems to be saying "well, hello there..." :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get over how friendly that robin was, he sat there the whole time we were there and started singing after a while, it was lovely to watch and listen to.
DeleteGreat piece Jo and love the pics. I had a similar day out recently but didn't get anywhere near as great pics of garden birds as you although I did get some great river bird pics so I can't complain too much. Glad you had a nice day out.
ReplyDeleteIt's the water birds that elude me, though I must admit that I don't have a lot of patience when it comes to wildlife photography, I'm not one to sit around waiting for a shot, which is something you often have to do when taking photos of birds.
DeleteWarm sunshine will change the outer world little by little, but certainly.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. It won't be long now until spring's here and then everything will burst in to life yet again.
DeleteRobins are just the sweetest looking birds. Shame about the kingfisher!
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely place to have so close to home.
Lisa x
We're lucky that we have so many lovely places to visit nearby. I just wish we got the see the kingfisher a little more often on our visits to Fairburn.
DeleteYou should be proud of your photography, Jo. Well done! Of course, you know the robin pics are my favorite. It's been in the news here that England was hit by a bad storm. I hope it's over and everyone is safe. We have one on the way. Roll on spring! P. x
ReplyDeleteI can't take credit for the photos, the camera did all the work, it was set to auto. I used to wonder why the robin in Mary Poppins didn't really resemble a robin, of course it was modelled on an American robin rather than the ones we have here. We didn't suffer too badly here from the storm, it was much worse in other parts of the county, though it's passed now. I keep saying roll on spring too, stay safe.
DeleteFabulous photos Jo - it's lovely to see a few signs of spring. Jx
ReplyDeleteIt is, though it got a little wintery again here yesterday with a sprinkling of snow on the ground. I just wish it would hurry up and warm up a little.
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