Something Creepy

 Isn't this little chap adorable? 

This is one of my favourite woodland species, a Treecreeper. Although they are quite widespread (214,000 pairs in the UK) they are really difficult to spot. They are very small, and they are constantly on the move as they almost scurry up and down tree trunks and along branches in search of food. They cling tight to the bark, often using their tails to give additional support, their brown plumage is perfect camouflage and that curved beak is just right for probing the cracks in the bark for the insects that make up its diet.

When I spotted this one I was also pleased to see a second treecreeper further up on a neighbouring tree which is unusual as they are normally solitary birds; although as we are at the start of spring it is possible this was a breeding pair out foraging together. Anyway whatever their story I think this is a little woodland gem and I am definitely very pleased to have captured these images which I can share with you.

Little Grebe

While I was trying to capture the shots of the Long Tailed Tits shown in Monday's post I was met by another photographer who told me that he had just observed a pair of Little Grebes swap places sitting on a nest and suggested that if I stopped off at the nearby hide I would get the chance to spot the birds for myself.

I love these little birds so I took the advice and went to the hide with hopes high. It was a bit of a blow when I arrived as the grebe was nowhere to be seen. It was a good job however that I am patient because after a while he popped up and swam around a bit so I could grab some shots.

This is such a cute little bird and he spent almost as much time under water catching insect larvae and tiny fish as he did on the surface. I love the determination in the first of today's images, and the clear reflection as he swam towards me. In the second shot I think he was teasing me as he was partially hidden by the reeds around the hide.It was definitely worth spending time in the hide and while I was there I made up my mind that I would come again.

Birdsong

Early this morning I visited Mere Sands Wood with the intention of photographing wildfowl and even hoped to get a glimpse of the elusive Bittern (sadly it remained elusive). Shortly after I arrived I was serenaded by this beautiful Robin. I was really pleased to capture him mid song.

Woodland Wonders

I am sure that everybody is familiar with the old idiom "You can't see the wood for the trees" and walking through this old woodland I found lots of interesting pieces of wood in various stages of decay.

I love the way the bark is peeling back from the rotting branch in the first picture, with the different textures and the way the afternoon light brings out the patterns.

In the second image I can see a face, surrounded by a golden mane of flowing hair.  

The third picture shows the importance of the bark as a protector of the tree.  Here you can see that although the wood has completely decayed the bark has remained intact.  it is now home to some of the many bugs and insects that live on the woodland floor.

The fourth picture is of a decaying stump which looks to me like a helmet from an ancient suit of armour, or perhaps a bit like one of the Moai monoliths on Easter Island.

The final picture is of a woodpile built from the cleared branches from the woodland floor. The reason I took it was for the rich colours.

Woodland Reflection

Just one picture for today, the focus of this image is the reflection of the trees captured in the small pool of water collected in a rotting branch. It was only visible from a couple of angles and would have been easily missed so I was pleased to capture this most unexpected reflection on what was a fairly dull day.

Woodland Birds

For today I have taken a break from the flowers of Bodnant and I have taken a step into the woods and wetland of Mere Sands.  The title of the blog is slightly misleading because the first of today's three birds is a Reed Warbler so not really a woodland species, but the other two definitely are.

I was watching the Reed Warbler for a little while but it was at the farthest edge of the reed bed from the hide and was quite difficult to spot. These pictures are cropped quite closely and it was difficult to get a really sharp image due to the combination of distance and the wind. I think I will need to get some more practice.

The Robin was quite fearless and cheeky, he always kept a safe distance but I got the feeling that he was posing for the camera.  It wasn't a particular challenge getting these shots but I love Robins and I know they are popular so I am happy to post these pictures here.

The final picture is of a Bullfinch and  it was at the limit of my lens and although this little bird looks settled it was only there for a fleeting moment so again it was difficult to get a sharp image.

At Mere Sands

So there is a watery theme to today's pictures, that and woodland of course.  All of the pictures were taken this past weekend at Mere Sands Wood in Lancashire and it is a favourite place of mine.  It is really peaceful and on a day like Saturday it was especially nice to be there.  Walking around listening to the sound of birds in the trees and the chatter of newly hatched chicks in the many bird boxes scattered throughout the woods was just wonderful. 

It is predominately a nature reserve and there are a number of hides from which it is possible to observe the wildlife and although I didn't take any pictures of the birds on Saturday it was nice just taking some quiet moments, it was what I needed.

I hope you like the pictures I have chosen, the small pond was so peaceful and calm, if you enlarge the first image you will be able to make out some of the many fish that were basking in the afternoon sun.  The final two images are similar but of different stretches of woodland stream.  I love the colour of the trees and undergrowth in the sunlight and the reflection in the still water.