Big Garden Birdwatch - 2013

I took part in the Big Garden Bird watch this year again at the weekend and tried to get some photos of the birds that I was trying to count.  It's very difficult trying to count them in any case as they refuse to stay still, but trying to count and take photos at the same time is pretty much impossible!!  Here are a few of my efforts

Goldfinch

Rocky Robin

Sparrow - and I think the 'ghost' is a female chaffinch

Spot the sparrow!

Wood Pigeon

Starling feeding

Starling

Male and female chaffinches

Birthday Visit to Edinburgh Zoo

Away back in March of this year I decided that I would like to go to Edinburgh Zoo for my birthday to see the Pandas, so my husband booked it up and yesterday was the day!!  I predicted in March that it would rain on the day - and true to form, it certainly did!!  However, even with the poor weather it didn't dampen my spirits and we set off.  Our viewing slot was 11 a.m. but we arrived early and to save us standing in the rain waiting, they took us through with the 10.30 a.m. people, so that was great.

Both pandas were outside sleeping, so not very active.  Tian Tian was the first one we saw.  She was up on her platform sleeping with her head hidden behind a pole, so no-one could see her properly.  However, she suddenly moved into a much better position and all the cameras starting snapping!!  We then moved on to Yang Guang's enclosure and he was sleeping with his bum facing the glass viewing screen, so no chance of photos there!!


Here are a couple of Tian Tian, but they were taken through glass, so may not be too clear

After the pandas we moved on to the Meerkats, which were just fascinating!!

And here are just some general photos from the visit:

Sun Bear

Emperor Penguin

Jaguar

Crested Pigeon

Exotic colourful bird

A Flock of Goldfinches

I just couldn't believe my eyes tonight when I looked out of the livingroom window after having topped up the bird food.  There were no less than 14 goldfinches!!  This is the first year that we've seen these birds in the garden - it all started last year when I thought I saw a baby goldfinch a few times, but then early this year we began to see two, then three, then five and then eight, but today when I counted 14 it was just marvelous.  We are also now beginning to see siskins appearing alongside the greenfinches, chaffinches, blue tits, coal tits and great tits, plus of course the starlings, blackbirds and pigeons.  The garden is just alive with birds of all shapes and sizes, but they are eating me out of house and home!!  It's costing a fortune to keep them going in food!!

Here are some recent photos of my winged garden visitors

Acrobat

Cutie-pie

Who da ya think you're lookin' at??

Pole dancer!!