The nuthatch is about the size of a Great Tit they are a distinctive bird with an orange breast, blue-grey wings and compact build. It has a long, powerful beak and a black streak running across its eye. To me they look like a small woodpecker.
In the summer much of their diet is made up of invertebrates, In winter, the species feeds on seeds and nuts.
The Chaffinch is a common, sparrow-sized finch of gardens, woodland, parks and farmland. they can regularly be spotted in woodland car parks where they home in on picnickers looking for an easy meal.
Leg lesions, commonly known as ‘scaly leg’ or ‘tassel foot’, are growths on the legs and feet seen in finches across Europe. Leg lesions in Chaffinches are one of the most frequently observed signs of ill health in British garden birds. It is said to be caused by both a mite and viral infection that cause leg lesions and is thought to be transmitted by contact. Most affected birds continue to live normally. Although birds with severe lesions can become lame so are increasingly vulnerable to predation.
The male Chaffinch is a colourful garden bird with a blue-grey crown, brown back and pink breast. Females are pale brown and have white shoulder patches and wing bars.
The above pictures show healthy Chaffinches below are some with scaly leg.
A recognisable garden visitor and a woodland bird. It is estimated that some 15 million birds winter in the UK. They often nest in garden bird boxes.
Length: 12cm
Wingspan: 18cm
Weight: 11g
Average lifespan: 3 years
A still and calm – quiet morning until the morning flights startup!
With a wingspan of 208-238 cm – about 7 to 8 feet a Mute Swan is a large bird in flight its wing flapping sounds like a gate that needs a good oil – you can hear the power and these morning flight break the silence of calm over the pound.
Two Moorhen waiting for their departure slot! I have not seen Moorhen’s up a tree before.
Cadman’s Pool is in the heart of the New Forest. A very dull misty morning but lots of small birds were very active and despite the poor light levels I was happy with my results.
Nuthatch.
Chaffinch.(male)
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Blue Tit.
Marsh Tit.
After getting our COVID booster shot today we headed into the New Forest. Cadmams pool near Stoney Cross Airfield. Opened in 1942, it served both the Royal Air Force and United States Army 9Air Forces. During WW2 it functioned primarily as a combat bomber and fighter airfield. It closed in January 1948.
Locals routinely leave birdseed on the ground or on posts in the copse next to the pond, So it is a good place to spot some of our small woodland birds close up.
Male Chaffinch.
Nuthatch.
Coal Tit.
Robin.
Marsh Tit.
Marsh Tits and Willow Tits are very similar and difficult to tell apart, here at Chapmans Pool it was the Marsh Tit enjoying the sunflower seeds.
You are never far from deer or fungi in the New Forest.
Continued Reflections from my World. 