Excitement in the garden.......

The Little Owl has been around all winter but I have not seen it close enough to take photos, or it has moved too quickly for me.  I hear them though, most days/nights.

The other day while digging in the garden I heard it quite close and looked up to see it on the neighbour's barn.  I raced inside to get my camera and it was still there on my return.

Little Owl (Athene noctua).

Not really interested in me...

 

Checking me out now, but look at what is under the roof next to the beam...

Suddenly being in total lockdown has become a whole lot more interesting.

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Identification please......

My post is a little different this week as I am after an identification. I thought this was a redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), but friends think it is a Chiffchaff ( Phylloscopus collybita ).  I would like it to be the latter as if so it is my first ever seen, not only at home but anywhere.

Photos are not brilliant as they were taken through the window but I think they are probably good enough for an identification.

Ok so now we know thanks to some great followers - it is a Chiffchaff.  Thanks everyone.

Thanks in advance for whatever comments I receive.

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A few more birds from our South African holiday

I am keeping numbers of photos low as I may not get a chance to take so many photos here with all public places closed, and total confinement to homes is expected to be announced tonight.  I will be using up photos that I have taken previously.

Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus)...

As above...

As above.

Giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima).

Three-banded plover, or three-banded sandplover (Charadrius tricollaris).

Martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus).

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10/03/2020 The Blue Tits are still around.....

I will try to find time next week to go through my South Africa photos again.  I seem to be getting far behind!

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)...

Shall I brave it, the temperatures are still chilly?

Getting closer...

Well, at least my feet are wet...

Still thinking about it?

Who is watching?

Second thoughts...

A very quick dip...

Think that is enough for one day 😊

On a very wet windowsill.

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Nearly forgot the bird blog this week .....

A few emergency local shots from a very wet Charente.  The time just flies when one is having fun!!

Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus).

As above.

As above with Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) female, and House sparrows (Passer domesticus).  Interesting to see how big the pigeons are by comparison.

Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) male,

I saw this little fellow a long way off while out walking. I suspect it is a European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) but I would love confirmation please.  It has been confrmed as Saxicola rubicola thanks to Nathalie.

As above.

The same day I saw this Great Tit (Parus major) also a long way off.

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