The first cut of the grass in the garden today, while its still dry. Forecast rain and early next week 'The Beast from the East lll'  ?
The Blackbird and Robin enjoyed me cutting the grass, they soon were hopping around looking for any grubs.

               They tell me a 'weed' is a flower where a Gardener does not want it to grow

Attended an Essex Wildlife Trust educational day for volunteers at Hanningfield Reservoir centre. The subject in the morning was identifying Bird song with an illustrated talk by Liz Huxley. Very good presentation with videos and sound recordings. I thought I was not very good at bird song i.d. however I was surprised how many I knew !

After the talk we had a guided tour in the field as it were, in the woods really to try and i.d. the bird songs, calls and alarm calls, with the added bonus of viewing them as well.Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Great tit, Blue tit, Long tailed tit, Jay , Blackbird, Great spotted woodpecker (including ‘drumming’).  A couple of photos before my battery ran out in my camera doh ! click on photo to enlarge.

On my way home stopped at the Causeway and spotted the Slavonian Grebe which I was told was present, also a couple of Goldeneye. All too far away to photograph, nice end to the day. 

Coot fed up with being in the water, rather walk instead.

                       Dunnock

Anything a blue tit can do....

Today at the Naze - awaiting the arrival of  our spring migrants from tropical West Africa ...the Sand Martin unfortunately no sightings here today, who would blame them with the weather they leave behind !  But it won't be long. These photos were taken today to show where they nest every year, in the sandy cliffs, ideal habitat above Craig Walk.
Click on photo to enlarge.

                                                 The Port of Felixstowe in the distance.

Pied Wagtails often  have a variation in colour, but they can be different types(alba) showing more white and (yarrellii) the more darker. Suggest you look it up in the Collins Bird Guide for a better explanation.
Click on photo to enlarge.

                                                      Whiter one in my garden last week

Darker one at the Naze today

A second different one, whiter with a hint of yellow, in my the garden

                                                     Darker one at the Naze again today

Tuesday 20^th March

Volunteering  today at the Naze centre. A very nice day, a tad cold at the start, but turned out o.k. Even a bit of blue sky and sun, bringing  the temperature  to the heights of  5 degrees ….wow.  Yes and all the snow has gone, disappeared yesterday. Click on Photo to enlarge

                                                        The Naze Centre with Sun.

The Naze tower with the back drop of a Blue sky.

                                                          Quiet Day at the Naze.

Sunday 18^th March
No snow over night, but very cold, snow now frozen. Weather forecast say’s the temperature will rise slightly and most of the snow/ice will be gone….hopefully tomorrow.
The favourites visited this morning, this Blackbird stay’s in my garden for hours. The Pied wagtail sitting patiently for the food to be delivered. First in the queue!
Click on the photo to enlarge.

Saturday 17^th March..... Looked out of the window ‘The Beast from the East II’ had arrived overnight, a slight covering of snow, very cold 0 degrees and a howling wind which made it feel  -8 degrees, I know went in the garden to add to the bird table and threw some seed on the ground. The Blackbird enjoyed it and a  Pied wagtail appeared again, seems they only come into the garden when snow is on the ground. No Bees and my spring flowers looking rather frozen.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Bird table with added mealworms

Blackbird arrived in under 3 mins. 

Not that Snow again !                  

The return of the Pied wagtail      

Sitting at the table patiently          

                             Where's the Sun gone ?  

Friday/Saturday 16^th/17^th March
On Friday

Wow as the song goes ‘what a difference a day makes, twenty-four little hours’ it certainly does in my garden, in Kirby le Soken,
A beautiful day, blue sky, mild and sunny. Spring flowers in bloom, even the first Bumblebees feeding on the flowers. I believe the Bees to be the Early Bumblebee ( Bombus pratorum) and the Honeybee ( Apis mellifera).

Click on photo to enlarge.

Honeybee         

Early Bumblebee

Honeybee         

Early Bumblebee

Wednesday 14^th March

Still finding my way around, so a little stroll just around the corner to Quay Lane, which is a tree lined lane with lovely well landscaped private gardens, some have bird tables, hanging feeders and little ponds, nice for spotting garden birds. Also there is large areas of farming land either side that lead down through creeks, mudflats to large expanse of water which is Hamford Water National Nature Reserve. I can see I’ll be a regular visitor.
Click on photo to enlarge.

                              Garden Goldfinch  

Look behind you ! Wigeon coming in.

Few more from Mistley Quay 9.3.18 all Black -tailed Godwits. As usual click on photo to enlarge.

Friday 9th March - continue with more photos...click on photo to enlarge.

Goldeneye

Pintails

       Male with two wives ?

Friday 9th March

A lovely trip out on Friday organised by Liz Huxley to Mistley Quay, with a walk along the River Stour. A good selection of birds, ducks, waders. The weather was kind as well compared to last week’s snow and freezing temperatures, it was dry, a little cold, but with a hint of spring in the air. No gloves !
Click on photo to enlarge.

 Black Swan

Mute Swan.

Whooper Swan

The week-end as come and gone, all back to normal, the snow has gone, melted and disappeared !

Apples still on the lawn untouched, no Redwing or Fieldfares landed in the garden, however I have seen plenty around in the fields locally...just wanted one in the garden for a tick.
The feeders took a bashing, filled daily and as for the mealworms well I must have the healthiest Robin and Blackbirds around !
Goldfinch numbers have risen over the last week with ten on the feeders this morning being the highest number. Not touching the Niger seeds but love the sunflower hearts.

Still very cold and plenty of snow. I seem to have a resident Pied wagtail. He has a bob around picking up scraps  and seed which I make assessable . Then retreats to sit under our garden furniture out of the wind.
Added some apples to the ground, cut in half, hoping to attract some Fieldfare and Redwing...here's hoping !