Only 8 months since the last snow

No blogs during the summer as I spent a lot of time in the garden.Now winter is back with a vengeance and too much too soon.After being snowbound for 4 days we spent 3 hours digging our way out of the drive to get much needed provisions for ourselves and the birds.Thank goodness we did as we are once again snowed in.But at least our feathered friends will be fed.

visitors returned for more berries.Same six waxwings came back today.
wonder if they will be back tomorrow?

not very clear shots through the window but I was delighted to see these birds sitting on the wires above my garden then dropping down to feed on the berries on one of my bushes.A first for me.Always thought they were a larger bird.How pretty they are.

poor birds having trouble finding the seed

this little chap went for the easy feed on the table

under this lot is my waterfall and stream, no longer operational due to the huge amount of snow

Hi to all my blogger friends and best wishes for 2010.Had a difficult couple of months so very little photo taking let alone posting.However during this last few days when,because of the snow,I have had a little bit more time I managed to catch a couple of photos and, amongst the loads of blackbirds,goldies,chaffinch sparrows and yellowhammers I caught this little bird.I hope I am right in thinking it is a reed warbler.I know someone will confirm for me.

have'nt had time to either take photos or browse the blogs lately but today my hubby saw this tit on the feeder.Think it is a marsh tit.
Hope to be able to catch up on the blogs this weekend

nice to see a few friends having a relaxing bathe

then a few more joined them

and a few more made it a splashing time

some lovely september sun shining on the berries of the guelder rose.


I think this is a red admiral sunning itself on a wall by the riverside

I have never seen as many goldfinches in my garden as I have this last week.Apart from this seven on the niger seed I had some on the sunflower hearts too.A lot of juveniles around and I saw one still fluttering its wings wanting to be fed by mum

at first thought this was a sparrow in my stream but looking closer it was larger and had more markings especially underneath.Only bird I could see that looked similar was a corn bunting.Anyone put me right on this?

This nuthatch was quite the little acrobat hanging from the branch
I took over 60 photos in sequence of this dipper diving for food time and time again

What a marvellous little bird.Just wish it had been nearer or I had a stronger zoom.

it was swimming under water then popping up in a different spot.

trying to ID butterflies is really difficult so I am looking to my blogger friends for help

should imagine this is just a common white

have never seen this species before.Would love an ID