Plants in the freezer

This Dunnock lives life in the shadows, always picking up little titbits dropped by other birds. From a distance it looks a drab grey/brown, but up close and personal, it's amazing what details the plumage holds.

This cold weather has given me many opportunities for photography. This Burdock seed head looked great in the macro lens. Nature really does make the best sculptures!

A pair of very excitable Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been filling up at the feeding station. This scruffy male can eat for England. The upper lake in mostly frozen now and Siskin are beginning to use the feeders now the weather is so cold.

Eyes Bigger than Tummy

The local Nuthatches are stocking up for the hard times ahead. A pair were storing peanuts for over an hour today!

A Windy Day

Ran the gauntlet of the Oak trees in the park today. I need a hard hat to protect me from the huge number of acorns coming down. It's a time of plenty for the birds and animals at the moment with sweet chestnuts and beech mast in abundance.

The adult male swan has begun chasing off the cygnets already and the resident Cormorant seems to be finding plenty of fish in the upper lake.

There were 11 Goosander on the lakes today, with only one juvenile male. They were very flighty and I could not get near enough for a picture. Perhaps when they have settled into their winter quarters.

Lord of the Trees

The noble Nuthatch, noisily proclaiming his kingdom, looks the part in his superb plumage. This one stood to have his portrait 'painted' by my lens. Stunning bird, just look at the feather details!

Lord of the Mower

Here is one of the unsung heroes of the Sculpture Park keeping the grass in pristine condition.

Lord of the Rings

Here's a tree nature has sculpted to look like an 'Ent', the tree that came to life in the Lord of the Rings. You can see the legs, arms, a nose and at least one eye!

Let There Be Light

In photography, it's amazing what a little special light can do to a picture. This Kingfisher is usually in shade, but for a moment or two, a shaft of sunlight combined with a hint of balanced fill-flash makes the image special, at least I think so!

There are at least 4 different birds in the park at the moment, chasing each other about.

Mandarin Duck Delight

A lovely sunny day at the Sculpture Park, the trees are beginning to turn and Sculptures were bathed in superb light. Sat by the upper Bretton Lake , two male Mandarin Duck came into view, keeping close together and looking stunning. They flew off a few minutes later in response to the resident swans throwing their weight about.

The local birds have been putting on a show in the last few days so I could not resist taking their portraits.