Bullfinch and Springwatch

I will start with an apology as I realise that my American readers will not have seen the Springwatch programme on the BBC. But while it is quirky and rather British I personally have loved the past three weeks. This year I think that it has been the best so far, and having had my fix of TV wildlife I can now happily ignore all the Football (Soccer) and the Olympics later on in the Year. Although with the Olympics had I been a sports fan I would have not watched it as a protest to the Chinese governments treatment of Tibet. Anyway before I get on that soapbox, back to Springwatch.

One of the things that Simon King had this year was an ultra slow motion video camera and if it were not that it costs a couple of houses to buy, I want one... Seriously, I love to see the details that filming with something like this reveals. It makes me want to buy a better camera myself but high definition suitable for filming wildlife is out of my league at the moment, perhaps I will win the lottery... Don't I have to buy a ticket for that?

Keeping on topic though, on Thursdays show, the last of the series (until Autumnwatch), there was a clip of film that showed a chaffinch dominating at a bird table. Now a couple of months ago I filmed the same behaviour but it was a Bullfinch doing it. However, other birds did come in and snatch a feed so this one was not quite as dominant. But I did it in slow motion and it does make the birds look very graceful.

Also as I do listen to my readers needs, I will just post the link to it at you tube rather than make it difficult for the folks on dial up to access this. Although I do listen for the two cats that are my other readers, I will not be posting the address of the birds as they requested anonymity.

Bullfinch

The other morning after spending another night under the stars watching the badgers, I decided that I would go to a particular spot where I stood a good chance of seeing the Roe Deer. As I was already cold, a bone numbing cold, I knew that while I waited and watched I would have some shelter from the wind. Unfortunately the Deer failed to make an appearance, I suspect that as I was shivering so much that I was failing to be as quiet as I thought I was. Therefore, I failed again to get the pictures I was hoping for.

Because I was so cold I decided to head for one of the bird hides, where at least I would be out of the wind that was draining the warmth from my body. It worked wonders for me, as although tired, I was delighted to see the flocks of birds, particularly the Bullfinches that were using this feeding station.

My initial pictures were a little blurred as I was still shivering a bit, but as I warmed up I was able to keep the camera still to get some cracking shots.

This stop on my sojourn home was welcome as I was able to regain some of my body heat, and I had some good memories to take home with me. When I finally got to bed, I slept for a full twelve hours straight. While watching any wildlife nocturnally has its problems, one of my problems has been solved by the gift I was given of a pen that has a red LED light in it so that I can see to take notes without disturbing the badgers and foxes.

It’s rather funny but several people have asked me why study an animal like the Badger, don’t we already know about them? Well as I will be showing in a latter posting, no we don’t and it’s only from real observations can we really learn.