Sunshine! on my shoulder makes me happy

A spectacular bird and more noticable now with its calling and chasing about as it defends its mate or territory. This was taken as it buggered of from the feeders with yet another peanut.

those words from the a brilliant John Denver song certainly epitomizes today, the quietness of the day out of the wind and out of the shadows the warmth brought about a feeling of well being and optimism. And this all came together with some brilliant shots from the feeding station at Venus Pools.

If the little guy had a top hat on it would "top" it of, Boy these little buggers are fast. The placing of a few flowering twigs of Blackthorn makes up for the odd poor OOF background.

What the hell are people doing since when did they move the Blue tit out of the Parus genus and label it with some stupid name we can't even pronounce? Still looks a Parus to me.

Strange is it not that these Coal tits look totally different until you stop them and look at the colours in the feathers what magnificent little birds.

Parus Major! what can you say about these? gregarious bullies, not a lot but aint they cute?

"Does my bum look big in this?" hell how do you answer that one be it bird or bird! carefully or outright lie!! either way beautiful comes to mind here!!

Greenfinch's just take on a totally different and pleasing look after a few months in that drab winter coat, and this one is no different a real "hungry" stunner.

Is that a what you looking at face or what?

Good grief I near got dizzy trying to get a few in flight shots of our first summer visitors, it was not the fact that they move fast, but keep changing their minds on which way they were going!!

Now if there is one thing to get a whole bunch of coot in the air together it's the sailing boats on the Priorslee balancing lake.

And finally a couple from the Apley woods, which produced a good flock of Goosander a max of 29 on the Sunday with a lot of mating and displaying going on.

When you get to see a Treecreeper out in the sunshine it is a smart bird and to see it still and horizontal it takes on a new point of focus.

So up to date ish with Hares finally in the bag and the Bank vole project moving ahead eventually, things are beginning to get a bit hectic, but I will keep you abreast of things as the go along.

As a point of interest one of our Shropshire Wildlife photographers Mark Sissons is holding an exhibition in Oswestry on the 14 of April if you are in the area why not drop in for a look . Check out the paper for the location.

Hope to see you here again

Thanks for all your comments.

Paul