For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Monday 27 November 2017

A small flock of redwings and a Fieldfare in my Cuckfield garden this afternoon in West Sussex, UK

 These three pictures were taken from my kitchen window.


 Meanwhile, in the back garden, another redwing was hopping around in the apple tree centre picture.
However, is it?  My thanks to SOS https://www.sos.org.uk/ and SOS member Roger Jackson in Balcombe, an adjacent village, for realising that this bird is a Fieldfare https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/f/fieldfare/
Very many thanks Roger.  I am delighted to be corrected on this ID.


 Then it flew up into a large yew tree and stayed there for some minutes.


Pictures were taken with a Panasonic DMC-FZ1000 camera.
More info' on these glorious winter visitors at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/r/redwing/
The RSPB says that they rarely visit gardens.  It is pleasing then to see them here and not for the first time.  The evolution of a formal garden to a nature reserve has been my goal for years.  It is now explained in an illustrated talk at http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page19.html
Click on any picture to enlarge it.
http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page17.html


Friday 24 November 2017

Redwing and nine other bird species in my Cuckfield garden, West Sussex, UK, this morning.

Self-sown hazel bushes got too large and have just been coppiced in my garden.
Honeysuckle and a massive rambling rose have also been cut right back.  Despite such work the bird life at 08.00hr this morning was superb -- taken from inside my house.
 A nuthatch
 A male blackcap

 A song thrush


 A redwing stopped briefly in an ornamental cherry tree.


 Blue tit

Wren

 Male blackbird eating fallen apples in the back garden.
 wood pigeon
 Female blackbird on the neighbour's roof. 
 Great tit visiting an "amour-plated" bird box.

 Green woodpecker in the back garden.
 Having a rest.
 Eating the fallen apples.

What a joy to see these birds.  After living here now for more than 29 years, this garden has been tended for the encouragement of wildlife.  The results are very pleasing and are the subject of a new talk The evolution of a formal garden to a nature reserve  Click the link to go to http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page19.html for more information on this talk, which could be of interest to Garden and Horticultural Societies and anyone interested in wildlife in general.
Click on any picture to enlarge it.

Friday 10 November 2017

2017 Veteran Car Rally in Cuckfield, West Sussex, UK 5th November 2017


 1902 Geoges Ricard
 1901 Darracq
 1901 Darracq 

 1899 Clement
 1900 Stephens
 158




 1903 Renault



 1902 Oldsmobile

 1902 Autocar

 1903 Panhard
 Riley


1901 Pick
1901 Pick

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