Perhaps common, but still very special

Went down to a riverside car park for a January high tide... And this character was in the area.  Couldn't believe she came so close, within 10 yards. She sat there for more than five minutes patiently waiting while photos were taken...

The feeders at one the local country parks always has a regular stream of visitors - amongst them cheeky chaffinches, resplendent bullfinches and a good number of very flighty dunnocks - the slightest movement or sound, and they dashed for cover

 Of course the seed feeders are for the smaller birds, finches and tits and the like. The larger birds hunt for the dropped seed on the floor - WRONG !! This trio of Collared Doves obviously hadn't read the rules...

It may seem a bit artificial watching birds at the feeders, but they are still wild birds, and it gives an opportunity to seem them a little closer in. And in the cold of winter (there had been heavy hail between pictures!) they do need a helping hand - have you been topping up your feeders today?

The following day we went slightly further afield, to the other side of Cheshire. I've been trying to get a shot of a Long-tailed Tit for the last few weeks, but they've always been to flighty - each time by the time the auto-focus gets its act together, there's been an empty branch!  Finally one sat still long enough to fire off a shot...

 And then, as the light faded, there appeared an apparition in the reed bed - a bittern!!  Sorry about the image quality, but this was extreme distance and the light was going fast...

 A stunning bird - and to be honest we'd never have seen it unless someone had talked us into it - 'see that tree, drop down to the hump, now go left a smidgen'...  And even then it was only when it moved that we saw it...

Many thanks to the local lad who showed us where it was, and spent a good time talking to us, giving local hints that we've stored away for future... Some birders can be very elitist and snooty - but most, like this chap, and the older gents we met at Frodsham, and the wardens at the local RSPB reserve, are down to earth and real friendly, even to beginners asking daft questions! Thanks folks, a pleasure to meet you...