A Bitterly Cold Day

Shot of the Day

Malcolm and Tootlepedal

I must say I do enjoy my Wednesdays off, it allows me to arrange appointments without taking a day off work and to do some housework which leaves the weekends free. Today there were no appointments but I managed a bit of housework in the morning. 

Malcolm phoned to say he was on his way for a visit and he would meet me at the moorland feeder station which was handy as Tootlepedal had phoned earlier to say he was going to fill the feeders later and could I join him which meant we could all meet together. 

When we got there it was bitterly cold, the sort of coldness that goes through your skull and hits your brain even though you've got a hat on. We hurriedly filled the feeders and got sat down behind the hide. After a short time Malcolm arrived and we all got settled down to watch the birds and hopefully take a picture or two.

 Unfortunately the hide wasn't designed for three, so as I was stuck in the middle with no viewing hole and there was no chance of getting any shots I moved the car and used that as a hide and that is where I got all the shots on this post.

The Bramblings were much in evidence...........

...........as were the Woodpeckers.

After a while Tootlepedal sensibly said he had had enough and was going home, about twenty minutes later we followed suit. Apart from the cold I was reasonably happy with the shots I took. 

Bonnie Brambling's, Stunning Starlings

Yesterday I spent a good hour in the garden tidying up and cutting back. Anne would have had me doing this task weeks ago but getting my head round it has been difficult. When I was done I felt really good and thought, a job well done. This morning I decided to clear some of her cosmetic stuff out of the bathroom and this time I felt saddened.

Mid morning I got a call from Tootlepedal to remind me we had arranged to visit the moorland feeder station. He said he was going off on a bicycle ride and could I pick him up at 2 pm. The rest of the morning was spent as I said. It was also decide that we would visit the starlings at Gretna accompanied by Mrs Tootlepedal.

Tootlepedal checking his camera

I put the camera as close as I dared and used the new radio remote. It definitely makes a difference having the camera on a tripod but I think the sound of the shutter was making the Woodpecker rather nervous. I'll have to see if there is any way I can dull down the noise. I was particularly pleased with the Brambling photos.

When we got to Gretna we went to the usual place at the lay bye just passed Smiths Hotel. When we got out of the car Tootlepedal noticed they were further south, more or less where we had come from. We jumped back in the car and headed back to more or less where we had come from followed by the only other car that was in the lay-by.