Tag Archives: West Berkshire

Pictures

Squirrel outside my window

5 Comments

Back in January I noticed a Squirrel in the tree just outside my window. I quickly grabbed my camera, which luckily had the big telephoto lens attached, and quickly took a few shots before the Squirrel moved on. Then something else came up and I kind of forgot about about the pictures. Today I remembered I them and decided to edit a few of them. Here’s the result, hope you like them:

Picture of a Squirrel hanging from a branch
Squirrel hanging from branch
Picture of a Squirrel grabbing some food
Squirrel grabbing some food (2)
Picture of a Squirrel grabbing some food
Squirrel grabbing some food (1)
Picture of a squirrel eating
Squirrel eating (2)
Picture of a squirrel eating
Squirrel eating (1)
Squirrel outside my window (click picture for bigger version)

Considering I took these pictures through the window on a dull overcast day with not much light I’m quite please with the results (and Photoshop’s help to get the best out of them). What do you think?

Pictures, Snippets, Thoughts

Robins in the New year’s sunshine

2 Comments

On the second day of the new year 2022 I managed to get out for a short photo walk around Aldermaston Wharf, returning as the rain arriving from the west set in. I didn’t see an awful lot, but managed to capture these two Robins in the mild New Year’s sunshine high up in a tree:

  • Picture of a Robin looking straight at us
    Robin frontal view
  • Picture of a Robin in full voice, singing loudly
    Robin in full voice
  • Picture of a Robin singing away
    Robin singing away
  • Picture of a Robin sitting in a tree
    Robin sitting in a tree
  • Picture of a Robin looking up
    Robin looking up
Robins in the New Year’s sunshine

As usual, click on the pictures to view the larger version and visit the gallery. I hope you enjoy the pictures of the two Robins, if I remember correctly the most popular bird in the UK.

Pictures, Thoughts

Pair of Blue Tits from my window

9 Comments

Over the last few weeks I’ve been watching a pair of Blue Tits in the trees opposite my windows. I think they’re nesting somewhere under the roof of my block of flats, although I can’t see that from my window as they are entering from the side. I can see them very well in the tree opposite my window though and with the warmer weather this weekend I used the opportunity to take a few pictures. They are only about 4 metres away, so I was able to take some nice close up shots, especially when they sat on one specific branch:

  • Picture of two Blue Tits on a branch with fresh shoots
    Two Blue Tits at the fresh shoots
  • Picture of two Blue Tits talking, one has its wings open
    Two Blue Tits talking
  • Picture of a Blue Tit with its beak open
    Blue Tit with its beak open
  • Picture of a Blue Tit on a branch
    Blue Tit on a branch
  • Picture of two Blue Tits back to back
    Two Blue Tits back to back
  • Picture of a fluffed up Blue Tit
    Fluffy Blue Tit
Pair of Blue Tits from my window (click on the pictures for the larger versions)

I hope you’re enjoying the pictures as I’m enjoying watching the Blue Tits hopping around in the trees and flying over to where I think their nest is. Should I get a chance I’ll try to take some video of them over the coming weeks.

Pictures

Goldfinch in the Autumn Sunshine (+bonus Starlings)

5 Comments

The last day of October 2020 brought a dull and grey morning and some heavy rain over lunchtime and early afternoon in West Berkshire. But around mid afternoon it cleared up and the sun came through, giving some nice autumn afternoon sunshine. As soon as the rolls I had started baking at lunchtime as the heavy rain stopped me from going anywhere were finished I grabbed my camera to try and get a few shots. I only had about an hour before the sun went too low and no time to go far, but I managed to catch these Goldfinches on a tree in its autumn colours (and some bonus Starlings on the top of a bare tree branch):

  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (1)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (2)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (3)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (4)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch on the top of a tree in the autumn afternoon sunshine
    Goldfinch in the autumn afternoon sun
  • Picture of seven Starlings on the top of a branch in the autumn afternoon light
    Starlings in the autumn afternoon sun
Goldfinches (and bonus Starlings) in the autumn sunshine

As usual click on the pictures for the large size gallery view. I hope you enjoy and like the pictures, I must admit I’m quite pleased about the first picture, managing to catch the Goldfinch just in the hole in the autumn leaves (there were also plenty failed versions of that picture…).

Pictures

Grass Snake going for a swim on the canal

6 Comments

Having only taken pictures from my windows for a few weeks I ventured out along the Kennet and Avon Canal when the lockdown restrictions were eased a bit. I stopped near Frouds Lane to try to take a few pictures of birds crossing the canal. That wasn’t very successful. I was just about to leave when I got lucky, although not with a bird. I noticed some motion on the other side of the canal and suddenly a Grass Snake swimming across the canal came into view:

  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming on a canal
    (1) Grass Snake approaching
  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming on a canal, seen from the side, tongue out
    (2) Grass Snake swimming
  • Picture of the head of a swimming Grass Snake reflecting on the water
    (3) Head of a swimming Grass Snake reflecting on the water
  • Picture of a swimming Grass Snake with the tongue out
    (4) Swimming Grass Snake with the tongue out
  • Picture of a swimming Grass Snake turning around, showing us the back of its head
    (5) Swimming Grass Snake turning around
  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming past a twig floating on the water
    (6) Grass Snake swimming back past a twig
A Grass Snake swimming across the Kennet and Avon Canal. Click the pictures for the larger versions

I must admit I didn’t know that snakes can swim until I saw this one doing it. This snake had to cross the canal twice (and did it quite easily it seems): It came across only to realise that on the other side was a retaining wall about 2 ft high, so it couldn’t get out. It had a brief look, then turned around and swam back where it disappeared into the undergrowth (no wall on that side). The tongue was nicely visible several times and the head nicely reflected/mirrored on the water. I hope you like and enjoy these pictures. I certainly enjoyed the moment and watching the snake.