Every now and then you have a day that is just a bit special and I am in the middle of one right now! It started at 7.30 when I got up, feeling more tired than I have for ages and it was hard work (it usually is),  getting myself down to the hide.  I haven’t seen my Kingfisher   at all since Monday and, like I said yesterday, I am always worried about that.  Well, I had a reasonable session with her, she did show up but more of that in a few moments. I must tell you about our new garden bird!

 I have problems with my birdwatching car (this is part of the story, I promise).Jenny needed the family car for an outing so I reluctantly came home at 9.30, aware that I was going to be stuck at home until I got the other car fixed.  I was cheered to see that I had a parcel, a new wireless shutter release and I was playing around with “my new toy”, as you would expect.  I casually wandered in to the kitchen with my camera in my hand and started to snap pictures of the Goldfinches that I could see down on the lawn.  Suddenly I noticed it………. a Greater Spotted Woodpecker actually feeding from my sunflower feeder only a few feet from the house.  The camera had a macro lens attached and I took photos through the window to at least record it’s presence.  I am aware that the photo is not of the usual standard, but it is a big event for the garden and I needed to get a shot to prove it.  Now, I have lived here in this house for 25 years and not once in that time have I seen one before, nor have I been told by anyone else about  seeing one. I have not seen one fly over nor pass through so it was a great surprise.

I am hoping that this is not going to be a one off and that we will get another visit from him, yes it’s a male, again soon.  Who knows! Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been on my garden wish list for ages so it’s good to finally get one.

More birds in the garden today included all the usuals with a few more Coal Tits and Blue Tits than normal and this is what probably attracted the Woodpecker when he saw them feeding, but to stop and join them, I was very lucky I think.

Now more about the Kingfisher this morning. I sat there this morning thinking that she had moved on elsewhere, she hadn’t come to me yesterday nor Tuesday and I was frankly beginning to fear the worst.  Then after 40 minutes or so I heard her and then caught sight of her.  She was about 75 yards away and after calling she dived in to try for a fish.  I don’t  know if she was successful but she had a few more dives, still in the same area.  I then watched her, again a long distance away, preening and bathing. Then more fishing and still she didn’t come near me.  It was fun to watch her and I wasn’t having too bad a time of it to be honest. I was convinced she wasn’t coming my way…….. then suddenly she was there, 5 feet away. I muttered to her under my breath but she didn’t react, well she wouldn’t would she.  She never did dive in to the tank because she had caught her fill already.  But she gave me a real show and I took a couple of photos, (well wouldn’t you)?