It was still icy

After the snow had cleared at home, it was still there on higher ground.  It was very much in evidence on a visit to Stourhead.

The Pantheon

Lily Pond (still solid ice)

This Mallard looked like she'd been in a snowball fight:

However, I've seen her since and discovered that it's plumage!

Most of the other usual suspects were around.

Marsh Tit

Robin

Nuthatch

... and more:

The Air Ambulance Service is very much a life-saver in rural areas.  The journey by road from here to Salisbury District Hospital is anything from 40 minutes upwards at busy times when even 'blues-and-twos' can't speed things up a lot.  Helicopters of the type used here can make the same journey in approximately 8 minutes.  For cases in which the 'golden hour' matters, the difference is self-evident.  The Air Ambulance is often on the scene before the ambulance if the nearest is already engaged.

That was so in this case, although, in the event, the patient was transferred by road.

An Air Ambulance leaving (taken from my window)

Finally, some images taken in the garden.

Pied Wagtail

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

The snow came (Part 2)

This continues from last week's blog with further images from my garden.  Whilst everywhere was blanketed in snow, the safest place to be was at home!

There were the regulars:

Starling

Robin

 

The mess those finches make ...

Shall I?  Shan't I?

Beam me down!

Mmm?

One lump or two?

It was good to see my old pal Stumpy was still around.

My occasional visitors, the Blue Tits, were there, of course for the fat-balls.

Watch this!

... and the Collared Dove.

I wouldn't describe the Wren as a rare visitor to the garden.  One visits quite regularly, but seldom presents a photo-opportunity.  It's mainly at the rear of the vegetation and I just get glimpses.  I rarely see it flying.  It always enters and leaves the garden on foot under the gate and I've really no idea where it goes from there.  On this occasion, I saw it enter the garden and then disappear behind and under the snow.  (There was a blanket of snow on the plants with a 'crypt' beneath.)  To my delight, it emerged and flew up to a perch on this cherry tree.  I had time for the one image before it dropped to the ground and left as usual.

Wren

The real treats were the appearance of two species that rarely visit except in extreme weather conditions.

Blackcap  (Don't you have a 'silent' setting on that shutter?)

(I heeded her suggestion and continued.)

Unfortunately, she didn't pose anywhere other than on the feeder.

Bullfinch

(a more usual view with a face full of food!)

What do mean, "... had enough"?

... then away from the sunflower hearts ...

... only to seek food on the ground!