Finchampstead Off The Beaten Path Tips by easyoar

Robin

This is the European species of Robin. This stays in England all they way through the winter and does not migrate. It is known as a songbird. They can be extremely tame, and this one stayed put whilst I took out my camera and photographed it. I have even seen people persuading wild Robin's to land in their hands when they have bread.

They also tend to watch gardeners when they are digging the garden, and you can watch them swoop down for a worm. It is also not uncommon to see them sitting on top of a garden fork that has been left in the ground - as they survey the garden for food.

This one was taken at California Country Park.

Coot

This coot was at California Country park in Finchampstead. I have seen them on several lakes in the area, and they tend to keep themselves to themselves.

This one was solitary and was ignoring me on the bank. It isn't one of the most attractive of water-fowl.

If you are in the area, California Country Park is well worth dropping in to. There is a playground for kids, a big lake, a small paddling pool, a cafe, and a caravan park on one end of the lake.

Nesting Blue-tit

Well it has to be said that Finchampstead itself is pretty much off the beaten path. This makes it quite easy to spot wildlife whenever you are out and about in the woods or around. I have seen all sorts of animals here such as foxes, deer, rabbits, owls. Then you get some of the more normal birds around too.

Blue-*** are extremely tame. I simply stood near this nesting box with a long telephoto lens, and set a very high shutter sped (1,500 of a second) and then waited. it has to be said that most of my frames were featured no bird at all as the birds just came out way to fast, but I did get a few good ones like this! Sometimes it took a long wait for the birds (both mother and father were coming and going) to come back, other times they were coming in and out really fast.

Rather sadly VT is censoring the word blue-t1ts, so I have used a '1' as an 'i' to show you what should be there! Bizarrely after experimenting, I can write tit without censorship, but not t1ts...