The Magic Post at Lynford Arboretum

30th October 2017

Probably a bit early in the year for a visit to Lynford Arboretum, but worth a look in view of the Hawfinch invasion. It was indeed very quiet without even the sound of a Siskin or Goldcrest, and as for the last few visits an absence of the once regular Crossbills. A walk ound the paddocks did reveal 3-4 Hawfinches which could be seen very distantly at the tops of the trees, or in flight with the numerous Redwings and Fieldfares.

But the hotspot today was the magic post. For several years now the Lynford goblins have been putting seed on the pillars of the bridge by the lake which attracts a constant stream of birds allowing some great photo opportunities. This year, however, there is an additional feeding station in the shape of an old rotten fence post where it is possible to place seed in the hollowed-out top.

So, seed in place, camera at the ready, so nothing else to do but sit back and wait. Well, it turned out to be not quite as easy as that as the birds would zoom in, stick their heads down the hole to get a seed, and them zoom off, so the first few shots were not quite what was required. This is a Blue Tit.............

.................and this is a Coal Tit.............

..........and a Marsh Tit............

.....................and a Nuthatch.............

But after a while the reflexes were sharpened and the next couple of enjoyable hours were spent getting some reasonable close-up shots.

Amazingly here the Marsh Tit is the commonest tit, or at least the most frequent visitor to the post.

..............and Nuthatches are numerous and, in my opinion, the most photogenic of all.

.................and of course some squabbling over the seed was inevitable.

But the start of the show today was the little Bank Vole which was making the most of some fallen seed while we were all concentrating on the post. How good is that?