My parents garden - weekend hilight

Firstly, the following photos are very poor as they were "snapped" through a double glazing window and then heavily cropped...

I popped over to my parents last weekend. Mother was at church on the Sunday morning, so I got to chat with my 75 year old father and introduce him to my new lens. (It was he who got me started in photography nigh on 40 years ago).

Dissapintedly, the West Midlands surburban garden appeard void of birdlife, with the exception of a couple of pigeons in the distant trees.

Mother soon arrived, and over morning coffee we chatted about the birds and viewed my recent pictures on the laptop.

Father was keen to show off his new toy - a bird nesting box camera. He switches on the nearby television, changes channel, and there is a very clear view of the floor the bird box that is down the garden. He is sad to report that as yet, the box has had no visitors. Of course, no sooner had he switched the TV off, the box gets a visitor:

That's a great story Lawrence and we're glad you shared it with us. Your images are more than acceptable i.e. they certainly allow bird ID. I've heard of the Bullfinch before, but not sure if I've ever seen one before.
I know you're already thinking this, but now you have an excellent reason to go spend more time w/the folks -

+1^^^^^

Quite agree with the above comments. The Bullfinch and Redpoll are well worth encouraging as they are, as you point out, species in decline. So well done for feeding them and do post more updates

+3 ^ ... Excellent story

Great story; and keep any photo you can, of birds you haven't captured before, until you manage to get a better one of the same bird! Even though they may not be something you would print, they're still good enough to ID the birds from and reminders that those birds CAN show up in your area

Thank you all.

In the spring I should be able to walk around their garden and take hand held shots of the birds, although in the winter, the rarer ones will dissapear as soon and the back door is opened.

I might set the camera up in the garden next visit and opereate it remotely from the back room (I might try using the shed as a hide, although that's a little anti-social).

I did print off some of the pictures I took onto 6x4 and posted them to my parents (along with the RSPB pages I linked to), so they have a record of those two visitors.

I'm pleased you enjoyed the "story". Some photos posted in these forums need no explanation, for others I like to get or understand a little background on how they were acheived and put the subject in context.

Lawrence

Trugga wrote in post #13900567
...(I might try using the shed as a hide, although that's a little anti-social).

...

Also known as using a 'blind', and not anti-social or uncommon at all Unless you won't share the shed with anyone, anyway