A little bit of snow, 'Bird Guides' Photo of the Week, Jacqui Abbott and a live radio guest of 'Somerset Cool!'

The last week or so has been quite eventful to say the least!

It started last Thursday night when it snowed quite heavily in Somerset. I managed to get into work on the Friday morning but we went home at lunchtime.
  I spent the afternoon at my window photographing the birds in my little garden as they came to top up on the food put out for them. The light was awful, not great for photography, especially shooting through a window, but I managed some nice shots, one in particular won me Bird Guides 'Photo of the Week' award! I was thrilled with this, I've been posting my pics  to their galleries for years, and I'd only won 'Photo of the Week' once before, back in 2015, the competition is fierce!
 
The link to the award, plus the citation, is HERE

   Amongst the birds visiting in the snow was a Blackcap and a Reed Bunting, as well as Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Starlings and Blackbirds.

On the Sunday I drove to Frome in Somerset to be the studio guest of 'Somerset Cool' on their radio show on Frome FM. I was really nervous, but Jenna and Graeme of 'Somerset Cool' were 2 of the nicest people I'd ever met and really put me at ease, aided by coffee and chocolate digestives! :D
   The interview went well considering my previous nerves and usual discomfort in such circumstances , I really enjoyed myself and Jenna made it easy with her warm and sunny personality.

The link to the interview is HERE
Scroll down to the 3rd of February show and click play if you want to listen to me talking about birds and my photography!

Finally, I have to mention being 'followed' by Jacqui Abbott on Twitter!
For those who don't know, she was the female singer in my favourite band The Beautiful South and sang on classic tunes such as 'Don't marry her', 'Rotterdam (or anywhere)' and 'Perfect 10' amongst others. I've been a massive fan of hers for 25 years, and she's still having hit albums with Paul Heaton, the main man from The Beautiful South and the Housemartins. We have spoken a few times on Twitter now, and I am extremely pleased to report that she is a delightful person, so down to earth and not at all affected by her 'fame'!
    I even offered to be one of her backing singers on her next tour, but she politely declined (Having heard me sing!), although she did say they may be looking for a photographer..... :P

Here are all the photo's taken since my last blog post, including Black Tailed Godwits, Pintail, Marsh Harrier and ducks galore, starting with the Starling pic that won the Bird Guides 'Photo of the Week' award.

Enjoy! :)

^Above^ - The award winning Starling photo, taken in my Somerset garden during the snow!

^Above^ - More Starlings in my garden.... Oh how they bicker!

^Above^ - Female and male Blackbirds in my snowy garden.

^Above^ - Male Blackcap in my garden.

^Above^ - Collared Doves in my garden.

^Above^ - Woodpigeons in my garden.

^Above^ - Goldfinches inn my snowy garden (With a Starling in the bottom pic)

^Above^ - Pied Wagtails in my snowy garden.

^Above^ - Greenfinches in my garden.

^Above^ - Female Chaffinches in my garden.

^Above^ - Blue Tits in my garden.

^Above^ - Female Reed Bunting in my snowy garden.

^Above^ - Grey Heron at North Curry in Somerset.

^Above^ - A very pale Buzzard at North Curry.

^Above^ - Cattle Egrets in my home Somerset village.

^Above^ - Little Egret in my home village.

^Above^ - Little Egret and Cattle Egret (Right, with yellow beak) in my village.

^Above^ - Rainbow Jackdaws!! Taken in Bridgwater, Somerset.

^Above^ - Herring Gulls as the rainbow faded.

^Above^ - Female Stonechat near Sutton Mallet in Somerset.

^Above^ - Buzzards near Sutton Mallet.

^Above^ - Blackbird near Sutton Mallet.

^Above^ - Male Pheasant on the foggy Blackdown Hills in Somerset.

^Above^ - Lapwing in my Somerset village.

^Above^ - Blue Tits in Viburnum near Ilminster in Somerset.

^Above^ - Great Tit in Viburnum near Ilminster.

^Above^ - Jackdaws in my village.

^Above^ - Kestrel hunting at RSPB Greylake in Somerset.

^Above^ - Black Tailed Godwits at RSPB Greylake (Flying with Wigeon in the bottom pic.)

^Above^ -Carrion Crow at RSPB Greylake, showing it's blue eye membrane.

^Above^ - Chaffinches at Greylake.

^Above^ - Blue Tits at Greylake.

^Above^ - Starlings at Greylake (With House Sparrow, bottom 2 pics.)

^Above^ - Reed Buntings at Greylake (With Great Tit, bottom pic.)

^Above^ - Great Tit at Greylake.

^Above^ - Robins at Greylake, the bottom 4 pics of a long staying survivor with a deformed beak!

^Above^ - House Sparrows at Greylake.

^Above^ - Female Marsh Harrier at Greylake.

^Above^ - Pintails at Greylake.

^Above^ - Gadwall at Greylake.

^Above^ - Shovelers at Greylake.

^Above^ - Snipe at Greylake.

^Above^ - Teal at Greylake.

^Above^ - Wigeon at Greylake.

^Above^ - Many wild duck at Greylake!

^Above^ - View of the snowy Quantock Hills from Greylake.

^Above^ - Cute Lambs near Churchinford in Somerset.

^Above^ - Snowdrops near North Curry.