we were sitting having breakfast today when two squirrels ran past the window. They stopped to glance in at us before continuing on there way. One had a nut in its mouth and the other was following. It did not seem to be a fight for the nut but rather a pair chilling out together.
Location: Exeter
Time/Date: 12pm 30th December
Weather: Drizzle/Rain, overcast.
Great Tits do not often visit the garden however this morning there was a pair of them feeding from the Sunflower seed feeder situated in a Holly tree. They displayed a degree of weariness, flying off with the seeds to crack them else where. This meant I was able to photograph them at the approached the feeder.
Sparrow
Sparrows have always been a regular visitor to our garden however in the last few years there has
been a huge decline in the population around us. I have noticed this in other areas as well and the RSPB has been investigating there decline. The decline of the house Sparrow has had its advantages in our garden; a larger verity of birds now visits due to there not being a mob of Sparrows sitting on the feeders but it does worrys me that one of the most common birds to the uk is in decline.
The Sparrows that we do have in the garden behave in the same way that they have always 
done; sit on the feeders and don't show any signs of shyness.
Thrush
there were two Thrushes in the garden today. They tended to hide away however this one came up close to the house all fluffed up against the cold before it returned to hunt for food out of sight.
Redwing
It was these birds that made me grab the camera in the first place, but by the time I had got it set up
they had gone. However later on I looked out the window, thinking there was no birds in the garden I turned away. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a Redwing right up by the house half buried in leaves that it had thrown up in its search for food. Then on closer inspection I saw that there was a whole group all in its own little whole. The thrushes were there as well however on spotting me they flew further away. For some reason the Redwings seemed ok with my presence at the window and carried on giving me the odd glance. It was quite amazing how deep the wholes they were making. One seemed to almost have
a burrow under a log and would only now and again emerge. A couple more came down but were quickly chased away by the birds already there. This is the closest that I have ever come to observing these birds in the wild and I hope that I can do so again.
The Robbin which has been a resident in the garden for a while has spent most of its time, since I put up the feeders, chasing away other birds and generally being aggressive. It also had a very uncanny way of sitting just out of the light making it very hard to photograph.
Location: My Garden
Time/Date: Morning of 26th December 2010
Weather: overcast cold
There have been so many Redwings around with this cold weather. I have noticed that they are very slow and can often get very close to being squashed on the road because of not flying away fast enough. Today we came very close to doing just this. The bird was stunned I think, in the middle of the main road into Avonwick, we just missed it with a last minute swerve however I was afraid that the car behind may have got it. After dropping of my brother we went back up the road and fortunately the stunned Redwing had made its way to the side of the road and was sitting there looking a little perplexed but otherwise well.
Location: Avonwick
Time/Date: 2pm
Weather: cold clear sky
I spotted a Cormorant in the river dart earlier today. I was driving across so was not able to observe for any length of time. I have seen them at this location before and the river provides a good opportunity to photograph these shy birds as they cant get too fair away and there is a lot of cover for one to hide out. They tend to sit on branches in the river when drying their wings.
Location: River Dart at Staverton railway station.
Time/Date: 24th December 2010 2pm
Weather: cold not much wind.
Another visitor to the garden today has been a Wren. This little bird was hopping around looking for food and quickly disappeared into some thick undergrowth.
Location: My Garden (sunflower Feeder)
Time/Date: 24th December 2010 01:30pm
Weather: cold ice and snow on ground clear and sunny.
Now three days since the bird feeders were put out a Great Tit has arrived at the garden. Seen moments ago eating from the sunflower seeds feeder. Its visit was very brief and flew off to a more remote shrub to eat the seed. I have also today seen the resident Robin and the pair of Blue Tits feeding from the garden. The Blue Tits are still weary about coming up to the peanut feeder which I have put on the side f the porch for a good view from the house. I think that I might move it further away if they continue to be this shy.
Location: My Garden (sunflower Feeder)
Time/Date: 24th December 2010 12:45pm
Weather: cold ice and snow on ground clear and sunny.
I have been up to the woods near where I live a couple of times in the last few days. Although I have not seen that much wildlife the signs of animals and birds presence is very strong. Something that I found very interesting, is that with all the snow on the ground one can see where the birds have been foraging for bugs and worms. Around every tree is a circle of leaves and dirt thrown up from there digging. I don't know if this is where they would usually search for food or if it is due to the snow. Other interesting observations included deer tracks in the snow, I followed these for a short while before I lost them amongst the tracks of other animals (Rabbits I think). I was briefly exited by a bird swooping down through the trees a distance a way. Thinking that it was a bird of pray that had just dived down on some prey I crept closer in order to see round the trees and identify the bird. As soon as I was able to spot the bird it flew away and I could see that it was a Jay.
Location: Woods near Broadhempston.
Time/Date: Between 21st and 23rd December 2010.
Weather: cold and icy. Northerly Wind Light.
With all the cold weather I refilled the bird feeders in the garden. This was yesterday. Within 3 minutes I had a Robin in the garden picking up the seeds I had sprinkled on the ground and today when I returned home at dusk I noticed a pair of Blue Tits sitting in the Hawthorn tree waiting for me to leave the garden. I am amazed at how quickly they have found the food.
Other birds that I have already seen in the garden since I put out the seed are a bunch of Sparrows, I believe they are house Sparrows. A thrush, a pair of blackbirds and a Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow.
Location: My front Garden at home (Broadhempston)
Time/Date: between 22nd and 23rd December.
Weather: Cold icy top temps 3 degrees. Wind northerly light.
When out on a landscape shoot this morning I noticed a loan Redwing by the side of the road. At first I thought it was injured and proceeded to follow it as it hopped away from me, refusing to fly. It soon became apparent that the reason for the unusual behaviour was due to the cold. The Redwing did not want to open its wings and fly away if it could possibly help it. Either this or it was too early in the morning (just getting light) and it was still half asleep. On realising that it was healthy and well, other than being cold. I left it to snuggle down on its chosen branch in the hedge and continued on my way.
Location: Broadhempston (on way to woods)
Time/Date: 7:30am (dawn) 23rd December 2010
Weather: -2 ice and snow partly cloudy. Wind northerly moderate.
