Tuesday 26 December 2017
Great spotted woodpecker, Christophstal December 2017

Great spotted woodpecker, Christophstal December 2017

Four long-tailed tits, Christophstal December 2017

Four long-tailed tits, Christophstal December 2017

Brambling, Christophstal December 2017

Brambling, Christophstal December 2017

It's been a while since I had any time to spend taking photos of the birds in the garden. Here are some I took today.

Sunday 24 December 2017

The snow has receded and revealed a large number of sunflower seeds under the feeders. This morning, there were six red squirrels in the garden monopolizing all the food sources. This photo was taken through a window with my camera phone - hence the poor quality.

6 red squirrels, Christophstal December 2017

6 red squirrels, Christophstal December 2017

Tuesday 19 December 2017
Middle-spotted woodpecker, Christophstal December 2017

Middle-spotted woodpecker, Christophstal December 2017

Middle-spotted woodpecker, Christophstal December 2017

Middle-spotted woodpecker, Christophstal December 2017

A great-spotted woodpecker has been coming to the garden almost every day this month. On Sunday, I noticed there was something different about the woodpecker visiting the feeding table - it was a middle-spotted woodpecker. This is quite an infrequent visitor to the garden, but this one was in the garden again today - on the peanut feeder.

Sunday 10 December 2017

It snowed quite heavily today. This red squirrel was using his tail as a kind of warm umbrella.

There's another red squirrel that has been visiting regularly who has a badly injured back leg. He seems quite healthy, but he does have some problems getting around.

Red squirrel, Christophstal December 2017

Red squirrel, Christophstal December 2017

Wednesday 6 December 2017
Great white egret with fish, Christophstal December 2017

Great white egret with fish, Christophstal December 2017

Great white egret, Christophstal December 2017

Great white egret, Christophstal December 2017

A great white egret flew over the house and down to the pond the afternoon. I took some (distant) photos just after he landed and saw that he was eating a large fish. I can't believe he caught this at the pond as he'd only just arrived. Most of the pond is still frozen over so I think he might have caught this fish down at the fish ponds and brought it up to us to eat in peace. There's still quite a lot of snow on the ground so he was almost impossible to see in all the white.

Saturday 2 December 2017

We've had yet another visit back to the UK so we've missed a few days in November.

It snowed heavily when we drove back from the airport earlier this week. Driving over the Ruhestein was quite scary.

Not a lot has been happening in the garden. Christine brought back this fine caterpillar she found while making Christmas wreaths with some of her friends. I think this is a Grey Pine Carpet. Nice pink thoracic legs!! Sadly, this is from Schönmünzach so I can't claim it as a new species for the garden.

Snow, Christophstal December 2017

Snow, Christophstal December 2017

Icicles, Christophstal December 2017

Icicles, Christophstal December 2017

Grey Pine Carpet caterpillar, Schönmünzach December 2017

Grey Pine Carpet caterpillar, Schönmünzach December 2017

Grey Pine Carpet caterpillar, Schönmünzach December 2017

Grey Pine Carpet caterpillar, Schönmünzach December 2017