Tit's on parade.

Hi Friends.

I guess you realise by now from my photographs, I am a bird lover. Yesterday I was out with my camera and tripod to see what was about. When we moored up I put the bird feeders out and in no time at all, I had little visitors. The first to arrive were the Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), they always seem to be the first to check out the food source, then if they think it is safe, other birds will come and join in. You will always find them on peanut feeders and are easily encouraged to come in to your garden. The second tit to arrive was the Great Tit (Parus major). Another pretty little bird, who tends to be a little bit bossy when it comes to whose first on the feeders. The Great Tit is the largest of the tit family, hence their name. In winter it joins with blue tits and others to form roaming flocks which scour gardens and countryside in search of food. All the tits were very welcome on my feeders, I did spot a Chaffinch and a Brambling, but could not get a photograph of either of them, so will have to try again when they are around.
Of the Tit family the Long Tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)is my favourite. It is such an agile and active little bird, usally found in hedgerows and woodland. It tends to stay in flocks as there is safety in numbers.
We have had another foggy day, but still a pleasant run to Foxton top lock. We passed Jackie and Ray on RoeHaise heading off to the River Nene, although we may see them at Crick on our return trip. Yet again there was very little moving, either people are not setting off yet, or people could not be bothered to move due to the fog. I really do not care what the weather is like, it does not stop us moving, unless of course we are frozen in and then no one is going anywhere. Since arriving at Foxton, I have restacked the coal in the hold as far forward as it will go because we only have just over 1 tonne left and the bow needs to be kept down otherwise we may not clear a couple of bridges heading into Market Harborough next week. We are coming to the end of our Winter coal run and I am getting quite excited about our Summer cruising plans. Not that we ever make any firm plans now, because we did that last Summer and it was chaos with Keith being so poorly, so none of the plans were fulfilled. The hope is to travel north so watch this space. The hold is all sorted and tidy now and I am very happy with it looks now. Lunch has been eaten and tonight's dinner is cooking in the back cabin oven. Tonight we are having Honey and Mustard Chicken with New Potatoes and Veggies mmmmmmmmm.

Chat soon xxx