It's been a while since I got out and sat in a bird hide - but finally I've been able to manage a half day - well actually not even a full half day - really just a few hours.

Having said that - it was frustrating to travel down to my favourite hide, as the Christmas traffic was terrible.   Arriving though was a great relief, and the pools and hides were as fantastic as I remember them - it seems a long time, but in reality it's only been about 2 months.  The birds were co-operative, and it was good to watch as well as photograph them.

I was most impressed by the Great Spotted Woodpecker, a youngster turned up a couple of times whilst I was there, and didn't even immediately fly off when I came out of the hide.  He was full of confidence, and so handsome.

There are around 140,000 breeding pairs of woodpeckers in the UK, though I don't see them very often, and this one was a delight.

The cold of the day, and the knowledge that I had an appointment in the evening, and 'work' to do eventually made me leave, though reluctantly.  Hoping to return between Christmas and the New Year.  Already I can't wait....