In search of THE starling!

In view of the much publicised Rose Coloured Starling that has been frequenting a back garden in deepest Crawley I decided it was time for me to get a shot of it and so with a good forecast I was on my way. On arrival there was just one lady with a camera pointing at a cherry tree and there it was! The only problem it tended to hide behind the branches and was half in the bright sun and half in shadow...not ideal. I met local photographer, Sandra Palme who suggested I went round the back and sure enough as I waited a few moments the bird flew down on to a garage roof  in full sun and with the ideal dark background of a pine tree. As I raised the camera to my eye it saw me and that was that...gone!!! What a shot that would have been but alas it is just a memory!
Here are few of my efforts....

...and finally a close up of the head in the sun 

Not all bad but could have been so much better...nice bird though!


Stopped off at Warnham local nature reserve on the way home to check for Redpolls, Siskins or hopefully a Brambling but saw none!

Nonetheless the usual 'garden birds' were well represented.............

Long Tailed Tit

Nuthatch

 Pheasant

Great  Spotted Woodpecker 

Great Tit

Song Thrush

Chaffinch (f)

Warnham is always a good spot  for 'the usual'!