RSPB Fairburn Ings

Last weekend was the date for this years Big Garden Birdwatch, and even though we didn't take part due to lack of time after our outings and other commitments, we were still watching birds.

On Sunday, we headed off to RSPB Fairburn Ings which is about eight miles away from where we live. It's been a regular haunt of ours since Daniel and Eleanor were young as it was an ideal spot for them to feed the ducks and swans.

First of all, we headed to the visitor centre to buy our bird food. We could have taken some bread with us, but it's not nutritious enough as it doesn't contain the ingredients needed to keep the birds healthy. Seed is a much better option and doesn't cost very much.

There's a little cafe area in the visitor centre from where you can watch the garden birds on the feeders right outside. We had Archie with us and we couldn't take him inside, so we watched the garden birds from outside.

There were plenty of birds to see and they didn't seem at all nervous as people passed by. I'm not sure if this is a Great Tit or a Blue Tit, but going by the size I'd go for a Great Tit.

There were plenty of Goldfinches around, I wish I could attract some back in to my garden, it's been a while since I've seen any there.

There's lots of little signs in the garden area which give information on how to attract wildlife in to your own garden.

I'm glad that dragonflies aren't really this size, but what a beautiful sculpture.

Archie was taken with the ducks and swans, though I don't think the swans liked him if the amount of hissing is anything to go by.

The swans are really quite tame and will happily feed from your hand. Eleanor wasn't quite so sure as she offered her hand out to a swan.

It was a really cold day so we didn't stay long, but it won't be long until we're back again to wander along one of the trails.