18th January - More Garden Birds...

The berries on the tree outside the house have remained so far through the winter, but with the forecast of a cold snap at the end of the week I felt there was a chance that they might finally attract some interest.  It wasn't what I had hoped for, but every year I enjoy the sight of the Redwings feeding on the berries.

As the gloom cleared there could be seen movement in the tree, and as it became lighter the Redwing started to appear

The Redwing would fly in, gorge on the berries, and then fly back to the bushes.  There were about twenty birds present and appeared to take it in turns to feed.  Waiting and watching for their chance

While not having the beautiful subtle colours and plumage of the Waxwings, they have a beauty all of their own.

And there is always the berry in the beak moment

The cold weather produced a lot of activity around the feeders in the garden.  This stunning Goldfinch

The three Blackcaps, two males and a female.  The female would take her chance when the males were not around, while the males appear to have settled on sides of the garden, and are very aggressive towards any birds that come close to the feeders.

The goldfinches being the target of most of the attacks

The last of the birds to arrive in the garden are te Starlings.  While the summer breeding plumage is a mixture of metallic petrol colours. the winter plumage is dominated by light buff tips to the feathers that produce a spotted plumage just as impressive.

A few more Redwing pictures

Last weekend it was the Lesser Redpolls, this weekend we had two stunning male Siskins

The cold snap looks like continuing through the month although with temperature rises.  This will bring more birds to the garden, hopefully some interesting ones to.

I have recently turned to Instagram, and will use this site to post pictures from around the village.  If you are interested please follow me at #mrchrisrose.cr

12th January - Garden Birds

I know it has been a while, Happy New Year!

The garden has been quite busy just lately, the cold snap just after the New Year bringing some special birds into the garden.  The Blackcaps are back, not just one, not just two, but three. 

A male.

Another male.

And a female.

I have experimented with putting banana out in the tree, and the Blackcaps have taken an instant liking to it.  The males being very feisty chasing away anything that comes anywhere near them.

Blackcaps are now regular winter visitors, but probably not the same birds as we have in the summer nesting, but migrants coming from the low countries in Europe and Northern Germany.

The female

After a snack of bananas there is the need for a drink.

Another welcome visitor is the Redpoll, not sure if we still call it the Lesser Redpoll, but that is the species we have here.  A male, with a very bright red forehead and breast.

We have also had a pair of Siskin, but I have not been able to get a clear photograph of them.

There is always a Wren present, but we only get little fleeting views.  Today it was showing very well.

Then down onto the patio and searching around the log by the bird bath.

Then along the fence and underneath the plant pots, always searching the vegetation for small insects and spiders.

And checking all the crevices amongst the slabs

The Robins as well as the two Blackbirds are now quite tame, we have either 3 or 4 Robins in  and around the garden.  If we are in the kitchen you can guarantee there will be a robin looking at us

One that has the garden as its territory, but this doesn't stop the others coming in.  When they do there is conflict, as each robin tries to get the higher ground in the trees while pushing out their red breast to try to get domination

They are also very much in song, this being more the case when it is mild, the singing starts or never stops through the night.

One of the surprises has been the Long-tailed Tits.  They now seem to have learnt my call when I go out to feed the Blackbirds.  They will happily take the mealworms from the dishes and the porcelain bird feeder.  Interestingly, the Blue Tits and Coal Tits have no interest in them at all.

The bird bath too is a big attraction.

They do though love the buggy nibbles.

During the day there is a pair that are around, but these are joined by six others later in the day.

The forecast is for the weather to turn a lot colder at the end of the week with frost and maybe snow.  We may yet see more interesting birds turning up.

Please check my other blog for my trips outside of the village