Garden Birds - Update two

Despite the arctic like conditions we have experienced this month the garden has been busy and we have seen success with several fledged Robins.  At one point the garden was busy with the calls of juvenile Robins on both sides of the garden and adult birds getting confused over who belonged to who and who their mates were.

Here are some pictures of at least two individuals, it may be three, if their parents struggle then I have no chance

The young Robins graduated from begging for food from the adults and being fed, to begging and not being fed to coming close to me and being fed.  This last activity greatly annoyed the adults and one or two little squabbles would ensue, the young Robins learnt quickly and were quick to the meal worms.

Then one day, they were gone, not to be seen or heard anywhere, the adults became less manic over feeding and a clam returned to the garden.  It will be interesting to see if any of the couples decide to have a second brood.

Donald the Robin still comes to the kitchen door and sits on the patio chair staring in the window.  I have noticed over the last few days that his breast is losing its vibrant red, becoming a little paler.

These two looks are the hard ones to resist and normally result in the door being opened.

One other Robin, this on the mate of the tame Robin that feeds from my hand.  The mate just watches and makes no effort to do the same.  He has also been quite amusing as he gets confused when surrounded by the juveniles.

Last year we were feeding a Blackbird family, this year our male has been dumped and is on his own.  He still comes for the meal worms but we have to feed him inside the house as he gets attacked by his former mate who has young by another male this year.  The patch above his eye looks a little better, we are not sure if it might be a wound as a result of one of the attacks, interestingly the other male blackbird has similar wounds but on both eyes.

The garden is looking quite smart right now, although the blossom in this picture all went after the storms on the third May.

That just leaves the Wren, who has become quite a character, it turns up in the early evening, usually when called or by knocking the meal worm dish on the wall.  The following photograph lays out where the Wren goes as it finds its way to get a meal.

The starting location is on the log at the far end of the patio under the tree, number 1.

Typical views around the log.

Having become comfortable all is well it moves quickly to the first planter at number two on the garden picture.  At first using the plants as cover.

But then becoming a bit bolder, checking to see what and who was about.

Then creeping mouse like along the edge of the planter.  The blurred image in the photograph is one of the Robins on the patio chair.

A quick look down, a meal worm had just been thrown for the Robins

Then it creeps around the first planter and into the big pot with hydrangeas at number three on the garden picture.

It is now quite close but has one more move next, down to the next planter alongside the hydrangeas.  Once again using the flowers as cover it creeps around the planter.

A final check to make sure all is clear, it is not worried about me it is the Robins it is watching for, not that it is intimidated, it is quite prepared to take them on, it is watching them for the chance for food.

And then the opportunity arises and it drops quickly to pick up the worm.

A quck shake of the worm against the ground and it is off around the back of the planters and away to the bottom of the garden.

Finally an update from the moth trap.  Progress has been slow, the cold weather seemingly keeping them away.  The only new moth in he period has been this Brimstone Moth.

One has to hope that the moth counts will improve as we move towards the summer and that the House Martins will return.