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Had a lovely 30 minutes watching the birds in the front garden

300 replies

SheWhoDaresGins · 22/04/2016 09:43

Firstly Mr Pheasant came calling quite literally, so I threw some feed out on the grass for him then in the 30 minutes I was standing at the kitchen window watching him hoover it up I saw...

1 daddy black bird feeding his chick in our conifer trees. The mammy hasn't been seen for nearly a week now so has probably been nabbed by a cat or a sparrow hawk.

Chaffinches having a nosey, having a bit to eat then buggering off.

Every now and then a lesser redpoll turns up then disappears.

A black cap.

Sparrows that have taken up nesting in the swift box we have in the eves.

Several blue tits coming and going.

2 coal tits pulling the fibres off the underlay on top of the guinea pigs hutch. There are little bald patches emerging and now know the culprits.

There have been 6 or so Goldfinches on the sun flower hearts.

There are great tits fighting over the sunflower seeds.

The resident Robin is perched on the edge of the bucket waiting.

Nut hatches swooping in between the great tits and nabbing the seed of its choice and dropping the ones it doesn't want. I think there was a fledgeling on at one point because it didn't seem to know what to do at first but then awkwardly got the gist of it and left happy.

There's a pair of wood pigeons on the ground getting what ever is dropped.

Then there is a pair of Dunnocks scratting around in the grass and a little Wren shows it's face every now and then.

Then the Jack Daws casing the joint to figure out how to get at the seeds but they are too big to fit between the bars on the feeders.

Then to top it off and I love these a pair of long tail tits. Little fluff balls with tails.

I could stand here all day just watching them. Shame I have house work to do really.

Grin
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tigerdriverII · 28/04/2016 23:49

Oh delighted to find this thread!

We are pretty rural and near water and woods, so get lots of variety. Plus red kites have moved in over the past few years.

DH is in charge of several feeders, and the one with Niger seed has been a revelation: it's just a flurry of goldfinches and redpolls. We also have several very fine pheasants visiting most days, including one who looks as if he has rather exotic antecedents: he's a common or garden pheasant but does have a very fine crest and his tail's rather fancy.

Most unusual spot was (and I'm certain of this!) a great white egret which flew over a couple of years ago. Much bigger than the little egrets that turn up occasionally and very bright white. And no it wasn't a swan!

GerundTheBehemoth · 29/04/2016 09:03

I got that ad too, Mummylin Grin

Fab sighting of the great white egret, tiger. They are indeed impressively huge and sparkly white.

SheWhoDaresGins · 29/04/2016 09:13

I've had that ad for the last 4 days, just thought it was a coincidence Grin

Had a male Woodpecker hiding on the telegraph pole this morning. He was contemplating coming down for some peanuts. I had been watching him for a good 10 minutes slowly coming over tree by tree but then the neighbours girlfriend came out to get in her car and he shot off back to the woods like a rocket.

Never mind. If he was brave enough to get within reach he may try again.

OP posts:
LilaTheTiger · 29/04/2016 10:33

Once he's discovered the peanuts Gin you'll never get rid of him and you'll be spending half the weekly food shop on peanuts Grin

Mummylin · 29/04/2016 10:34

The peregrine chicks have just been fed, but I could not see the egg at all. Not sure if it was hidden or if it's been eaten !

GerundTheBehemoth · 29/04/2016 11:46

Unhatched eggs usually get gradually pushed aside once the parents have given up on them, and might get broken and trampled (accidentally) in due course. Don't think it's likely to be eaten though.

lavendersun · 29/04/2016 13:22

Tiger - when I discovered niger seeds I couldn't believe the rate it disappeared at.

The pheasants here have gone away thank goodness, I couldn't cope with the noise or the poo everywhere.

We are only using our window feeder at the minute which always has something on it. It was up at our old house and nothing ever fed from it. Odd. Even my nesting Robins are using it. At my old house the Robins never ate my feed, only mealworms.

Mummylin · 29/04/2016 15:24

She is still sitting on the egg ! This was about 20 mins ago when she was feeding and afterwards she pushed the egg back under

Had a lovely 30 minutes watching the birds in the front garden
TrafficJunkie · 30/04/2016 09:46

This was on my fence today. Lovely Partridge. It wasn't even scared of my dog or cats. Or even me. Was great to get that close for a few photos.

Had a lovely 30 minutes watching the birds in the front garden
LilaTheTiger · 30/04/2016 10:08

What a fabulous photo.

She's not giving up on that egg, is she?

Had a lovely 30 minutes watching the birds in the front garden
Mummylin · 30/04/2016 11:08

This screen shot taken a minute ago. She is feeding now

Mummylin · 30/04/2016 11:09

That partridge is really beautiful, what lovely colouring.

GerundTheBehemoth · 30/04/2016 11:12

Love the red-legged partridge. Very in-yer-face Grin

I just got back from looking at a wood warbler down the road - rare visitor round these parts. It was most delightful. Will post photos later if I got any good ones.

SheWhoDaresGins · 30/04/2016 15:31

Well today I have seen the solo red poll that keeps popping on

4 gold finches

Various blue tits and great tits also a baby blue fluffy tit.

Chaffinches on the ground picking up what the goldies keep dropping.

Nuthatches

And then a little goldcrest rooting around the long grass with the dunnocks and the robin.

Then the spuggies are fighting/playing around the car.

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MyLifeisaboxofwormgears · 30/04/2016 15:41

I have a family of 20 sparrows dust bathing in the garden.
They then empty the feeders, argue noisily in the rose bush and fly off again.
This is a daily occurrence - they know where the food is!

GerundTheBehemoth · 30/04/2016 16:30

A quick wood warbler photo from this morning. Lovely bird, really bright and lemony :) I found out later that if I'd stayed around a bit longer I might have seen a lesser spotted woodpecker too - which would have been my first for about five years - oh well.

Had a lovely 30 minutes watching the birds in the front garden
SheWhoDaresGins · 30/04/2016 19:58

Gerund your photos never cease to amaze me. What camera do you use?

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Mummylin · 30/04/2016 19:59

That is a lovely photograph, aren't there some pretty birds around, I wish I had more in my garden.

Mummylin · 30/04/2016 20:00

Not much to report on peregrines. Egg is still there. But earlier today the chicks were left on their own for at least 45 mins. I'm finding the web cam is not too good when it gets dark.

GerundTheBehemoth · 01/05/2016 08:53

SheWhoDares, I have a Nikon DSLR (a D7200 to be precise). For birding the lens I use is a 300mm f4, with a 1.4x teleconverter, which turns it into a 420mm f5.6. Sorry for the technical babble. Cost a bit £1400 and the lens is second-hand but has paid for itself cos I sell photos to books/mags (not loads but enough). I have a decent macro lens too for the little critters.

I see people round the reserves with much bigger lenses but I wanted something I could lift! I still have an achy back/neck after a day of carting my camera around, esp as I also have binoculars.

GerundTheBehemoth · 01/05/2016 08:57

I also take LOADS of crap photos. I reckon I throw away 90% of all the pics I take. I would never have been able to afford to be a photographer before digital photography Grin

Mummylin · 01/05/2016 11:53

Have had a very quick look this morning. Egg still there. The chicks seem to be growing very quickly, they look so cute and can't believe what powerful birds they will be. Still hoping that the egg will hatch. It's a week ago the first one hatched. The nest is getting very messy !!!

LilaTheTiger · 01/05/2016 12:30

She's feeding now mummylin!

3 chicks no egg?!

Mummylin · 01/05/2016 13:11

Yes the egg is still there, probably underneath the chicks, I really don't think it's going to hatch. Which is a shame. Isn't it lovely watching them feed. I have been on google reading up about them. It's all very interesting and it's lovely to be able to actually see it all going on live.

LilaTheTiger · 01/05/2016 14:49

Oh is it? I couldn't see it and have only seen 2 chicks before.

They're amazing. Loving seeing them and also have been reading up Smile