Here are a couple of pictures I took of our resident robin last winter. He went on to find a mate and raise a family. I would like to think it was the same robin who is in my garden this year, but it is probably very unlikely. A couple of winters ago I joined the BTO garden bird watch scheme which entails keeping a weekly record of the birds that visit the garden and then submitting the counts on-line. I have always enjoyed bird watching in a rather casual way, and I am pretty good at spotting the common varieties so taking part in this programme was not much bother. I keep a list of the usual visitors in my kitchen and tick them off when I see them adding any unusual visitors as I go. I feel it is important to make sure our little feathered friends are protected as they give so much joy. It is probably hypocritical of me to keep a cat as I know domestic cats can wreak havoc especially at nesting time, but luckily Marvin is not much of a birder and vary rarely makes a catch even when there are fledglings about. Counting the birds has made me realise what a variety do visit and I have at least 15 different species a week. Special visitors have included flocks of redwing, a gold crest, greater spotted woodpecker and sparrow hawks. Gold finches have been daily visitors all year and I often count eight at a time, and a group of house sparrows are now regular callers since I feed daily through out the year. But my favourite are long tailed tits which arrive in flurry and are off again after a few minutes frantic feeding. More information about British Trust for Ornithology here.
(Feeling much better thank you all)
6 comments:
They are lovely birds and my hubby says it is highly likely that it is the same one as they are very territorial ... we have one that comes down and feeds with the chooks. Also have two moggies and a shed full of birds (budgies and canaries) and they seem to know not to touch them. Our Olly (ginger/white and not unlike your Marvin) is a mouser ... the puppy had something in her mouth last night and my OH shrieked .... I stuck my hand in and pulled out a dead mouse ... ughh! Good job I'm not squeamish.
Your cheery little robin looks much different than what we call a robin here. Ours are some kind of thrush and are larger, I think. I also love to watch the birds in our garden come and go. I hope you are feeling better. It is always nice to share your day.
Hi Jill, Our robbin is a diffrent bird than yours. I would love to see what your other birds look like. This little guy is beautyful. We have fench ansparro but I asume you have diffrent ones than us.
Thankd for sharing.
Those photos are absolutely stunning. My camera is in its death throes at the moment. It is suddenly making everything far too bright..... pah! Hope you are feeling better.
We have goldfinches feeding too, about four to six come at a time. Also a group of the lovely long-tailed tits, about six to eight of them. A woodpecker visited a couple of years running, but hasn't been seen for a few years now, sadly. The occasional pheasant, the dratted wood pigeons, and yesterday, a renegade group of pink-footed geese appeared at roof top height. They were from the thousands that fly over twice daily, usually higher than this of course, this lot appeared, flew over, circled, came back... and would you believe, bearing in mind the time of year and the song about the twelve days... there were six of them! (It is six geese a-laying isn't it?)
Glad that you continue to improve Jill - like you, I watch birds 'in a casual way' - and they give such pleasure. Bye for now. Lesley
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