Skip to main content

Valentine

The birds are supposed to be choosing their mates today. I haven't noticed any behaviour to suggest that is true. I am seeing more in the garden however.

I have had a fat feeder on one of the quinces in the front garden for the last week. This has been attracting blue and great tits, while blackbirds will perch on the adjacent branch to use it. This morning a greater spotted woodpecker put in an appearance. Hopefully we will be seeing chicks again this spring.

At the back a pair of goldfinches seem to be becoming regulars again and a coal tit is also putting in an appearance. Numbers still feel light compared with previous years but are definitely picking up.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

No Choice

Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"

Harvest

The arable fields between Ley Hill and Latimer have been harvested over the last couple of days. This morning I saw a group of yellowhammers in the middle of the road by a field gate. From the look of things they were eating spilled grain. Instead of flying into the hedgerow they flew away from me along the road at windscreen height. I haven't seen much else recently apart from a distant glimpse of a partridge and the occasional red kite.

Not So Quiet

 During September and October the garden normally seems to be devoid of birds. For the last few days there has been a flock of tits on the feeder. At least 5 blues at a time plus two or three long tailed as well as the occasional great and coal. This only takes place later in the afternoon, usually at around 5.