Skip to main content

Welcome Back

The fat block on the feeder in the front garden has been taken very slowly and it was only this week that I actually saw a blue tit feeding although that probably has more to do with the fact that I normally do the washing up in the evening. I did decide that it was time to order my winter feeding supplies (fat bars, sunflower hearts, dried mealworms and raisins) and start feeding in the back garden.

The first fat bar went out yesterday and I was rewarded this morning by the sound of squabbling starlings (are there any other sort?). There were four or five, this years brood judging by the state of the plumage, on the fat feeder. I returned to checking my emails, sitting with my back to the window when a large shadow swept across the screen. At the same time the noise was cut off. Looking out of the window I could see one hiding under an overhanging branch in the hedge and one on the fence looking up at the sky.

It had since gone quiet but I returned to the window before hitting the publish button in time to see a wren land on the fence. He hopped into the hedge and a few seconds later reappeared won the travellers joy that grows through my neighbours leylandii. A robin also came down to take a few pecks from the fat bar.

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.

Finally

 Health issues mean that I haven't been paying any attention to my blogs but I was roused from my afternoon cup of tea today but a most unholy racket. Yes the parakeets have finallyarrived in my part of Chesham with a flock of five in the tree in my neighbours garden. It had to come eventually as they have been in Rickmansworth for years. Not much else happening apart from the usual circling kites and the occasional buzzard. I haven't seen anything eating my rowan berries but the tree is being steadily stripped. Usually its a mix of wood pigeons and blackbirds. Collared doves seem to be back in this end of the village as I saw a pair while waiting for the bus this week. They used to be garden regulars but hadn't seen any near the house for years.