Lazy Photography

Some lazy, armchair photography, sliding doors open and listening to 15 to 1. Watching the garden birds coming to drink and bathe.

A very wet Robin.

A tatty Blue Tit, but I'm not sure what is the problem.

Coming down to the feeders, about four feet away.

Cock House Sparrow

Dunnock

Blackbird, down for  drink.

Blackbird collecting food.

This was from the other side of the house, though a closed window. I had a quick dip in our exercise pool, trying to improve my leg muscles, came out, showered and sat at my desk. As I looked out of the window all the finches left the feeders in a panic, and the reason was staring me in the face. A handsome male Sparrowhawk.

Back to the armchair to watch a Wren collecting nesting material from round the pond.

Cock Chaffinch

Hen Chaffinch

Thsi Collared Dove is a short tailed version, perhaps having lost it to a local cat, or even the Sparrowhawk.

This is the full tailed version.

A smart Blue Tit.

Blue Tit and Goldfinch go head to head.

Miss some, photo the others

Today was as much about what I failed to photograph as what I managed to photograph. After watching and photographing a Chiffchaff  playing in the fountain, I was messing with the computer while half watching England bowling at Bangladesh in the ODI, when I had a quick look out side andf theer was a male Brambling feeding on the ground. By the time I'd got my camera it had moved on, not to be seen again. From where I was "working" I can seen the little waterfall that goes into out pond, and a few minutes later I looked up, saw a very small bird drop down into the bathing pool, and grabbed my binoculars and was pleased to see a stunning Firecrest. Of course by the time I had my camera it had gone, and it didn't reappear. I did take a few pictures of the comings and goings, mainly of the hundred or so Goldfinches feeding outside the lounge.

Chiffchaff 

 Chiffchaff 

Chiffchaff 

 Chaffinch

 Goldfinches

  Goldfinches

 Blue Tit and Robin

 Wren

Robin and Goldfinch

It's Gold time at the Hidden House

First thing this morning a Wren was playing around just outside the diner window. It had a look at the water but and even had a quick exploration of the unused hole. It is always fun to watch their perpetual motion.

It was the increase in the number of Goldfinches coming to feed that was the highlight of the day. Although they are though of as residents many of the birds that breed here actual migrate
south in autumn and spend the winter in Iberia (not a bad idea). There are more than replaced by birds that breed further north and east in Europe, The numbers going through can number in thousands and in October form a major part of the visible migration observed from the cliff top. A good number spend some time with us, feeding, bathing  and drinking.

feeding is important for migrating birds, they build up a large fat layer which is the fuel when they are their long flights, and in our garden that fuel is sunflower seeds.

Some sit waiting for a feed position of the feeders, while others prefer to feed on the ground, where the seeds dropped from above are easy pickings.

Water is of course very important and there are two bird baths available, but in addition there is a small fountain that runs over a bed of stones. The Goldfinches seem to enjoy drinking and messing around on this feature.

New Tenants

I put up a House Sparrow nest box a couple of years ago.It was tucked away in a quiet shaded corner but seemed to be ignored.

 I was sitting in my study when I noticed a Sparrow collecting nesting material

. It flew upwards in the direction of the box and I went upstairs to check.

Watching, through the window. from the other side of the room meant the bird was completely unaware of me. She came in and out a couple of times and I left her to it.

Although people think of Sparrows as noisy, streetwise birds, they can be quite secretive when nesting.

It isn't unusual to  hear a Song Thrush singing when I'm in the garden, and quite often I find broken snail shells at the back of the garden, but for some reason we seldom see one  on the lawn. This one didn;t stay in view long, but there are a lot hidden feeding areas.

A splash of colour in the trees was the Brambling that's been around for a few days, I've only seen one, and I suspect it been the same one each day.

Although I have given the grass a "long" cut it is still long enough for the Bramblings head to disappear while it's feeding.

I think that there are two different Wrens in song round the garden. One spends time in the tangle that was the Rose Arch and one around the Top Pond.

Blackcap visit.

Another ODI against South Africa (a disappointing result), a dark morning and recently cleaned windows meant that I split my attention from the TV to the computer, where I continued with my Paraguay photos and then to the outside where birds were feeding.

Photographing through double glazing doesn't allow great pictures to be produced but they are recognisable. This Wren, I assume it is the same one, has been a regular for a while, cleaning up under the feeders where Goldfinches regularly provide bits of sunflower seeds.

Chaffinches do use the feeders but seem more at home on the ground feeding in what is a more natural way.

Normally the Wren is difficult to follow as is slips between the flower pots and under the overhanging vegetation.Today I was lucky.

Wrens are definitely cute, but no matter how hard I try it is impossible not to think of their tails a somewhat of an evolutionary failure, they really do look rather silly.

Yesterday while I was watching I caught a glimpse of a male Blackcap, but it vanished quickly and wasn't seen again.

Today it reappeared and a one time was joined by a second male.They are easy to spook and the slightest movement inside to room is enough for them to fly off.

Blackcaps are quite a common summer visitor and there is normally a pair around the garden, the males beautiful song being a welcome addition to the dawn chorus.

We are getting an increasing number wintering in the south, and ringing recoveries show that many of these are birds from Germany. Our breeding birds probably go south to the Mediterranean in winter, as do many sensible people. In most winters I have one or two regularly feeding here, but this year these are the first I've seen since Autumn. This could be because it has been so mild that any wintering birds have not need to resort to the garden feeding station.