I have a Wren in the Poly tunnel, sometimes when I open the door there is a very brief flash as it hides in the stuff stored in there and that's it, I never find it. It's welcome as it does no harm. There are also bits of poo on car tyres under the wheel arches and under bonnets too as something (probably a Wren again) shelters from the wind. I should set the Trailcam up to see what it is.
The Tawney calls out so regularly sometimes I recorded it. When it's a really still dusk I play it back and it flies out towards me.
You're right about Starlings, I have a very old book here which says you can keep one and teach it to talk as they're very good at mimicking. Remember though that back then they were common, but on the decline now.
The Dunnocks are regular visitors to the ground bird feeder, but it's possible they'll be needed to bring up this years Cuckoos.
The Robin(s) have been very local on still days lately, singing away in the tree on their own. They're very inquisitive, I've seen one in the Polytunnel and garage before now.
There is always something going on in the garden isn't there?
I recently found a nest in my daughter's bicycle helmet in the garage. I don't leave the garage door open for any appreciable amount of time, so I'm really not sure how mama bird managed!
Years ago, when 1st OH was alive, a redstart built a nest under the motor of his car. He'd had a holiday from work and when he went to start his car he heard the baby birds. He had to borrow my car. We wondered how the bird had built the nest and laid the eggs when he'd only had 2 weeks off and he had been going to work in his car.
When I moved house 2 years ago the removal men left a packing box that should have been indoors in the open sided barn. When eventually I went to put it indoors there was a robin sitting on a nest in it. The box had cut out holes in the sides to make it easier to carry, which is how the robin got in.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Last summer brought us a dunnock, occasionally two, but I hadn't seen it for a couple of months. I did notice a bird poo in the doorless shed a couple of months back, and assumed it was from a sparrow.. however, for two days on the trot I've heard a rustling in the shed when I've gone for the bird seed, and today I caught sight of little dunnock flying out of a gap at the end. I'm half hoping there's nesting going on, and half hoping there isn't as I don't want to risk disturbing them too much - the shed's tiny. I'm just chuffed my little mate's still around though. 😊
In the past week I have seen both Dunnock and House Sparrow with nesting material. Spring is on the way if not already here. Also heard Song Thrush singing which is the official beginning of spring in my world.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
@Redwing yeah our lot have been pairing up and picking about for materials. The starlings haven't started nesting yet, but by the look of my water butt lid they've had a good look around the regular nesting site. 😄 I always smell a subtle change in the air, that's how I know Spring is here, always in February.
@MikeOxgreen oh yes! Always something going on in the garden. I sit outside every day I can, (not in winter, sod that) even in the rain - watching the birds and insects going about their business is so 'zen'. Today we've gone from 2 goldfinches to 6, and about 30 seconds after saying we don't see any blue tits in the garden, one just appeared!
Just lately in my garden ,around 5 pm ish ,there is such a noise of birds scrapping. When I investigated the racket it was what must have been a dozen or more blackbirds screeching and pecking at each other and chasing round and round a shrub .I’ve never seen/ heard this behaviour before ,is it territorial? is it mating? Why are they doing it ? It really is deafening!
They do argue and chase each other off as they're territorial birds, and it's pairing up time now. That's a lot of blackbirds for one patch though - are you short of nesting sites round there, or is there just a single human provided food source? Were they definitely all blackbirds? I'm only asking because ours scrap with brave starlings over sultanas.
Yes definitely blackbirds. There has been much building of houses at that back of our row of 4 houses in what was a cow field but it’s been a couple of years now .I don’t remember it happening last spring , although there are a great many blackbirds around these parts ( north bucks) .We also get huge amounts of wood pigeons and collared doves but very few ,if any, starlings ,my garden is mostly sparrows which I love and find highly entertaining. Wonder what the blackbird * thing* is then .Maybe territorial,I feed every day and have too big a garden really which nowadays is mostly lawn with shrubs ,a tiny wildlife pond and roses .Very strange ,I guess we’ll never really know what’s going on with the blackbirds . Just wish they’d do whatever they’re doing a bit more quietly !😄
@bcpathome yes I know what you mean, I lived next to my friend's chickens once, I'd shout to the cockerell "I love you but shut the **** up!", every flippin' day at 7am. 😄 Now I have jackdaws chatting and laughing first thing.
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The Tawney calls out so regularly sometimes I recorded it. When it's a really still dusk I play it back and it flies out towards me.
You're right about Starlings, I have a very old book here which says you can keep one and teach it to talk as they're very good at mimicking. Remember though that back then they were common, but on the decline now.
The Dunnocks are regular visitors to the ground bird feeder, but it's possible they'll be needed to bring up this years Cuckoos.
The Robin(s) have been very local on still days lately, singing away in the tree on their own. They're very inquisitive, I've seen one in the Polytunnel and garage before now.
There is always something going on in the garden isn't there?
When I moved house 2 years ago the removal men left a packing box that should have been indoors in the open sided barn. When eventually I went to put it indoors there was a robin sitting on a nest in it. The box had cut out holes in the sides to make it easier to carry, which is how the robin got in.
I always smell a subtle change in the air, that's how I know Spring is here, always in February.
@MikeOxgreen oh yes! Always something going on in the garden. I sit outside every day I can, (not in winter, sod that) even in the rain - watching the birds and insects going about their business is so 'zen'.
Today we've gone from 2 goldfinches to 6, and about 30 seconds after saying we don't see any blue tits in the garden, one just appeared!
Were they definitely all blackbirds? I'm only asking because ours scrap with brave starlings over sultanas.
Now I have jackdaws chatting and laughing first thing.