NannyB, Last summer I tried imitating the wonderful blackbird (not only does he sing but he composes too) he listened to me trying to copy him and then went off on such a sophisticated riff that there was no way I could copy him.
Our garden tends to be the place for the pigeons, jackdaws and magpies. At least if they in ours then they are not in any one elses. Dont tend to find many smaller birds although husband did put up feeder and said that some blue tits visited it.
The big birds I get are; pheasants, who tear up the lawn, pigeons, collared doves who sit on the fence grooming each other, or kissing (do birds kiss?) a huge jay and the wretched sparrow hawk who kills the goldfinches.
artjak, I don't know if they kiss, but they grieve. A pair of collared doves sat on the fence next door for a full day making noises, I couldn't understand what was wrong with them, and then I saw a pile of feathers on the drive, I think it was their little one that had been killed. They eventually started leaving one at a time and swapping over. They finally left at dusk.
Victoriajane, If you put up a feeder with niger seed you are pretty much guaranteed to attract goldfinches, at least in the winter/spring...I did and they were there most of the time, altho' they seem to have gone off somewhere else to have their babies
Birds are such a great joy in the garden and especially now when they are so busy feeding young. I love to see the youngsters following mum or dad demanding to be fed, they make me laugh.
Fairygirl, long tailed tits are my favourite garden birds
It's sunny here, hope everyone else has their fair share too
Kef, oh that is so sad. i find this part of nature unbearable. if i see magpie's or jays hanging around the nests of the birds in our garden, i shoo them away, squirrals too.
Artjak, your conversation with mr blackbird is amusing. my husband tells me he answers me because he thinks i'm a threatening male. haha but i do think a blackbird has the most beautiful sound ever. enchanting.
we had a big archway over the back gate and whilst washing up at the sink i saw a pidgeon just about to land on top of the gate when this sparrow hawk flashed by the window, flew at the pidgeon as it took flight, caught it in flight and went through the gap between the top of the gate and the arch... it was amazing accuracy as the gap wasn't even that high.
We get sparrow hawks, I know they are magnificent birds ( or so they say )but I'm so sad when they snatch someone. Thankfully they don't eat very often unless they have young. Usually if undisturbed they will pluck their kill on site, otherwise take off with it. I've seen a blackbird taken. They are sneaky and sit in the apple tree waiting until the little birds think they've gone and come back to feed again..then it's me running out clapping waving and frightening half of the village.
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We watched a tiny blue tit eating bugs off our flourishing monkshood- an absolute joy. Like the man said, take time to stop and stare!
NannyB, Last summer I tried imitating the wonderful blackbird (not only does he sing but he composes too) he listened to me trying to copy him and then went off on such a sophisticated riff that there was no way I could copy him.
Our garden tends to be the place for the pigeons, jackdaws and magpies. At least if they in ours then they are not in any one elses. Dont tend to find many smaller birds although husband did put up feeder and said that some blue tits visited it.
The big birds I get are; pheasants, who tear up the lawn, pigeons, collared doves who sit on the fence grooming each other, or kissing (do birds kiss?) a huge jay and the wretched sparrow hawk who kills the goldfinches.
artjak, I don't know if they kiss, but they grieve. A pair of collared doves sat on the fence next door for a full day making noises, I couldn't understand what was wrong with them, and then I saw a pile of feathers on the drive, I think it was their little one that had been killed. They eventually started leaving one at a time and swapping over. They finally left at dusk.
Victoriajane, If you put up a feeder with niger seed you are pretty much guaranteed to attract goldfinches, at least in the winter/spring...I did and they were there most of the time, altho' they seem to have gone off somewhere else to have their babies
Birds are such a great joy in the garden and especially now when they are so busy feeding young. I love to see the youngsters following mum or dad demanding to be fed, they make me laugh.
Fairygirl, long tailed tits are my favourite garden birds
It's sunny here, hope everyone else has their fair share too
KEF, how amazing.
Kef, oh that is so sad. i find this part of nature unbearable. if i see magpie's or jays hanging around the nests of the birds in our garden, i shoo them away, squirrals too.
Artjak, your conversation with mr blackbird is amusing. my husband tells me he answers me because he thinks i'm a threatening male. haha but i do think a blackbird has the most beautiful sound ever. enchanting.
we had a big archway over the back gate and whilst washing up at the sink i saw a pidgeon just about to land on top of the gate when this sparrow hawk flashed by the window, flew at the pidgeon as it took flight, caught it in flight and went through the gap between the top of the gate and the arch... it was amazing accuracy as the gap wasn't even that high.
We get sparrow hawks, I know they are magnificent birds ( or so they say )but I'm so sad when they snatch someone. Thankfully they don't eat very often unless they have young. Usually if undisturbed they will pluck their kill on site, otherwise take off with it. I've seen a blackbird taken. They are sneaky and sit in the apple tree waiting until the little birds think they've gone and come back to feed again..then it's me running out clapping waving and frightening half of the village.