Early Birds

Thought it would be interesting to see which birds came first to the table and feeders for a morning. I started my lookout from about 6:50 am on the 23rd of july, and had camera at the ready. The first that i seen was a wood pigeon.

Second to the feeders was an adult and young starling, having a feast of dried mealworms. That was after 7am. All in all a good little study to carry out as to the birds i seen first. Of course not to say some may have been earlier.

Injured Chaffinch

On the 13th of july i came across an injured chaffinch on a path. Took it home to have a better look at it, and to see how bad or not it was injured. The only one i could see was its eye.

Put it somewhere quiet with some food and water and checked on it from time to time. After 24 hours it seem to be doing a lot better and had been eating, which was good news indeed.

It was able to fly around where i kept it in a room and seemed quite happy to be having a flitter. Still eating and drinking rather well, a very good sign of recovery.

On the third day it was really flying around and its eye had cleared up of its injury. Was then that i decided that it would not be fair to keep it any longer. I duly opened up the window, and after a moment or two flew out. Was good to know that i could help this bird.

Window Feeder

as i had nowhere really suitable to put live mealworms, i decided to try a window feeder. To begin with a magpie did not take long to suss it out, but i did not want it to have my mealworms. They were intended for the smaller birds to feed their fledgling.

While i was pottering about in the garden, i heard this fluttering, and to my surprise there was a starling on the window feeder. Was able to get quite close and observe it feeding. Would eat some and then take a beakfull away.

While it was gone i dashed in to get the camera, to see if i could get a bit closer for a few shots.

As can see, i done rather well in getting a small sequence of shots of the starling. Set camera to program mode, so as not to fiddle about with settings.

gathering Food

Mr blackbird has been very busy collecting food to feed the young. I put out a regular supply of mealworms and suet pellets. Can see mealworms in his beak. He came within a yard of me so was able to get a quite nice photo.

In the second photo he had decided that as i was doing a bit of digging, had better come over and look through the soil for some more food. worms were on the menu. Was nice to see him flicking the soil with beak to turn it over.

Seeing Double

Just like the buses, when they dont turn up along came two. After not seeing my hedgehogs for a few nights, was more than surprised and even more delighted to see two.

Though the food was gone the next morning i did not see them. This more than makes up for it. Was quite surprised that they were feeding together. When they left, they both went in different directions.

night visitor.

This is one of the hedgehogs that comes to feed in my garden. It likes to feast on fatballs, dried mealworms and suet pellets. Did climb up on to my other feeder which contains a crumble of peanuts, sunflower hearts, dried mealworms and suet. Is beginning to be a regular visitor now.

this is the nest of a wren that i found in a railway cutting. A pouch like nest with a small opening. This particular one i suspect is still in the building stage.

In the same railway cutting i did find the nest of a blackbird which as you see has three eggs in it. I must stress that i never shood the bird away to get this shot. The bird had already left the nest by the time i got there. And i only stayed long enough to get this photo.

Further along my walk a peacock butterfly was flittering around. Did not think it would stay still long enough to get a shot. But with patience i was rewarded.

Wood Pidgeon

Today i managed to get a quick snap of one of the wood pidgeons that come to feed. Was nice to see them again, being absent for a couple of days.

No takers so far for the new feeder with the home brew in it. But i did notice a rook taking a keen interest while perched on the fence. Felt pretty sure it would try and get to it, but alas traffic in the street frightened it off.

Went for my usuall walk today, and decided to take a detour to the creek to see what was there wildlife wise. None to speak of, but talking with a lady was informed that two little egrets were there early in the morning. Also from another source was told that otters have been seen there. How reliable that information is i could not say.

My two pidgeons returned in the evening for a last feed. Not seen the hedgehog since i photographed it.