Catch-up 2016 & 2017 (part 2)

February 2018: catch-up 2016 & 2017 (part 2)

June 2016 saw me collect a lost racing pigeon from my workplace. For a few days, a pigeon was seen wandering about the car park. Knowing that I was into nature, the receptionist gave me a shout. At the end of the day with the security guard, we trapped the bird in a cardboard box. taking it home, my wife examined the rings on its leg and managed to track down the owner from the north-east. Apparently, the pigeon was racing from near Mansfield back to the north-east. A journey that should've taken a few hours at most. Well this bird got lost and made its temporary home in our car park. After a quick call a local "pigeon fancier" offered to home the bird for a few days and then release it back to continue its journey.

The 'Racer' rescued from the car park.

Well, he did this and sure enough, the pigeon returned to the car park. Once more we retrieved the bird and I took it home and rang the chap to collect it. This he did and said he would hold onto it for a week or more and then release it. Well it did return to the car park some time later but then as quickly vanished, presumably back to the north-east and home!

In August, another 'Racer' landed on the roof of our house. This bird looked more of a seasoned-pro. It had a steely look in its eyes as though it had a had a plan. The Pigeon was clearly resting before continuing the race. The pigeon only stayed for a couple of hours or so and then disappeared from the roof at dusk.

'Racer' number two.

The Summer months tend to draw in a fair few moths. This summer was no exception. Below are a selection of months that I snapped during those warm evenings.

While sorting the garden at my Mother-in-Law's home, I tend to come across this type of spider. Now our home is 3 miles away and have never seen any of these where I live. I would think that this type of spider prefers a different type of soil and yes, this spider has two legs that are twice as long as the others. The entire body is flat and they always seem to move close to the ground. I've always seen them in a garden at soil level, in amongst the planets and never near a web. I am unable to track down the name of this arachnid.

        

Back in our garden, I snapped this photo of a young Robin. I suspect that the Robin was about 2 to 3 months old. As you can see here, it appears that the right foot had become entangled in something. This more than likely happened in the nest when it was a chick. As you can see, one of its toes is part of the foreign body and is deformed. We saw it in the garden for a couple of days, having great difficulty in moving about. After two days it was not seen again.

MAY 2009 - Robin chicks fledge the nest!

Friday 15th, well...it's all happening today with the Robins! This morning, all 6...yes we can confirm that there are 6 Robin chicks, were still in the nest. How they could all stay in without any falling out is beyond me! The nest is quite small, too small for 6 medium chicks and wedged up against the fence, amongst the ivy. By this afternoon, Melanie had reported that they had flown the nest. Both adult Robins were on hand to oversee the event and tempted the chicks out with beaks full of live mealworms.

This evening I managed to see one of the newly fledged Robins as it sat in the conifers waiting for food. Feeding the adults, I could see that they were flying to all areas of the garden and beyond to pass on the mealworms. But best of all, during a rain-free window, the two adults were possibly inspecting another site for a nest. But the manner in which they did this was something I've never seen before. Both were hovering...yes hovering in a manner similar to Humming Birds, very rapid wing-beats and both birds side by side, inspecting the ivy against the fence together. To see two adult Robins hovering side by side, three foot from the ground and in almost perfect synchronization is truly amazing! Unfortunately I have no photos of this fascinating happening.

The Blackbirds are still resident in the garden. Family 'Set-B' (male, female and two fledglings)with their second brood. Also around is an older female fledgling from the first brood. Yesterday I did see what I think is the male from the first brood eating berries in the front garden.

House Sparrow fledglings are out and about now in the garden. Some of the adults are collecting live mealworms from us and seem to be quicker at grabbing the worms than the Robins, which get bullied out! This is a surprise to me as I had always assumed that Robins can be very aggressive.

Another bird that is a very regular visitor to the garden are Jackdaws. There seems to be a group of 4 adults that attend the bird table where there is always a selection of dry food...weather permitting! An intelligent bird, sleek and very tidy-looking and can be skittish, though immune to the dive-bombing of the male Blackbird! Like other Corvids, Jackdaws mate for life and both adults take great care in rearing their offspring. Last year during late May and June/July, we had a couple of Jackdaw fledglings accompanying the adults to the bird table.

May 2009 - Robin feeding chicks!

Sunday 10th, the Robin was out and about in the garden today gathering food for the chicks that hatched earlier in the week. Robin has now started visiting the kitchen again to get mealworms a these images show. Melanie has looked at the nest and there could be as many as 5 (confirmed) or maybe 6 chicks, that's one more than reported last Wednesday.



The Blackbird family 'Set-B', as we call them has finally fledged her second brood! Last night I saw one of the fledglings very well hidden in the conifers. The constant chirp-chirping was the giveaway! Both the male and female adults have been taking live mealworms to three different points in the garden. Presumably this is where the fledglings are located.

The Blackbird fledglings, now classed as immatures (we have only seen two recently and they are developing very well) from the first brood are around but not a much as had been, due to the instance of being chased off by the adults. But they will fight back if they are hungry and want mealworms. The male adult from 'Set-A' still puts in an appearance from time-to-time.