MAY 2009 - Potteric Carr NR....KINGFISHER!

I have now added the video camera footage of this intriging bird! Above are 4 stills taken from the video camera footage that I shot when the Kingfisher came back at 7:30pm to fish.

Saturday 30th, today was a warm and sunny day, time for a trip out to my local patch. As it was warm, I decided that to keep cool, I would wear a pair of shorts. Big mistake! Walking through woods dotted with small ponds inhabited by flying beasties called mosquitoes, I may as well have held a sign up proclaiming... "lunch is here!" Aside from that, it was an enjoyable afternoon walking in the Sun! The usual birds were seen...nothing out of the ordinary. In fact I thought that it was fairly quiet has birds go.

BUT, at teatime, (these things always happen at teatime) I decided to wander back to the car and called-in at Willow Pool Hide on the way. This hide is where you are more or less guaranteed to get good close-up views of birds as there are a couple of bird tables staked-out. I entered quietly as I always do and there were a couple already ensconced. The chap motioned to me "Kingfisher!" The bird was perched on a small sapling just 20 feet away....FANTASTIC! I snapped away! As I slowly got my video cam out, it flew off! But not to worry as it turned out. It was still in the area flying about and skimming the water. The couple left the hide and I decided that I was happy with what I had got and seen and would leave too. BUT, it then came back and perched on a sapling closer still,...just 10 feet away! My video camera was out and I grabbed good quality footage at close quarters!!!! WOW...AMAZING!!

May 2009 - Of Linnets, Damselflies and Starlings!

Sunday 24th, two Damselflies visited our garden pond at lunchtime today. The weather was sunny and warm and this is the first occurrence of these summer beasties this year, that we are witnessed in the garden. The photos show a Common Blue (male Damselfly and a Large Red (male) Damselfly.

Later in the afternoon, I visited Wroot to see what bird life could be seen in the wide-open spaces of the countryside. Some glorious views of Reed Buntings and lots of Swallows were seen. But one particular showing of a Reed Warbler seen in full song through my scope was outstanding! Unfortunately I have no photos of this .

Going onto Hatfield Moor, I was treated to fantastic views of a pair of Linnets! Both male and female showed very well, being very accommodating on a nearby Birch. The birds stand-out very nicely against the blue sky. On the video, you may just hear the call of a distant Cuckoo. That bird was continually calling over a 30 minute period but too far away from me to go and search. Maybe next time.

It's that time of year when the newly-fledged Starlings descend onto all the feeders. This year there doesn't seem to be as many as in previous years but there are still quite a few that have made our garden their feeding station. The species is on the RED LIST OF CONSERVATION CONCERN and all efforts, even in a small way such as providing food should be made.

MAY 2009 - House Sparrows in the Study!!

Tuesday 19th, Well...it had to happen! Two brave House Sparrows, in their quest for live food, flew into the kitchen, through the hall and up the stairs into the Study. As the photo shows, both are perched side-by-side on the chair looking for all the world as if this is a normal thing to do. It doesn't matter what bird it is...they always find their was to the Study. Both are females and we have found that it is the females that seem to be the bravest when it comes to obtaining food for their chicks! This photo is a "reaction-photo" as Melanie was caught totally by surprise!

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.

MAY 2009 - Robin hatches 4 chicks & Blackbird hatches a second Brood!

Wednesday 6th, and the Robin that we recently found nesting at the bottom of the garden, has revealed 4 chicks to us (see photo above)! At the moment the chicks are still too underdeveloped to fledge which leads us to suspect that they only hatched maybe two or three days ago. The adult Robin herself still spends a lot of her time sitting on them to keep them warm. The adult male pays regular visits to feed the female, perched on the line that is close by. I managed to get a "not very good" photo of the chicks in the nest while the female was off stretching her legs somewhere.

Talking of chicks; the Blackbird family that we call 'Set-B' has now hatched her second brood. We can hear them but as yet have not seen them. The female still comes to the back door for mealworms to feed the chicks. Today I managed to get a short video of her coming into the kitchen to help herself to a beak-full!



One of our regular Wood Pigeon visitors has started to eat from the feeders normally only suitable for smaller birds! Not content with mastering the art of balancing while eating from the lantern feeder (see earlier post from April)...he...or she...has taken to eating the crushed peanuts from the wire feeder. Not normally a problem if you are a bird small enough to hang onto the feeder while eating...but if you are a big plump bird, you have to learn the art of balance and timing to rock to and fro to get a tasty morsel!

May 2009 - Potteric Carr & Hatfield Moor

Sunday 3rd, I went over to Potteric Carr hoping to see a veritable smorgasboard of bird life! Though it was a rasonably sunny and warm day, ther was a very blustary wind. Well, for only the second time of visiting the nature reserve, There were very few birds! The usual Black-Headed Gulls were out colonising Huxter Well but there was a very distinct lack of waders on the Well. Ringed Plover, Avocets and Redshank with Sand Martins and Swifts were there and usual suspects...but all-in-all, not much. Speaking to another Birder there and he reckoned that the strong winds would be a factor. But I did get a good showing of a Kingfisher (2 minute video will follow) and a Jay. Other than that....nothing!

So I dashed over to Hatfiled Moors to take-in the last 3 hours. Not much there either as it was still quite breezy! Though ther were alot of Swallows and Sand Martins buzzing about! On the water there was virtually nothing except for a solitary Oystercatcher and lapwing along with half-a-dozen Coots!

APRIL 2009 - Intelligent Wood Pigeon?

Thursday 30th, one of the local Wood Pidgeons that regulary visits the garden has over the past few days developed a taste for sunflower hearts. He...or she...will perch on the side of a small wire tray and lean forwardtowards the lantern feeder where the sunflower hearts are held. But each time the Pigeon samples the food from the latern, it will start to swing. Well the Pigeon has his...or her work cut out and will frantically try to keep balance by flapping its left wing whilst meeting the incoming swing of the lantern. This is the third occasion we have observed this phenomimen and the bird has adapted by using its right wing/shoulder joint to steady itself to the pole of the feeder! Just watch the short video.

APRIL 2009 - Bempton Cliffs visit.

Wednesday 29th, the day was sunny and very mild but on the cliff tops it was decidedly blustery that necessitated the wearing of a jacket in the afternoon. A rich diversity of bird life in one location; seabirds off the the cliffs and passerines around the farmland. As can be seen in the video below, Tree Sparrows are quite numerous. High up on the walls of the Field Centre are nest boxes that the Tree Sparrows use and I am told they have already laid eggs. Other Passerines that I saw were Meadow Pipits, (left) Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Skylarks and Wagtails. This was my first visit to Bempton Cliffs since May 2000 when I went there with a friend of mine, Neil. If you are reading this Neil, it hasn't changed at all. Everything is still very much the same! Arriving there at 11:30am, the car park was all ready full. I wasn't expecting that on a week-day. Anyway, loaded up with scope, tripod and rucksack which contained my digital and video cameras, I set off.

The views were just splendid! Clear blue sky reaching down to an off-blue sea. The cacophony of noise from the Gannets was the first thing that struck me. At certain places, when the breeze caught the odour of fish...that was quite strong, but that's all part of the great outdoors! The seabirds that were present in large numbers; Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes were mostly perched on the shear cliff faces in groups. Several groups of each particular bird were dotted along the cliffs in various locations.

By far the largest numbers of seabird present were the Gannets. A very tidy looking and large bird. Their groups/colonies were very active. Many birds had already paired-up but there were still others who appeared to be waiting for their mates to return and others just cruising around looking to form a partnership. The immature Gannets were easy to spot as they will still show streaks of black on the body and wings. After about 4/5 years the immatures will loose this pied appearance to a sleak all white except for the wing-tips that remain black and the distinctive yellow head.

But the seabird that I had come to see, the Puffins, hadn't returned from their winter feeding grounds yet. A warden advised me to visit again in mid-May. This I certainly will! On the farmland there are various passerines and the most numerous appear to be the Tree Sparrow, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. All of which I got some good views!! Bempton Cliffs RSPB is a very rewarding location to observe birds of differing types!!

APRIL 2009 - Siskin & Goldfinch in the garden!!

Monday 27th, and in the heavy rain we had a visit from a SISKIN on the feeders. Melanie took some video of the bird on the niger feeder. The fact that the Siskin is eating from the niger is unusual...or is it? A Goldfinch also spent time before the Siskin on the niger feeder...only ONE again! The Goldfinch also tried a few other feeders out too!



But not content with visiting the feeders once, the SISKIN comes back this afternoon to the niger feeder! The bird was very accommodating. It even waited for me to return from a visit to town. Melanie again took this footage. But the Goldfinch didn't make a return visit!

APRIL 2009 - Sandra's Garden Birds!!

Monday 27th, a friend of ours, who lives about 200 yards away as the Crow flies, has sent us these photos of the birds in her garden. The garden gets visited by flocks of Goldfinches and Greenfinches at a time... and we get the odd solitary one! I believe that it is down to the type of trees that surround her street whereas our street has no trees and we only have conifers in the garden. The photo of the MISTLE THRUSH with the worms is, you'll agree, a very good image. She also managed to snap this Sparrowhawk female with a recent Wood Pigeon kill! Sandra gets such a wide diversity of birds, even a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER visited her garden last week!!!!

APRIL 2009 - Blackbird & Sparrows in the House & visit to Potteric Carr

Sunday 26th, we have located the second nest of the female Blackbird from Family 'Set-B' and it is in our garden...maybe about ten inches from her first nest! Well, she's going to stay close to where the food supply is and we are it! The back door has to stay shut when not feeding the birds as we have found...to our cost that the Blackbirds (female and male) along with House Sparrows, are coming into the kitchen in search of mealworms! In one instance this afternoon at 5:45pm, the female Blackbird must have sneaked into the kitchen, found there was no mealworms available and flew upstairs where she left little packages in the study. All this while we had visitors too! Anyway Melanie managed to open the window and out she flew...sorry no pictures are available! Five minutes later, she was at the back door for feeding!

The House Sparrows are also being very bold. They have started to come into the kitchen if the door is left adjar. While at Potteric Carr this afternoon, I received a phone call and it was my wife telling me that 3 Sparrows and the Blackbird female were stood on the kitchen floor waiting to be fed.

APRIL 2009 - Blackbirds feeding new family?

Saturday 25th, well what do ya know? The Blackbird adults of Family 'Set-B'....you remember them...we had two nests of Blackbirds in the garden and we labeled them Set-A' and 'Set-B'. Well, it seems that having fledged, originally what we think we 3 chicks, they are now collecting mealworms for the new family! As it turns out, this scenario has shown us some interesting Blackbird behaviour. At the beginning of the week, the adult male had the sole task of constantly feeding the two surviving fledglings, which are now as large as he is! Any way, he started bringing them to the back door for mealworms. At first they were a bit apprehensive as you would expect. Now the number of times that they would tun up for food would be six or seven a day! By last Wednesday, the fledglings were quite at ease with the situation and would accompany their parent, who would dutifully feed them with our mealworms. They became so used to the situation that both of them started feeding themselves from the back door. Whenever the door is open they were there. If the adult female was around, she would shoo them away and grab any mealworms for what we think must be a new batch of hatched chicks. She steadfastly refused to feed the fledglings!


Now as of yesterday, the male is refusing to feed the fledglings and is collecting mealworms with which he flies off in the same direction as the female. He will even go so far as to attack the fledglings if they try to steal a mealworm or two. So is this must be indicative of Blackbird behaviour, indeed other birds may behave the same to their offspring?

APRIL 2009 - St. Georges Church Mistle Thrushes.

Thursday 23rd, during the early evening in the grounds of St. Georges Church, on St. George's Day, I encountered a couple of Mistle Thrushes and about 2 dozen Goldfinches. Unfortunately I didn't get a footage or stills of the noisey Goldfinches but I did manage to capture some of the Thrushes! Quite exceptional, these birds!p>

Talking of Goldfiches, earlier in the day, Melanie my wife got this footage of a very rare event in our garden, of a Goldfinch on the niger feeder!

APRIL 2009 - Potteric Carr NR

Sunday 19th, went over to PCNR for the last 4 hours of daylight. Not an awful lot that I saw except for some notables on Huxter Well; Avocets, Little Ringed Plover and a couple of Redshanks along with a single Oystercatcher. No sign of the Wheatear or the Black-necked Grebes that I was looking for. But a pleasant early evening! This image of the Oystercatcher was digiscoped using a hand-held compact to the eyepiece of my scope.

APRIL 2009 - Return of Blackbird youngsters!

Having not seen the Blackbird chicks since they fledged a couple of weeks ago, it was reassuring to see three on the shed roof earlier this week. Now, as you will recall, we had two sets of Blackbird families hatched in the garden. Each nested yielded at least three chicks. We called the nest by the back door, family 'Set-A' and the nest high up in the conifers, family 'Set-B'. Well 'Set-A' hatched three of the four eggs. family 'Set-B' hatched three eggs of an unknown original quantity of eggs.

The three fledglings from family 'Set-A' soon dispersed from the garden, we believe to adjoining gardens, but the adult male Blackbird still was observed (and still is around, as he frequently has aerial fights with the male from 'Set-B') in the garden digging for worms and accepting mealworms. The adult female Blackbird has gone and has not been seen since the chicks fledged. She built a second nest in our garden but never occupied it. We can only assume that she has taken-up with another male or has perished!

Meanwhile, both the male and female adults from 'Set-B' are constantly making noisy demands of us to be fed mealworms!!! It's the male that does all the feeding of the fledglings. The female appears to completely ignore the fledglings if they are anywhere near her! She will not feed them at all! Though she will take food for herself. Now, she maybe on another nest, we don't know, but the male still defers to her if she's around and wants first dibs at the mealworms! So it was good to see three fledglings this morning, on the shed roof...being fed by two males! Whose belong to who? A fledgling even came to the back door with the male from 'Set-B' (both males can clearly be separately identified) to be fed and this is when I snapped thee photos!