Bird Story

follow this blog

12 followers

116 daily readers

rank of 124

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Spotlight Posts

MISSING PIGEONS - lost and found

[ more ]

BIRD NEWS: 3

January 28th 2012 12:37

The news from the yard is not always good - sometimes, there are deaths to report. Although I have not shared any dead bird photos in this post, we had a few near misses in December when this fellow was spottted lurking around the yard swooping on birds that mostly escaped. I first spotted the sparrowhawk lurking in the tree outside my bedroom window when I looked up from a book I was reading, wondering why there was no twittering and chattering going on...

I entered the backgarden birdwatch run by the RSPB this year. In Australia, I often submitted info to their backyard birdwatch, but this is the first year I have felt confident enough on recognising the British species to enter. It has taken me a couple of years with a bird spotting guide of my own, 2 of dad's and a giant one from the library to be able to identify them all. Anyone else taking part? It is on today & tommorrow - so you still have time....

You can find out the details for the UK birdwatch here: Really Long Link They also have an active forum that I have just discovered at Really Long Link

As often is the case, when actually noting down the various species between set times, my friends did not all make their usual show - no wren, no gold finches, no jackdaws, no magpies.....

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

BIRD NEWS: 2

January 24th 2012 14:06

Whether this is usual for European mild winters or not, I am unsure. After all, I have been in Australia for 22 years, and only been back in England for 2. However, the doves are nesting already - and it is only January.

To me, this seemed somewhat early - so I took a look in my bird spotter guide. Apparently they are not supposed to be nesting and laying eggs for a couple more months. I admit my guide is out of date, being from the 1970's or 80's - so, I am curious as to whether this happens every mild winter, or is a one off. I suppose, after a few more winters in England, I will find out...

Over the few weeks I took as a writing break, various exciting bird-related happenings have occurred. We had goldcrests in the tree outside my window - this is only the second time EVER I have spotted one, and this time there were two! The blackcaps seem to enjoy the stone bird bath this month. Once, I was lucky enough to spot one start a bath - but then was called away. A few days ago, I was able to watch a blackcap throughout its entire bathing routine.

I have also got to know one of the resident pair of robins somewhat better. It does not flitter away as soon as it sees me anymore - but often sits on the pole outside the kitchen window and stares in, watching me cook. This makes me happy - as I really miss the friendliness of birds since having moved back to England - the Aussie birds always seemed much more friendly and curious to me - and far less afraid. Magpies and pigeons would often walk in through the open back door - right inside, once upon a time....

Talking of winter, now that the leaves have fallen, we can easily spot the nest the wood pigeons made on the grass verge tree next door....

....or could, until the winds blew the nest away recently.

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

BIRD NEWS: 1

January 21st 2012 13:48

Breaking back into the new blogging year with a couple more photos of the robin that I left you with in December.

Regular readers may be interested to learn that the garden now has a pair of robins that appear to be living in either the tree outside my bedroom window or the ivy-covered washing post.

I am also including links to a video of an owl, a 'chook dinner', and the beautiful sounds of the birds in India....
Owl video: Really Long Link
PETA-Chicken dinner: Really Long Link
Indian birds: Really Long Link

Vote

Comments (2)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Yard Bird Update 85 and vacation

December 17th 2011 12:39

To end 2011, I will share a few pictures that are - for once - not of pigeons or doves! Firstly two shots of some young starlings that were brave enough to munch food from my windowsill.....

Finally, for this year, 2 shots of a robin - a very seasonal bird for these parts. I wish all regular readers a Merry Christmas if they celebrate - or happy times if not - and a merry new year! I should be back with more postings, photographs, and bird-related facts mid-late January.

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Yard Bird Update 84

December 13th 2011 16:54

Today is theday for sharing the last of mypigeon photos for this year. These were taken of a parent and child pigeon in - you guessed it - the tree outside my bedroom window. Firstly, a rather wary parent bird - probably wondering if I have spotted its youngster....

It is all ready to protect its young if needs be - but of course, I would never harm a bird intentionally.

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Yard Bird Update 83

December 10th 2011 13:41

Today I am sharing photos of - ho hum, yep, sorry folks - more pigeons and doves! Firstly, a somewhat contented and relaxed wood pigeon.

Next a shy dove, that would not get away from the twigs so I could get a decent piccie. Followed by another such shy bird....

My final two pictures from October 2011 show a pair of wood pigeons perched in the tree outside my bedroom window. I seem to be finally catching up on my backlog of photos just as the Christmas writing break is about to appear.

Vote

Comments (2)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Yard Bird Update 82

December 6th 2011 17:36

Regular readers may be surprised to hear that I have no pigeon photos to share with you today! This time, I have a pair of photographs of an English magpie instead.

From time to time we have magpies visit the garden, but not on a regular basis. Recently, there has been a magpie visitor most days however. I beleive it is mostly the rotting apples on the ground under the tree that bring it along, but as you can see in these photos, it also likes to tuck into the food especially put out for the birds.

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Yard Bird Update 81

December 3rd 2011 16:16

Today, as quite oftenly, I have several photos of wood pigeons and doves to share. I expect the reason that these are my most prominant pictures are that these birds are less likely to fly away before I can grab the camera! Nearly every time I glance out of my bedroom window, there seems to be some sort of birdlife in the tree - but oftentimes it flies away by the time I have reached over, extracted the camera from its case, and pressed the start button.

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Yard Bird Update 80- bird bath duets

November 29th 2011 17:23

An interesting observance occurred yesterday. I was in the kitchen, as I often am, and glanced out the window to the stone bird bath. I spotted the little robin taking a bath - the one with high orangey markings. This was nothing unusual, until a blue-tit perched on the bird bath and also took a bath at the same time.

This is fairly uinusual, as generally when one bird lands, the other takes flight - or the one already there chases the newcomer away. The next time I glanced up, the robin was leaving, the blue-tit bathing, and what should I spot but a blackcap landing and taking a bath - right next to the blue-tit

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Save money on an ornithology book

November 25th 2011 18:21

Save 25% on your Christmas gifts...

Have you considered giving an ornithology book as a gift this year? If so, please check out WINTERBEAR PUBLICATIONS' 'Our Australian Feathered Friends'. This book details the scientific and personal lives of many South Coastal birds from the New South Wales region of Australia. Including lyre birds, pelicans, galahs, cockatoos, and - of course - pigeons!
[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

3 Posts

5 Posts

8 Posts