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Some of my friends live in our yard, others visit it, still others live elsewhere and I visit them. Come and read about all my feathered friends...

Bird Story - January 2010

Blackcaps 2

January 27th 2010 11:22
After studying both the live creature and a few books on the bird, I have learned some facts concerning the blackcap. Hopefully, I shall also have some photos to share in a month or so, when I can get them off my camera and onto a computer that I have yet to purchase.

Blackcaps come from the same family as the warbler. They are circa 14cm in length and make their nest from dried grasses. Their nests are situated in brambles and similar shurbs with undergrowth.

Blackcaps do not only eat the berries on my father's looks-dead shrub - but also enjoy insects and flies in their diet, as well as the berries from other trees and shrubs. Whilst a few decades ago they were rarely seen other than during summer in Britain, they are now winter visitors as well - as proved by my own sighting!



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Blackcaps 1& photos to come

January 20th 2010 10:18
A female blackcap is almost a sparrow in way of its looks - however, that rusty red 'hat' makes it stand out as not a sparrow and worth further investigation. After swatting through 3 bird identification books, I finally found out that this is what I was seeing landing on the dead-looking tree in my father's front yard recently and nibbling a few tiny purple berries.

It took me a time to identify, as the male blackcap has a black 'hat' and was shown in all the pictures without its female counterpart. Eventually however, I was able to swat up on the bird. Sparrow-sized, it is now the subject of a few photos - when I can get a computer at home, I will share them with you.


I also have a video of fieldfares, and photos of robins, WP the wood pigeon, starlings, sparrows, bluetits, and the larger than Aussies doves... (OH for that home-computer, sigh!)
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fieldfares

January 14th 2010 13:43
Like the redwings mentioned in my last post, fieldfares munch berries - particularly in cold icy and snowy weather. They also eat seeds and bugs when weather permits. These birds have black eyes and orange-tan feet. They are frequently seen in all but the hottest of months in southern England.

They enjoy woodland districts but will venture into gardens when the weather hides their usual food sources. For year-round observation, you should head to Eastern Europe. The bird measures approximately 10 inches in length and has a 5-10 year life span.

I have finally managed to get a video of a fieldfare munching cotoneaster berries direxctly below the window - now, I have to get a computer/net service at home, so that I can share it with you!

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Redwings

January 9th 2010 10:50
The redwing is not so often seen in gardens as many thrushes, but will visit in snowy cold spells to munch berries. Lucky us have one hanging out with the fieldfares in our yard.

I have not yet managed to get a photograph - but it has been seen hopping about both the front and back yards. It likes the cotoneaster berries out front and the ornage berries on a plant I do not know the identity of out back


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Firecrest

January 6th 2010 09:58
I was glancing out of the window recently and spotted a small sparrow sized bird that interested me. I had never seen one before - but it had an ora nge stripe and a yellow stripe....

I managed to identify it as a firecrest. Apparently they mainly frequent Europe but sometimes live in the most southern parts of England. The latter is where I am currently situated


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