Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login
 
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 - April 2011

Yard Bird Update 39

April 29th 2011 15:48
I have been entertained by birds both back and front of the house again recently. When I first came back to England, in late 2009, there was much activity both sides of the house too. Then, for most of 2010, there was little action in the front yard. Now, since my son dug it over and planted vegetables, the birds are enjoying the loose soil again.

Sparrows come and dust bathe in the seed runnels. Blackbirds come to peck for grubs. Sparrows dance and chase from hedge to hedge. A wood pigeon has decided to walk along the path, sit in the tree outside, and coo-grumble most afternoons. Now, it is not only the jackdaws and gulls out front, yet again!


I still find it easier to watch the birds in the back yard, however, as that is where I am looking. In the kitchen, whilst cooking, I can watch their antics. Also, lying on my bed and looking out of the window, I can see them in the tree - or, on occasion, on the windowsill.
25
Vote
   


Yard Bird Update 38

April 22nd 2011 15:37
Not long after I woke up this morning, I made a plunger of coffee and returned to my bedroom to compute and ‘wake up’ properly. As I passed my bed, I heard the distinct sound of a cuckoo.

I have not heard a cuckoo for over 20 years, primarily because I spent 22 years in Australia, but even before living overseas for more than two decades, I did not often hear a cuckoo around dad’s village. There were plenty of black-faced cuckoo-shrikes where I used to live, though - as long term readers may remember.

The British cuckoo comes from the family Cuculidae and is approximately 13 inches in length. It is a strongly barred bird of gray coloring, although youngsters can often be a browner-gray. Other than the distinctive cuckoo sound, it may offer a coughing-like sound or a bubbly-sounding noise.


The cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds’ nests & as the baby cuckoos are born, they eject the other eggs and baby birds, leaving their foster parents to care for only them. Cuckoos can lay up to 20 eggs per annum, though it is more usual for them to lay around a dozen.

Usually seen between April and September, the cuckoo can be found all over Britain and heralds the arrival of the spring season. It is otherwise not very popular as it is a ‘polyandrous and carnivorous parasite’. The diet is predominantly made up of caterpillars and insects.
9
Vote
   


Yard Bird Update 37

April 17th 2011 16:07
Recently there has been a single dove sitting on the tree near my window in the afternoons. Previously, as in February, there were a pair of baby doves there.
2 doves

Coming up, photos of the new friendly one - but for now, two pictures of the pair that grew up in the tree outside my window in February.
pair of doves
32
Vote
   


Yard Bird Update 36

April 12th 2011 16:26
Today I am sharing a few sparrow pictures. They are nothing spectacular, but I had some news from the yard to share as well and thought I would slip them in at the same time.
sparrow
sparrow
sparrow

A pair of baby doves are living in the tree outside my window. One dove came onto my windowsill and stared in at me. I have really missed this sort of interaction with the birds since coming to England. The Aussie birds were very friendly in this respect, but here, I rarely have any feathered company.

[ Click here to read more ]
30
Vote
   


Yard Bird Update 35 - sparrows

April 7th 2011 17:19
Today I am just going to share a few photographs of the local sparrows. This may not sound very interesting, but they are around daily and although not tame, companions of sorts. They are quite entertaining if you spend enough time observing them rather than just sighing and looking for more interesting colors or shapes.

Firstly, one friend pecking grubs out from the ground


[ Click here to read more ]
27
Vote
   


Yard Bird Update 34

April 3rd 2011 15:43
I think I am finally getting the hang of my latest digital camera…
robin

Here are a couple of shots of a cute little robin redbreast sitting on pa’s patio tubs


[ Click here to read more ]
28
Vote
   


Yard Bird Update 33

April 1st 2011 15:04
Yes, I am back to my old habit of sharing pigeon photos with you again! Regular readers will know that I do not pass many opportunities to share encounters with pigeons. Firstly, WP is sitting on top of the bird table and staring around before munching lunch…
wood pigeon
wood pigeon on path

The next photo is WP wandering around the paths of the back yard. She is just passing the stone bird bath at this point. Then there is a picture of her inside the bird table - because after strolling around the yard she finally decided it was time to take her tea break.
wood pigeon

In the final picture for sharing today, you will find - yes - yet again, WP! This time perched camera-shyly in the tree.
wood pigeon in tree
29
Vote
   


More Posts
6 Posts
4 Posts
5 Posts
450 Posts dating from July 2007
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:

sandeye's Blogs

33115 Vote(s)
10 Comment(s)
626 Post(s)
24538 Vote(s)
10 Comment(s)
421 Post(s)
Hiphop (Member)
29310 Vote(s)
965 Comment(s)
287 Post(s)
Moderated by sandeye
Copyright © 2012 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]