January 2012 - Bird Story

Bird Story

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Bird Story - January 2012

BIRD NEWS: 4

January 31st 2012 12:43

Once again - and of no suprise to regular readers - I have some pigeon pictures to share. I caught some fairly lousy shots of a pair of wood pigeons feeding on Dad's bird table earlier this month. Whilst the photos are not of high quality, they are of pigeons - and I have recently been missing my show-pigeon flock from when I lived in Australia. The local birds are simply not as friendly - they do not wander into the house, hang out on my windowsill, or allow me to hand-feed them. Once, I had friends - now, I just observe distant strangers...

Last night, I dreamed of pigeons - I dreamt that 2 flew in through my bedroom window, one at a time, and stayed in my room for a while before flying downstairs... maybe I should join a pigeon lovers club!

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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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.....

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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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.

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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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.

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