So, I thought to post some of the Gardenbirds' pictures here for a change, to keep the blog alive.
This afternoon we had snow, vergy unusual for us here in the "tropics of Ireland".
As it is winter, we are having an influx of Thrushes. I have not seen Fieldfares yet, and the only Redwing I've seen this winter was a dead one.
Redwing, Turdus pilaris
Weak as it was from the flight from the continent, it stood no chance to escape its predator.The 3 Song Thrushes, Turdus pphilomelos, differ in size, but they all have this lovely face, of course.
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos
at the moment we have 2 or three Song Thrushes, Turdus philomelostwo female Blackbirds and two male Blackbirds. These, together with the two Robins and three Dunnocks, all belong to the Thrush family, which are very territorial, making it difficult to feed at the same time; but it seems that they do manage this somehow. to make sure that they do all get access to food is by spreading food around the garden, and leaving it at different places about the garden.
There is also a large amount of empty snail shells about the planter. It seems that the Thrushes too are sourcing their natural food, just like those Great Tits. As reported on in Birding on Wheels
Here is just a few pictures of who has been coming in, at the planter and the coconut shells.
female Blackbird; Turdus merula
Another female Blackbird, Turdus merula, the first one who decided this garden was her home for the winter.
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And female number 3. Blackbird, Turdus merula.
She really has a lovely colouring; a bit chestnut.This is one of the two male Blackbirds, Turdus merula.
Sometimes this male looks more like a Black Grouse than a Blackbird.
Robin, Erathicus rubecula.
Without fighting, the Dunnocks still seems to shoo off one of the Robins. The Robin saw the Dunnock feeding in the planter and was gone in no time.
Dunnock, Prunella modularis.
Did the wind increase a bit, making this Dunnock jump a little. well with moderate-fresh winds, it is no wonder that it did get a little upset.The Chaffinches are always around. No matter what the weather, season or time of day. They will always call in.
male Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs.
female Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs.
Great Tit. Parus major.
Despite its name, I haven't seen its usual bossy behaviour over the other birds. Has the cold weather confused this specie?My sweet Blue Tits. Somehow these, and the Coal Tits, to have happy faces. Despite the cold temperatures, and the weather, these two species keep on chasing each otherwithout a let-off. Or perhaps it should be the other way around; the fight for control over the availability of food is even more important when the temerature drops. It is vital to get to food in those conditions after all. Well, if you want to survive, that is!
Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus
And those cute little Coal Tits.
Coal Tits, Parus ater
And two of my Corvids too: First of all, one of the Rooks. Corvus frugilega:
And the Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
Lovely photos Yoke, sorry to hear about the Redwing, such a beautiful bird and such a shame to see it dead… Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t had Fieldfares or Redwings either, although I have seen/heard Redwings in the park nearby they haven’t yet ventured into my garden. I will assume they’ve formed a large flock in the park near where I used to live – around 5 minutes drive away (20 minute walk up and down a hill) as there always seemed to be large numbers there, or in Dave G’s local patch as they are only a 5 minute walk from here.
We have loads of BB’s at the moment here, up to 20 in and around the gardens, usually there’s only up to 7/8 in my garden at any one time, but there are always more in the Cherry and Sycamores waiting to come down.
Last night I saw a huge murder of crows circling in the sky no doubt going to roost, I have never seen them doing that before!! I ought to have got my camera but was too in the moment to get it :)
You have some very nice birds visiting your garden. I've not seen too many birds around lately although some of the regulars do come back and forth. The crows come every morning for breakfast at around 7:30 am. I expect now that it's getting colder I will have more of a variety at the feeders.
ReplyDeletethanks girls.
ReplyDeleteIt was about time that I posted something here.
Sorry, I overdid it on the pics perhaps.
Liz, Francis spotted a (live) Redwing under his window up the front of te house. And I saw it in the planter later, for just one quick picture.
In The banks along the main road it was overcrowded with Thrushes. Everywhere they flew up from the side of the road, or hid further into the green leavy growth. They were mostly Song Thrushes, I believe. Too small for Fieldfares, anyway, so there might have been a few Redwing mixed in here and there.
Crow, you'd feel right at home at this side of the Atlantic; being used to snow, frost and dealing with those.