Food and Spring in the minds of my birds.

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus


Dunnock, Aegithalos caudatus

We've been having cold days, and frosty nights in the past week, and over the weekend, meaning that Thrushes like Blackbirds, Mistle or Song Thrushes, are still finding it hard to find earthworms in the ground. The Song Thrush is still coming for her daily meals, the Blackbirds too, are also still feeding here. On another note, the Blackbirds seem to have something else on their minds too; Spring.
The two males and the one female, which have been coming daily, have been joined by male number three. He, and another 2 females, had been calling on us in December and early January. It is clear that the males do not tolerate him this time. I just love observing them. It is a pity that I do not get to see the beautiful chestnut female any more. A colouring which I had not seen before in Blackbirds.
The female Blackcap is still in control of the food, it seems. Fruit in all shapes, sizes and taste, is still going fast. Miss Blackcap seems to have switched to the more staple foods like seeds, suet and nuts. Never mind; the fruit is being gobbled up by the Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Jackdaws. They are the garbage bins of the garden and will eat anything, which others might not favour immediately.
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelus



Jackdaw, Corvus monedula


2 Blackbirds, Turdus merula
(Left: male. Right: female.)
male House Sparrow, Passer domesticus


female Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla



We try and keep these suet halves (which have now been filled up with home-made peanut cake again) for the little ones; the Coal and Blue Tits, mainly. So, upon spotting this tail, at the end of the feeder (which the Rooks had turned around) I had a suspicion as to who the owner of this tail was, and indeed: Miss Blackcap had found her way onto the coconut husk. Not very good news; she is bullying them enough already.


eventually she appears.

Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto


Robin, Erithacus rubecula


Spotting my little Wren in the garden again, made me feel a lot better again. It kept busy with foraging on the ground, on the supports of the shelf, in planters, and anywhere else she thought might be fruitful.

Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes



Foryears I've tried getting a clear picture of my Wren scouring the wood of the shelf supports, and I might have -almost-succeeded. At least I can show people now where she goes on these supports. More or less.