Female Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
Siskin, Carduelis spinus
Waiting for its turn on the feeder in the front garden.
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
There are quite a number of House Sparrows hobbling about here too.
Dunnock, Prunella modelaris
This pair has been visiting the garden. A few weeks ago, we still had 3 of these lovely little birds. I hope it is around here still.
Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
They have been about the garden all winter and now into spring. This pair is hard to photograph, as they seem more itchy and easy to disturb, than any of the Corvids,
like this Rook, Corvus frugilegus
The Coal Tits keep themself busy with fighting and scaring their reflection in the windows.
The Starlings have discovered that they can feed from this feeder, and often try to do so. The Jackdaws have started using the round feeder at the side of the house. Nicking peanuts out of the feeder whole.
Male Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
During the winter it looked as if all Chaffinches from all over the village area were descending onto our food, and most of those have stayed put.
Since I haven't any help to put out food onto the shelving on the wall (which served as birdtable during the winter, thanks to Francis, despite the fact that he was very ill already) I have no other choice than scattering it onto the path in the garden, and onto the soil. The disadvantage is that I am now unable to see them from my window. These pictures were taking with the kitchen door open.
The antics of my birds make me smile these days, but inside I cannot help thinking how Francis would have loved to see those moments. Especially in the last weeks, he would hold onto the back of my wheels, to help him stand and watch out of the window, his eyes following the many birds scattering about the garden while his face was showing the pain and agony he was suffering from. Such a pity that the window was way to high to see the birds from a chair.
It is just too difficult thinking of new life this spring while I have just lost such an important person in my life.
And although my application for a PA, as in help, during the day will be reviewed monthly, I don't think I will get one allocated. The application has been denied once, so why would they think different the next time? I'm really fed up with everything, and even finding enough enthusiasm for my photography is difficult at times. With spring and summer coming, this worries me a great deal.
Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
This Wren, I see often in a flash, and it is always on the lookout for some juicy invertebrate larvae. A nice grub wriggling about between the wall and this shelf perhaps? Of course I was just too late when it flew off.
LEAVE YOUNG BIRDS BE!!
Please, do not hamper a young bird's life by picking it up, and taking it home with you. It is calling its parents to help them in locating it.
After fledgling from the nest, the parent birds will keep feeding it, and look out for it, until it will be able to look after itself.
And the reason you cannot see a parent is because of your own proxomity to the young bird. And while you are ebating if or not you should take the bird home, you keep the parent from giving it well needed nutrition in the form of a meal!
Photos
The photos on this blog are all taken by me. If there is any picture you might want to use for any other than personal use, please drop me a line to the email address shown in the sidebar on the right.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
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it's hard to know what to say.
ReplyDeletebut I hope you can derive pleasure from your avian visitors
Some absolutely beautiful specimens here captured in photos. We have loads in the Peak District National Park.
ReplyDeleteThanks pete. Don't worry, most of the time I do not know what to say, myself! But I do enjoy my birds, no doubt about that, and there is a lot of comfort in watching them!
ReplyDeleteAshbourne b&b, thank you for visiting Birding on Wheels. I sometimes wonder why the Chaffinch is not the commonest bird in our gardens, but then some people do not see them at all. (perhaps they do not look down onto the ground?) It is good to hear that other people like these birds as well. Sometimes they are seen as drab, lacking bright colour. (female) it is the females which are the real characters of my garden; they have such wonderful faces with lots of expression.
Hi Yoke
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering how you were doing. I will still be hoping/wishing that you get more daily help.
I agree with you about the female chaffinch. We had one come up to our car on the weekend. She was cute and cheeky! I saw collared doves close up on Sunday for the first time. They are lovely. :-)
Yoke - you haven't posted In a while, I'm worried about you. Are you okay? Did your cousin come out for a visit? Hope you are still finding a way to get out and enjoy your birds! It's starting to get too hot here in Arizona to go birding, will be over 100 deg. F next week. I'll be going bonkers soon!
ReplyDeletePeggy Thomas
www.birdingwithoutbarriers.org
Peggy, I'm okay or at least as best as I could be in this situation.
ReplyDeleteNo internet in my home until I had it fixed, just last week.
Yes, Frouke sid indeed come and painted 2 rooms. having her around was great and it was great to be able to just talk with her. She knows me very well, and she helped clearing most of Francis' stuff. Or at least that which is not worth keeping. old PC, and that kind of stuff.
I'm still not in Summer-mode though. It seems to pass me by.
Did by a lot of big pots for the garden to keep me busy and start creating a new garden.