A big shock for the birds and us.

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus.

Last week, the birds and I had quite a shock, when the raised planter, aka bird table, collapsed. In truth, the real birdtable was blown off its perch years ago already. The raised planter, underneath the bird table, has been used by the birds since then. A large Fennel has been offering countless perch opportunities. Leaving stalks into the ground, and not tidying removing these at the end of the summer, meant that there was always room for eager little feet. Apart from serving as a perch, I have spotted Coal and Blue Tits remove Insects from the hollow stems in winter. The planter itself had been built around a metal pole, a remnant of the metal railing, which was put along the path, according to building regulations, according to the county council. It was way too restricting for me, and although it would be great for any resident walking here, and needing support, to me it was of absolutely no use. (I’m always sitting or half hanging bent over my knees or my arm rest, in order to get my macro images.) We were afraid that one day I would seriously hurt myself on those bars, so Francis removed them. Those on the wall we left. The perch of the old birdtable had been hammered into the steel pole; which means that it is useless now.

The planter was ideal to photograph my birds. At 1.5metre from the kitchen window, I only had to look over my shoulder to see who was eating what. As a plus point, the windowsill offers a nice support for my wrist. And of course, most important of all, the birds could not see me.

Replacing it is not very easy. If my little hill allowed me to, I’d just get a feeder pole, push it into the ground, or get one with a patio foot. Unfortunately, we’re on top of a large rock here (we are in Ireland, after all!) and have not got any soil to push it into! And, being higher up, too much wind is the other factor.

The Birds have again provided me with the next (though temporarily) option: The Fatsia, growing in a black bin, has been used by the Sparrows this summer, and so the most logical thing to do was to put a little tray with mixed seed into the bin. The advantage for the birds is that the soil, and thus the food, is at least 15cm below the top rim of the bin. Unfortunately, I cannot see the birds any more. Needless to say, that in a case like this, the birds come first!. Francis is trying to design a feeder pole. which can be attached onto the remnants of the steel pole covering (part of the good old planter)

Our local garda station has a lot of Fennel in its front garden, and I will check with Brendan if there are any smaller ones among them. Their flowers attract Insects, and these in turn attract birds like the Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. (of which I did not get any photos this summer, unfortunately.) Besides, I've been drinking Fennel Tea since 1988.

What is left of the planter/birdtable
Jackdaw, Corvus monedula


Robin, Erithacus rubecula





Where is my breakfast table gone?

I feel sorry for my birds, i know they need time to adjust to the new situation, and therefore, the main aim now is to get the peanutfeeder up.

Dusting the feathers

House Sparrows, Passer domesticus

The male;





On my way home, I spotted a family of House Sparrows, Passer domesticus, busily trying to rid themself of parasites, and get a good clean.
Providing Birds with food is part of the way how we can help them. Water is just as important. Flight, and therefore clean feathers, is vital to them. It is how they can take flight to escape danger as well as, finding food, finding a mate and find the best breeding spot.
Also Birds need water to drink. Young birds in the nest get their liquid from the food brought in by their parents. Mostly in the shape of Insect larvae, which as well as fluid, contains bags of protein.
People still ask me about feeding birds in summer. The "But Birds will get lazy" idea is still doing the rounds, apparently. Instinctively, Birds, (and many other animals) will search high and low to find live food for the chicks. The comprehension that with this protein-packed the chicks will grow faster than by feeding on protein-rich seeds.
The reason I feed them in summer, is so that the parents, after foraging from Sunrise, to provide for their brood, they can get a quick feed for themselves. They are ravished at the end of the day, and would have no energy left at all to get some food for themselves.

With the Birds moving about constantly, getting real sharp pictures wasn't easy. But my, Fun they were having definitely. They'd fly up and settle elsewhere, in a different formation. When I was about 3 metres from them, a car arrived on the scene to spoil the fun. For them as well as me.













Both the Sparrows and I were being observed from above by one of my friends, the Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix.

Searching for a Gull: a flying visit to Bantry harbour.

Juvenile Gull.

I was looking for a Great Black backed Gull, Larus rudibundus, for a photo, this week, and while it has been raining most days for 2 weeks now, I managed to find a few spare minutes between getting my fresh veggies and fruit at Organico, and leaving with the bus, which needed to be back in town in time to collect the rest of the group from the cinema. there was not a Great Black-back to be seen, however. A first for me! Being the largest Gull on the mud, it would be hard to miss, or so I thought. The harbour wall is too high for a quick and proper look. Behind the board, showing off the different birds found Bantry Bay, there is a small opening leading to a set of stone steps into the harbour itself. Looking down, I spotted this immature Gull. the size of either Herring Gull, lesser Black back or the Great Black backed Gull. Identifying juvenile Gulls is very tricky. Apart from a need to ID them, the patterns often remind me of those found in the human world. Many markings, colourings around me make me think of fabrics, or other materials which had similar ones. After taking a few shots, I spotted John the driver, and I started making my way round the parking lot to the dip in the pavement to allow my wheels to get of the pavement without me breaking my back.
As I moved about in a hurry, I did manage to capture this lovely Pied Wagtail juvenile. .
Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba.




This House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, was moving about in front of me, and apparently not interested in having its picture taken.

Stripping of the grains

juvenile Jackdaw, Corvus monedula

harvested Oats.

The Birds have been "sowing" the seeds, and the Jackdaws are now stripping the Oats, and it is not unsual to see one with a beak full of the seeds, and lots more it looks like.



With three youngsters to feed, I cannot blame them for sowing seeds all over the garden.
It has been raining here now for 10 days, more or less. I know the plants need it, but can we get it at night please?
As you can see below. the little Jacks are fully alert!


Rook, Corvus frugilegus.






I love how this position of a bird feeding looks like it making a curtsy.

Juvenile House Sparrows, again.

Juvenile House Sparrows, Passer domesticus

The Sparrows's young have been coming in and out of the garden, but there was never a good opportunity for photos. Most of the time they would come late evening, sitting on the fence and against the setting Sun, so that photos are out of the question. The quality and contrast is very bad on this occasion.; my apologies!







One of the three young Jackdaws, Corvus monedula



Finally.. Food!!!

Who are you?

More juvenile Corvids

juvenile Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
I am not sure how many yong Hoodies there are, but one has taken over the sentry post of the adults, when one will sit on top of the community hall next door inside the school playground. It was anxiously trembling the wings as soon as any adult flew past.


Fledgling Rook, Corvus frugilegus
I am not sure if there are more than 2 juvenile Rooks.



We have (at least) 3 Jackdaw, Corvus monedula youngsters.
I love their curiosity; they are so eager to discover the area around them; where they need to find any nook and cranny in which anything edible can be hidden.

And with Sea Bindweed crawling over and about the shelving on the wall, there are lots of those hiding places for any sort of Invertebrates.


Sweet, isn't it?
Note the light blue of the eyes. These will stay light blue for the 1st year; brown in year two, until they turn to that typical light grey of the adult Jackdaw.

Jackdaw fledgling

Jackdaw, Corvus monedula.

First week of July has a special meaning on my seasonal calendar; The Jackdaws, nesting in the chimneys of the school next door. will come here and show off their offspring. These are a lot noisier than the young House Sparrows too.
I think there are 2 of them,




The Rooks, Corvus frugilega too, have been starting to introduce the little one.


Jackdaws, Corvus monedula, adult (left) and fledgling right.
That red gape looks awfully big to (ful)fill!


Feeding together
(adult left)