Christmas for the Birds in my garden.

Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

Hiya.


Greenfinch, Chloris chloris (Female)

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus. (Male)

Coal Tits, Parus ater.

The Shed motel, a special hide-away for the birds in my garden. Full with wood, fresh straw and probably laden with hibernating Insects.
Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus.



Rook, Corvus frugilegus

Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto



Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs


The Birds had their Christmas present revealed on Saturday when Katja (my Homehelp) and I put the RSPB bird feeding station together outside my kitchendoor on the side of the house. At least now I can see my birds on the feeders, and do not have to sit outside with my camera to capture those feathered friends.
I need them to be close to me, to cheer me up, because I'm going through a real hard time at this moment. Next month it is a year already since Francis died, and it is getting harder as time goes by. A bit against that saying that it will get easier as time goes by. Okay, it is 11 months only, and I still don't eat properly either.
I hope I will manage to post regularly again too.

I did get three new trees, the other week. A Common Alder, Alnus glutinosa, Mountain Ash, Sorbus poterifolia, and a Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa.
Of course these are for the Birds, too. And together with my Hawthorn and Common Hollies, these will create a nice cover against the grey walls of the garden.

Black and white wings

Collared Doves, Streptopelia decaocto and Jackdaw, Corvus monedula.

Collared Dove and Rook, Corvus frigulegus

Jackdaws feeding- not always agreeing!

One of the Jackdaw juveniles, being fed by a parent.

and asking for more as soon as mum or dad leaves.

Each year I would be looking forward to our Jackdaw fledglings. This year, however, after Francis' death, I've been concentrating on the garden, and creating my own space in the workroom again. And because I spent less time in the kitchen, I missed the first arrivals and although I've heard and briefly seen the young Rooks and Jacks, I've not taken the time to sit and photograph them. Better luck next year again.

We do have a lot of Magpies, Pica pica, at the moment.

Jackdaw, Corvus monedula

Jackdaws have these lovely and iconic eyes, I always think. Many Corvids, (Rooks, Raven, Magpies and Hooded Crows, and the Jay have black eyes, which, apart for the Jay, have what look like black eyes, but which can have a lovely blue shine over them.



Rook, Corvus Frugilega



A few pairs of Jackdaws nest in this, and other, chimneys of the --very pink--school next door. For a moment I thought we had a pair too, when I heard some noises up inside the chimney. But that was false alarm.



Most of the birds are busy elsewhere at the moment, courting, building nests, laying eggs, incubating and eventually raising those noisy chicks. It is a kind of calm before the storm; in summer the planter will be packed with mainly little House Sparrows, juvenile Jackdaws and others will try and try and find a bit to eat here too.

Male House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
So many girls to chose from...
Female house Sparrows, Passer domesticus





Robin, Erithacus rubecula


Collared Dove,Streptopelia decaocto


Male Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs


The Great Tits and Blue Tits are nesting nearby; the Blues inside a gap in a wall in front of our house. The county council built this wall along the path to our house. If it wasn't there we would fall down the "cliff face" of lime stone. We live on a hill and the garden in front of us, is a few levels below us, halfway the hill. It is a good wall for the birds; at the back is a garden below.
Great Tit, Parus major

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus


A while back I posted pictures of a Blue Tit with an eye' problem. According to Niall Hatch at Birdwatch Ireland, it looks very much like an eye infection which is common in House Finches in North America.
If so, she'd get blind and as we all know, a blind bird is a dead bird. I am hugely surprised to still see her, and I haven't yet seen any signs of weakening in her. Mind you, it is hard to tell without the aid of photos, which bird is which. If she is the one nesting, then I fear the most for her chicks. I'd never expected her to be alive still. I need to find out more about the infection. Any links, info or whatever is helpful. Below this post is a comment box. Please leave the message there.

You're small and I am, ...big?

And... I can get even bigger, as you can see now!


Oops!

Other bigger birds of the garden.
Rook, Corvus frugilega,
ready for take-off



Jackdaw, Corvus monedula

My garden visitors today.

Robin, Erithacus rubecula


Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus
My Blue Tit was searching for minerals again on the wall.
My Chafflady didn't really want to pose and hit from the camera.


Coal Tit, Parus ater.



My two Collared Doves, Streptopelia decaocto, have become one. The one Dove has come on his/her own lately, cooing loudly from the fence, I fear the worst. And this pair being the first and only Doves of any kind which I saw around the village in 27 years, it doesn't bear well for a new mate. The only other specie I have seen in Bantry was a Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus, in the garden of Rehabcare.
Blending into the background

Female Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs

Female Blackbird, Turdus merula

My Song Thrush, Turdus pholomelos. Had 2 of these yesterday and today. A sign of cold weather!

It wasn't easy to get hold of one of my Great Tits, Parus major, but eventually it worked.


Dunnock, Prunella modularis

This Blackbird male, Turdus merula, is caled a 1st winter bird. Born last summer, he still bears the brown edges on his wings.

As is the case with this Jackdaw, Corvus monedula. again, note the brown feathers in its wings.

Rook, Corvus frugeliga


Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba