Juvenile Song Thrush

Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos


As I arrived in the garden at Rehabcare, i spotted a bird hopping about at the raised planters. At first I guessed it to be a young Blackbird due to the mottled rusty colour on its back, and because it was too small to be a juvenile Robin, the only other bird whose young would have a similar plumage. Besides, there are lots of Blackbirds (and Robins) about the garden.

It was foraging below the hedge, and as I started taking photos, it turned and showed its breast; showing its true identity immediately> it was a young Song Thrush. And indeed, one (or more) Song Thrush has often been calling or singing whenever I would be outside, taking pictures of whatever I saw or fuond about me.



I love this picture; that typical and innocent look of the young birds.


House Sparrow fledgling. Dad just vanished out of the picture.
It kept fluttering its wings, out of the picture or not. Dad, I want food!

Dunnock, Prunella modularis
I'm hoping I'll get tos ee young Dunnocks some time, this summer.

Magpie, Pica pica

Magpie, Pica pica
brothers in black

There are 3 Magpies now, but 2 of them always stay together.

Jackdaw, Corvus monedula
juvenile in its 1st summer.







I'm told that a Treecreeper has been spoptted in this garden. I haven't seen it yet. I'm afraid that it will be in a tree situated off the path, and out of reach. The story of my life!

Foraging for live food

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus.


I noticed that I have seen a lot of empty snail shells recently. This is due to the severe weather we've had this winter. how? We saw a lot of Trushes, Blackbirds, and Song Thrushes. All loving seeing these slimy creatures as a highly priced delicacy. So it would be lovely to keep those Trushes, right? Not so easy though. There are many more gardens with lawns about me, and usually birds like these would feed on worms in lawns. Cocking their head when listening for any movement below the grass.

Also, I spotted that at least one of my Blue Tits has started foraging for live food in the undergrowth, and on the ground of the garden. It could mean that it is one of a breeding pair, or it just wanted somethiong different than what I provide it with.

As usual it is also searching for the food scattered among the Fennel's stalks. And hiding from me in the meantime. Or would it be camera shy?


Great Tit, Parus major


One of my little Coal Tits, Parus ater


One of the snail-eating Trushes: the female Blackbird, Turdus merula


Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba

I believe this is a male with the full neck & chin bib.

One of the two Collared Doves, Streptopelia decaocto,

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

Blackcap, Collared Doves, and my other birds in the garden

Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla

Here's my Blackcap,, yesterday. I haven't seen her at all, today. I think she was caught by an estate cat, although I cannot be sure, unless I see it happen. All I saw was her being chased by one of the cats here. It looked as if she had been injured already; so he might have caught her before that, with her escaping briefly.





Coal Tits, Parus ater.


One of my Robins, Erithacus rubecula
He/she looks more like a stalking cat than a bird, doesn't he?
female Blackbird, Turdus merula. Hiding under the Fatsia. A plant pot regularly used by the birds as an escape from bully birds in the planter. i put a little food out here as well is in the planter.


Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus

My Chaffinches, Fringilla coelebs, are visiting in relative low numbers; contrary to most years.


At the end of the day, around 5pm, I spotted one of the Collared Doves. It was in the planter, and because they are -super-wary- I didn't see number two when I took this picture. Two was to the left of my window and it was very much a surprise when he/she showed its face and came forward,, as I made the following picture.
Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Number One (which had been feeding in the planter) flew to join its mate on the wall, It took a bit before they headed off.
But I did manage this little portrait of number One, while it was in the planter.


They then started walking towards the end of the wall.