Bird feeding stations.

Robin, Erithacus rubecella

Greenfinch, Chloris chloris.
2 Males

Pff. keeping that other male off MY food was hard work!

The Greenfinches are definitely very bossy on the feeders, these days
Male Chaffinch and Great Tit, Parus major

Coal Tit, Parus ater

Female House Sparrow, Passer domesticus( right)

Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla
Male.

My Duunock, Prunella modularis


Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
Female
Male.


Rook, Corvus frugilegus

Most of my Corvids(Rook, Jackdaws and Hooded Crows. Plus some Magpies) are not very happy with the new set-up at the kitchen feeding station. They have difficulty flying to and landing on the little mesh birdtable, almost tipping it over, where the pole not tied up.
Another, large, birdtable is supplying the Collared Doves, Streptopelia decaocto, the Blackbirds, Turdus merula. And anyone else who comes along.

Blackbirds take over the garden and the birdfood.

Blackbird, Turdus merula, female
Soft bedding!

We have 12 of them now. They have totally shifted over the balance of power. The Rooks, Jackdaws and Hooded Crows, were mostly looking down from the fence at those Black and Brown birds fighting each other for the food. Mind you, it was fascinating to observe those big Corvids, trying to grovel their way into the garden!

In winter, large numbers of Blackbirds and other Thrushes visit Ireland and the UK looking for food and warmth.
Robin, Erithacus rubecula
All 4 Robins had drawn swords, and although last winter the cold weather made some species forget about territories temporarily, not this time around!


Ah! This coconut shell with peanutcake is mine!
The Rooks had managed to drop it off its hook, giving the Blackbirds a little ray of well needed fat and protein. They fought each other for the delicacy inside.



Redwing, Turdus ilacus
The Redwing, a little smaller than our native Song Thrush, was quick to respond to those free handouts.

Stand off between one of the Song Thrushes, Turdus philomelos, and a male Blackbird. The prize? Leftover peanutcake and crumbled fatballs. Among the seed.

Before the snow.
Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Male House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Male Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs


Male Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla
Do I see food down there?

In that very cold spell in February, this year, we had a female Blackcap visit the garden until spring. This time, it is the male who needs a good feed. I only discovered him on Christmas Day, when I sat counting the many Blackbirds on the ground, and spotted him down there looking for fallen bits of seed and other food which the Blackbirds might have missed.

After the first snow, I made the big mistake of going outside into the garden to feed the birds. (as you do, right? That is just part of everyday life, right? I did not think that that low covering would be a problem. How wrong I was. Oops. Wheeling over to the 'birdtable' (The Fatsia japonica) I soon realised that I could not get back inside, as my wheels got stuck onto the tracks I had made getting out there. It took me 40 minutes to get back indoors. The distance? A little over a metre! On a certain moment I did have to get out of my wheels and pull her forwards, without pushing her into my legs. Needless to say I almost fell over. Anyway, that was 12 days ago. Today is the first day that I was able to get out ago, after the thaw set in. I was getting claustrophobic, sitting inside all this time. Usually I spent a large amount of time outside, whatever the weather. Even when it was freezing during daytime, in late November/early December, I would still go and settle out in the garden with my thoughts, the birds above and around me.
The thaw has set in with lashing of rain; back to the normal gales and rain. From the south instead of the west. (Atlantic storms with used to be our normal winter weather-pre climate chance-) in other words, no chance for photos through those wet windows.

Eddy, our village shop owner, has helped us out by bringing shopping up to us, during this cold period, a service you only find in these small communities. When I had asked for lard for the peanutcake, I got a six pack of fatballs instead, because he didn't have any. The birds got this for free.

One of the Pied Wagtails, Motacilla alba


Our resident Blue Tits brought a few friends to dinner too.


Territorial bounderies forgotten?

A winter visiter and a rush for food

Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis
Usually I'd see my Meadow Pipit in the winter when the weather is really cold. Yesterday it was cold, and the Meadow Pipit must have had difficulty finding "natural food" out there. So, it chose to come here, as did other little birds.
It was a real surprise to find it here yet in October.



Female Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
This lady has been here daily, and one of my favourite characters.

Great Tit, Parus major.
The Great Tits are very resourceful, and started pecking into the wood, as they did when the planter was still in its upright position.

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus
There were 3 of them; And they looked everywhere around the old planter too. I've left it all. There could be bugs hidden in the wood or in the soil even, (?) and I'm sure they will find it one day.

This is where the Wrens usually look for their grub, but cold and hunger gets the creativity going in other birds too.

Perhaps more here?

I still see Insects outside, (OK, I do live in the SW of the country!) so I'm hoping they do find them too.

Last week, while I spent a few days in Bantry, Francis started drilling in to the wood, inside the metal pole, as a start for the new diner for the birds. Somehow, however, something went wrong and the reaction into his back means that he can hardly get up/walk/ or lift anything.

(see the 1st Blue Tit picture-it is sitting on the pole. And on this picture of one of the Great Tits)


One of the Collared Doves came to check us out again, the other day; building up a roster and mental list of diners, in preparation for winter.




Male Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs.
He stays rather to the ground, to see what has fallen down. And what it is hidden among the debris.
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis.
Its Irish name, Riabhog mhona, calls it the Cuckoo's nursemaid. Showing that the Meadow Pipit is the preferred foster mum for Cuckoo jnr. (I'd love to know the Irish name-including translation-of the Reed Warbler. Can you tell me this?)
You see I never studied Irish because there weren't really enough people around to converse with. So there would be no sense in doing so.)


Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Hungry Robin, Erithacus rubecula.

The house Sparrows, Passer domesticus, came for a bit of food too.



Until the Rooks came to greet the school kids fresh out from class, at the other side of the fence, and crisps and sandwiches needed investigating.


"That time already? OK, lads, let's crossover to the other side for a bit of salt and vinegar."