I have decided that I will try to publish a blog post each week, rather than once a fortnight as has become the norm for me recently. This is partly because I feel it necessary to spread the effort, and partly because I feel it might make it a little easier for the readers of my blog. How long this idea will last, however, remains to be seen. It would not be the first time that what I thought was a good idea at the time soon got abandonned!
So this is a week's worth and, as not a lot happened during the week and, in contrast to the previous week, I did not get out at all, this will be a relatively short post.
I make no apologies for the sub-standard header that is current with this post. It is there purely for what it portrays - an event that was an absolute highlight of the week and which will be described a little later.
Monday, 1st March
We had a good selection of birds this day, but the only one photographed was a Goldfinch, which was outside my study window on the feeder arrangement which is just under 5 metres away.
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| Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - garden on 1st March, 2021 |
Friday, 5th March
Sightings in the garden continued to be quite good up until this day, when something remarkable happened. We were sitting in the conservatory, having just finished lunch, and I was scanning the viburnum through my binoculars (my eyesight is not good these days and I'm in need of new specs, but unwilling to go to the opticians until this pandemic dies down somewhat) when I felt compelled to exclaim "what the!!!". At first, I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but there was a Yellowhammer in the viburnum ! The Yellowhammer is not a rare bird, although numbers are declining noticeably in these parts, and I have even published images of them on the blog this year. However, they are usually only found in rural locations. I give you this extract from the Wildlife Trust's description of the species:-
"The yellowhammer is a sparrow-sized, bright yellow bird
of woodland edges, hedgerows, heath and farmland that feeds on seeds
and invertebrates. In the winter, it will join mixed flocks of buntings,
finches and sparrows to feed on seeds on farmland.".
So here was one in my small suburban garden in a location surrounded by houses. This was, of course, a garden 'life tick' and will almost certainly not be repeated in my lifetime!
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| Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) (female) - garden on 5th March, 2021 |
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| Siskin (Spinus spinus) (male) - garden on 5th March, 2021 |
The female Blackcap was spending much time with us every day, but always in two very unphotogenic spots. There is now a story about this bird which will be revealed in my next blog post! In the meantime, here she is - in one of her two favoured spots where she scavenges for food dropped by the Starlings.
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (female) - garden on 6th March, 2021 |
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| Siskin (Spinus spinus) (male + female) - garden on 6th March, 2021 |
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| Siskin (Spinus spinus) (female) - garden on 6th March, 2021 |
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| Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - garden on 6th March, 2021 |
We had the three Siskins visit us again this day and, although I got shots in better light and showing more detail, these were unfortunately on a feeder pole. I'll show them here anyway as they are rather special little birds that will not be with us much longer before they depart into the countryside.
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| Siskin (Spinus spinus) (female) - garden on 7th March, 2021 |
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| March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) (male) - from garden on 7th March, 2021 |
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| Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)- from garden on 7th March, 2021 |
This brings me to the end of this blog post which, as promised at the outset, is somewhat shorter than my usual output and, unfortunately, a little short on variety. I shall try and do better next time, but I do know that there should be at least two species that have not graced these pages for a while! In the meantime, take good care and stay safe - it's not over yet!
The shorter blog is much easier for me I must admit with our slow WiFi, so thanks weekly (if it lasts) would be good :-)
ReplyDeleteI never knew there was a wingless moth, one lives and learns every day! Interesting life story I should imagine. Must look it up.
To my knowledge I have never seen a Yellowhammer, not sure I would recognise it if I saw it! I have seen Siskins on the odd occasion in the garden but not for a long time.
We have started raining again so all our spring creatures have taken cover and I hope they are keeping warm after two days of frosts as well.
Keep safe and have a good weekend, we are nearly there. Very best wishes to you both Diane
I'll try and keep future posts a bit shorter until you get fast broadband Diane, but I can't promise that I won't get carried away from time to time!
DeleteActually, that female March Moth is not strictly wingless as it has vetigal wings, but it is flightless. There are a few species of moth in Uk where the female is flightless.
The female Yellowhammer is less distinctively plumaged than the male which, especially in full breeding plumage is largely bright yellow. You'd soon spot one if it appeared!
Our weather too has turned cold, wet, and very windy. I hope that spring returns soon. In the meantime, take great care
Best wishes to you and Nigel - - - Richard
This all goes to prove, Richard, that the common can become uncommon under the right circumstances, and A Yellowhammer in the garden would be cause for celebration by many, I suspect. Thank goodness you happened to look out when you did or you might have missed it completely.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a lucky chance sighting, David, and I'm so glad that I had my camera to hand as I don't think I would have been sure without being able to study my photos. It was soon gone!
DeleteYou get more birdlife in your garden in a week Richard than I get in a whole year. I keep on trying though. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteMike.
Never give up, Mike - your turn will come!! Take good care - - - Richard
DeleteCongrats on your Yellowhammer garden tick. Not a bird I get around here-we only get Reed Buntings locally, though not in the garden!
ReplyDeleteLovely Stock Dove profile- a bird I feel is under-rated!
Good to see some moths around. Certainly Orthosia season now!
Reed Bunting does come to our garden occasionally and we had a female visit this week and will feature in my next blog post.
DeleteI used to think ill of Stock Doves as they, and Jackdaws, have a habit of evicting Little Owls from their nests here in the Midlands. However, they are a welcome and delightful visitor to our garden.
I think that we are probably a bit behind you with moths. Orthosia is one area that I tend to have a bit of ID difficulty with, but not as difficult as Diarsiae or Xestiae.
Thank you for your much-appreciated support - - - Richard
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is an absolutely lovely bird. they are also in our yard.
ReplyDeleteThey are spectacular birds, Anne. I am pleased to know that you have them too. Do they migrate away from you in winter?
Deletehello Richard, great birds you saw in your garden. Even a Yellow hammer! Did he already sing his lovely song?
ReplyDeleteStill some stormy weather with rain but we see the signs of Spring more and more.
So enjoy the beauty.
Regards,
Roos
Greetings, Roos. I was in my conservatory with the windows closed and a noisy fan heater on so if the Yellowhammer sang, I didn't hear it, and I only saw it briefly anyway. Do female Yellowhammers sing, or is it only the male that sings?
DeleteWe are still getting strong cold winds with frequent rain and hail. However, I think that it is going to improve later next week - I hope so!
Take great care - - Richard
Hello Richard
ReplyDeletethe goldfinch is my favorite, is one of my favorite birds
nice compilation from the first week
Greetings Frank
Thank you, Frank. The Goldfinch is certainly one of the most spectacular of our garden birds.
DeleteBest wishes from a cold and breezy England. Take good care - - - Richard
Garden mega, oh how I wish to see a Yellowhammer let alone in the garden.... At least three years since I last saw one. Well done for that.... (I did once have a Woodcock land in the garden underneath my line of fir trees in the back garden, but it flew off as I pointed the camera at it from the bedroom window....).
ReplyDeleteSome lovely birds featured in this post, however the Goldfinch image is lovely.
I'd offer a dozen Yellowhammer in exchange for just one brief sighting of a Woodcock, anywhere, Dave. I'm very lucky in that, on what I call my local patch although its a couple of miles away, I reckon I see Yellowhammer around 50% of the times I visit, but they're very nervous birds and I never see them close-up.
DeleteThank you for your visit - take good care and stay safe - - - Richard
Hi Richard,
ReplyDeleteI don't even have the time to post a blog once a week and I am already happy if this is once every two weeks lol ... Of course also because I still have to work and I am also an informal caregiver for my mother.
The picture of the putter really is a gem! You could also put the yellowgots and the siskin very nicely in the picture. So cool to see that black-headed woman :-))))) The colors of the pigeon come out very nicely. And you already have a few beautiful moths.
Stay safe Richard. The pandemic will come to an end.
Greetings, Helma
Hello Helma!
DeleteI think that, while not a lot is happening, I am going to find it easier to do a short blog post each week rather than a long post less frequently, particularly as my memory is not good these days! When there is more to photograph, I hope to be able to just post on more interesting subjects rather than virtuallly all that happens.
I am looking forward to getting more freedom to travel, but staying safe in the meantime. I hope that you are also taking good care and staying well. Thank you for your visit. My very best wishes - - - Richard
Nice work luring the Yellowhammer to your garden!
ReplyDeleteLove the Siskins! Their American cousin, the Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus), refuses to come this far south, much to our dismay. The brown cap of the Blackcap is really luxurious! It seems that many species of dove receive short shrift from photographers and birder, likely due to their large numbers. Pity. They are so beautiful!
Moths! More and more evidence that Spring is sneaking in the back door.
Trying to play catch-up with everyone in the blogosphere. Patience, please.
All here is good for us personally. Birding has ground almost to a halt in the past week but should pick up again soon.
You and Lindsay keep being safe!
Delighted to hear that all is well for you both. We too have almost ground to a halt due to very worrying health concerns with our granddaughter - it's a long story that I won't go into. The weather, however, has not been great, so I don't feel hard done by on the birding front.
DeleteTake great care - this virus isn't beaten yet! - - - Richard