March was an interesting month in the garden, with several winter visitors still around and a few spring arrivals showing up too. However, the weather was not too good for much of the time and photographic opportunities were a little thin on the ground.
Here are some of the highlights during the month.
Tuesday, 1st March
Although I recorded male Brambling and Blackcap, plus a Pied Wagtail on this day, the only photographs I managed were of a Wren in very poor light. We are sure that Wren visits regularly, but is not often seen! Lindsay reckons he lives behind the garage.
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| Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - garden |
We were visited by two male Brambling on this day, and male and female Blackcap, but the photos were not up to much and I took better later in the month. Reed Bunting was a very welcome visitor, rarely seen in our garden in recent years. It's a poor photo, but included 'for the record'.
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| Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) (male) - garden |
In the morning, before departing for Cornwall on our way to the Isles of Scilly, we were visited by a female Siskin. I did take a few photos which did not come to much, but I did a little better when one visited later in the month, so I'll show a photo later in this post.
Some of the morning was spent organising feeders so that the birds had enough food to last them for the nine days that we were away - not an easy task as I am usually having to top up feeders two or three times a day when we are at home!
Tuesday, 15th March
All worries that we might have lost the garden birds while we were away were allayed by visits from two male Blackcap and four(!) Brambling (1 male, 3 female). I only managed a photo of one of the female Bramblings, and that was not much better than a record shot.
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| Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (female) - garden |
As well as two male and a female Brambling, we had three Siskin (1 male, 2 female) visit us this day.
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| Siskin (Carduelis spinus) (male) - garden |
We had a pair of Brambling and a male Blackcap, and also a surprising five Siskin (3 male, 2 female) visit us this day - possibly a garden record.
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| Siskin (Carduelis spinus) (female) - garden |
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| Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) - garden |
The day's tally included 3 Blackcap, 4 Brambling, and 4 Siskin. Here are a few of them.
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (female) - garden |
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (male) - garden |
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| Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (male) - garden |
Wednesday, 23rd March
This was, without a shadow of doubt, the most remarkable day of the month in the garden. As well as two Brambling and three Siskin, we had FIVE BLACKCAP!!! Until this year, I believe I had only ever seen single Blackcaps anywhere. Seeing three in our garden earlier in the month was special, to say ther least. To have five (2 male, 3 female) all at one time was bog mindeling!
Here are a few photos from that day.
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| Siskin (Carduelis spinus) (female) - garden |
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| Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (male) - garden |
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| Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (female) - garden |
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| Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (male) - garden |
Wren put in one of its rare appearances this day. It seemed to be trying to make itself look bigger!
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| Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - garden |
The week ended with the welcome appearance of a Lesser Redpoll. Until a few years back, Lesser Redpoll was a regular visitor to the garden in March, often two or three at a time. In recent years, however, sightings in the garden have been rare.
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| Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret) - garden |
Tuesday, 29th March
We frequently get visits from Bullfinch, but usually only one or two. This day was a bit special in that we had two pairs with us at one point during the day. Unfortunately, I was not able to capture the event on camera, and only ended up with some poor shots of one of the males. Here's the best of a bad bunch.
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| Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) (male) - garden |
Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - garden
This brings me to the end of my report on garden highlights for March. I suspect that my next blog post might bring matters a little more up-to-date with a summary of my April observations. In the meantime, take good care of yourselves and nature. Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard
Hi Richard! You have incredibly cool birds in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThe temperatures here are plummeting, Anne, so they will be even cooler!
DeleteGood morning, Richard: With this kind of success we will be starting to think that you have invented bird pheromones or some equivalent, luring the birds into the garden. I will resist the temptation to publish your address on the internet, inviting everyone to flock to your backyard to witness these spectacles! If that were to happen you'd probably feel obliged to provide tea and cookies too! The Blackcaps are especially pleasing birds to my eye and I can well imagine the joy it brings to have them so regularly, and in such numbers. Whatever you are doing, keep on doing it! Best wishes to you and Lindsay. David
ReplyDeleteSadly, David, I'm finding myself thinking about having to scale back our garden bird-feeding activities. We're currently getting through approximately 30 kg of sunflower hearts per month, as well as smaller quantities of peanuts and Black Soldier Fly larvae. As most of UK's sunflower products come from Ukraine, supply is going downhill rapidly and prices are rocketing.
DeleteA side-effect of the war few probably even think about, Richard. Bird feeding is not an inexpensive pastime! The sabre-rattling from That Russian madman is getting ever more ominous.
DeleteMy (I admit, selfish) fear is that the madman might think that the UK is an obvious country to make an example of.
DeleteYet another variety of birds in your garden, with only the Wren and Long-tailed Tits ever to be seen in ours, and the rest being between occasionally and never never will be.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards to yourself and Lindsey....Pete.
We might have garden birds that you do not get, Pete, but I'd happily swap a few for some of your local birds!
DeleteBest wishes to you and KT - - - Richard
Your garden continues to deliver some quality birds and in turn, some quality photos. You won't even need to go out soon. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marc. It's not the need to go out that gives me concern, but the continued ability TO go out. The biggest wildlife loss to me, should I become house-bound, would be the dragon-hunting aspect. Hopefully, I'll be OK for a few years to come!
DeleteStay safe - - - Richard
Hello Richard
ReplyDeleteFeeding in the garden attracts some beautiful birds, I like the wren best but all the others are beautifully photographed too
Greetings Frank
Thank you, Frank. I probably spend far too much time watching the birds in our garden, instead of getting out into the countryside. I also probably spend too much money feeding the birds. I think I spend more money on bird food than I spend on food for myself!
DeleteBest wishes - - - Richard
What a garden you must have Richard with the variety of birds you get. I get excited if a blackbird or robin pays me a visit. Keep posting them even if its only for my sake. Take care,
ReplyDeleteMike
I will happily continue to post images from my garden, Mike, if it gives you pleasure! Thank you for your encouragement. Best wishes - stay safe - - - Richard
DeleteBased upon all of this photographic evidence, perhaps you should take a vacation more often! Maybe they were simply overjoyed at your return?
ReplyDeleteAll of your photographs (even those "for the record") are wonderful. I would love to see all of these species in person and would be over the moon to actually obtain images of them!
I empathize with the task of keeping your visitors fed. Availability and cost aren't fully appreciated by those who have not tried to maintain feeding stations.
Once again, medical appointments are interfering with exploring. I try to console myself with the fact that it makes those days we can get out that much more special.
Gini and I hope you and Lindsay are having a relaxing weekend.
The problem with taking vacations, Wally, is that I end up with too many photographs to process, and everything stacks up behind me.
DeleteAside from the cost of feeding birds, the time spent is not inconsiderable either. I suspect that feeding birds and hedgehogs, on average, probably takes something like an hour daily. It's not just the topping up of food and water, but keeping everything clean and safe for them.
I'm hoping that the frequency of my medical visits will now diminish significantly. However, I'm still waiting for two 'results' one of which is the analysis of the lump that was removed from my nose a month ago!
So far, this weekend has been a physically busy one with painting a fence, transplanting a couple of shrubs, and doing a bit of weeding. I'm intending to have a relaxing day tomorrow. I hope that you and Gini are being more successful in your relaxation!
Best wishes - stay safe - - - Richard
Absolutely stunning the common garden birds, Richard, you're our man.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bob. I'm not sure I deserve such kind words! Best wishes - stay safe - - - Richard
DeleteHello Richard, amazing the amount of different birds you get in your garden. Just fantastic. I would sit the whole day in a hide to watch them and take photos of them. But I understand it takes a lot of effort with feeding them to be able to see them. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Roos
All my garden photos of birds are taken through the glass windows of my study or conservatory, Roos. It is only the insects and other wildlife that I wander into the garden to photograph. Sometimes I feel tempted to set up my portable hide in my garden to get closer to the action if a different bird is visiting on a regular basis, but I've not done that for a year or two.
DeleteI hope that all is well with you. Take good care and stay safe - - - Richard