Two new birds to add to the garden list over the past couple of weeks.
Firstly, and for a very brief visit, we had a chiff chaff flit around the bush above the feeders. Although not common immediately around where we live, I have heard them sing from one of the hedgerows opposite the house, so this one was always a possibility.
Secondly we had a jay drop in a couple of days ago. Like the chiff chaff this was only a brief visit, including a few moments on the bird bath.
First sightings of this year’s brood of young bullfinches yesterday and today. Still being fed by parents and not venturing to the feeders just yet.
Speckled bush cricket in garden today
We regularly have hedgehogs visit the garden, here’s one recorded the other night. Listening to the British Library mammals CD it appears this may be a courtship call. Here’s what the BL says about it here:
“Although the breeding season lasts from April to September, the peak activity is during May and June when hedgehogs can be very noisy. Courtship is a lengthy affair, with the male circling the female trying to persuade her to mate. The female moves in turn, and keeps her flank to the male until she either gives in or moves away. To accompany this dance there is a very loud puffing and snorting, usually by the female, in her attempts to keep the male off. This noise can be so loud it can wake householders and also attracts other male hedgehogs, who may join in and even fight other males for an opportunity to mate.”
One of the biggest bird surprises we’ve had recently was the visit of a sparrowhawk clutching prey.
We’ve had sparrowhawks before, but they’ve never loitered for more than a few seconds.This bird though settled at the far end of our garden and busied herself with plucking an unfortunate small bird no doubt snatched from a neighbouring feeder moments earlier.
Our certainty of the birds gender was based on her bulky stature. And with a dark streaked rather than barred chest I assumed a young bird as well.
We watched her intently for at least five minutes as she busied herself with the gruesome business of devouring her prey. From a distance it wasn’t easy to distinguish, but the ex bird could have been a starling.
When finished she took to the air, still clutching the bird remains and flew directly down the garden path then away over the house.
All that was left when we inspected the murder scene was a few small feathers and a grizzly length of intestine.
Our garden is very busy with young starlings at the moment, all of whom do enjoy the bird bath!
What we presume might be our second brood of young blackbirds have appeared. As is often the case, they are quite tame. Hopefully they will become more wary over the next week.
And here’s one of our young robins, who sadly hasn’t been around lately.
Nature Blog Network- Carny Deadlines: September 8, 2010
- Community Bulletin Board - September 5, 2010
- Friday Roundup: September 3, 2010
- Carny Deadlines: August 31, 2010
- Community Bulletin Board - August 29, 2010
- Carny Deadlines: August 24, 2010
- Community Bulletin Board - August 22, 2010
- Friday Roundup: August 20, 2010
- Carny Deadlines: August 17, 2010
- Community Bulletin Board - August 15, 2010
