At one stage I though the Tree Sparrows had stopped visiting but closer observation usually shows two or three mixed in with the House Sparrows. The Tree Sparrows have a distinctive large black spot on each side of the head and smooth chestnut coloured feathers on top of the head.
Constant visitors include the Greenfinches and the Goldfinches.
First thing this morning I was watching a Magpie. It was bouncing across to the ground feeder, choosing a seed, bouncing to the edge of the lawn and part burying the seed. Then it would repeat the process. It was only making a half hearted attempt at burying the seeds and I think the other birds will soon find them. Normally all the other birds keep well out of the way while the Magpie is feeding but today a Blackbird decided to stand on the weather cover above the video camera and out stare the Magpie - which it succeeded in doing.
A rarer visitor is this Carrion Crow which glided in to see if it was safe to find a bite to eat but in the end decided to try somewhere else.
It's good that you get Tree Sparrows in your garden.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured some great shots there John. A good mix of birds, and something special to have the Tree Sparrows.
ReplyDeleteWell up to your usual standard despite the awful weather, thanks for sharing John.
ReplyDeleteYour "usual" visitors are fascinating! And I love the stare the blackbird is giving.
ReplyDeleteIt really is difficult to photograph anything in this weather John but you have done well. What a particularly lovely photo of the Carrion Crow!
ReplyDeleteHello Emma. It is great to see the Tree Sparrows joining in.
ReplyDeleteThank you Keith. It is nice to see the Tree Sparrows arrive in the colder weather.
ReplyDeleteThank you Adrian. We do get the odd bit of sunlight break through though being so low in the sky it gives deep shadows on the feeders for much of the day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jan. I managed a couple of decent shots of the Crow before it spotted me. Always difficult with the corvids as they are so skittish. It made a change for one to pose for a short while.
ReplyDeleteHello Mick. The yellow ring round the male Blackbird's eye always makes it stand out. They do tend to stand and stare fairly frequently.
ReplyDeleteI really miss seeing sparrows in the back garden here in London. They used to be the most common garden bird and they were all cheery little chappies..they have nearly all gone from here now, sad!
ReplyDeleteThey did Matron. When I lived in various parts of London as a child there were always dozens of Sparrows to be seen.
ReplyDeleteHi John, I was wondering if you would mind if I painted the photograph of your Crow?
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome to Maree.
DeleteThanks ever so much!
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