The Greenfinch family have visited a couple of times and on the second occasion I was able to take some video of them. Mother and youngster were at the seed feeder while father stayed nearby keeping watch in case the rowdy gang of Starlings returned.
The Starling families are here several times a day. I don't have to see them to know they are about as the sound of hungry juveniles can be deafening. One thing that can be said about Starlings - they keep themselves clean and can be found bathing in any available water, no matter how small the container.
Once I have given the tadpoles their daily ration of Koi floating sticks I sometimes put a few in the main pond for the fish. One day to my surprise I spotted a Smooth Newt helping itself to a piece which had been missed by the fish.
It took about five minutes to devour the whole stick and it was fascinating to see the way it would slowly approach its quarry and then make a lunge.
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
one of the best friday at the fliks . The newt is smashing. Just finished work for the week and was feeling kn....red but this brought me round. Are you spoiling these frogs and newts?
ReplyDeleteLovely flicks, John. The Newt was very impressed with that stick and it was most entertaining to watch it.
ReplyDeleteI always know when the Starlings have been in the birdbath as the water disappears so quickly but the thing that amazes me is just how filthy any leftover water is. Goodness knows how they get quite that dirty! It is never that bad with the other birds :)
I enjoyed my Friday at the Flicks, the starlings are wonderfully busy bathers, lovely to see the juvenile Greenfinch and the newt was certainly entertaining. Best wishes, Linda
ReplyDeleteThank you Adrian. Pleased you enjoyed them. Me? Spoil my resident wildlife? Surely not.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jan. I hadn't expected the newt to be interested in fish food but the extra protein will be of benefit.
ReplyDeleteStarlings do seem to be in need of their daily bathe. As you say what is left of the water is filthy.
Pleased you enjoyed them Linda. The newt's action was totally unexpected and I was in the right place at the right time to capture the action.
ReplyDeleteIt is always great to see any birds visit with their youngsters.