Once again I am stuck indoors. A few weeks ago it was gout now, for some unknown reason, the Achilles tendon on my right foot is giving me grief.
Yesterday I noticed a couple of Collared Doves sat on top of the fruit cage and one spent at least five minutes preening. This is something all birds have to do to keep their feathers in top notch condition. It is fascinating watching them carefully arrange their feathers and zip up their flight feathers by drawing them through their beak.
You can see this happen when the dove works on its tail feathers. Phil at Beyond the Human Eye wrote about the technicalities of this process in his entry Zipping Up a Feather along with some macro photos of a feather. If you find a wing or tail feather you can try the process for yourself. If you gently pull along the feather from tip to quill the sections will separate and when you pull the other way they zip back together.
Further detailed information about feathers can be found at Peteducation.com with explanations of the different types of feather.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
Food Glorious Food
The weather has been very variable of late. Heavy downpours of rain with sunny intervals. No matter what the weather the birds still have to eat, only taking shelter during the heaviest rainfall.
As normal, most of the birds go about their daily lives with little fuss. The one guaranteed exception being the Starlings who spend as much time arguing as they do eating.
Compo, the scruffy looking Blackbird, still visits several time a day always collecting as much food as his beak will hold. His feathers still stick out in all directions but he seems to cope perfectly well.
The Magpies also visit several time a day. The juveniles are now feeding themselves. As usual they are very wary and this is often the view one sees of them.
During one of the short sunny intervals I managed to spot a couple of Blue-tailed Damselflies at the garden pond. This time one obligingly settled on a lily pad which gave me time to photo it. The only other insect life about was a hoverfly resting in the sunlight.
As normal, most of the birds go about their daily lives with little fuss. The one guaranteed exception being the Starlings who spend as much time arguing as they do eating.
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| From MIDMARSH JOTTINGS |
Compo, the scruffy looking Blackbird, still visits several time a day always collecting as much food as his beak will hold. His feathers still stick out in all directions but he seems to cope perfectly well.
The Magpies also visit several time a day. The juveniles are now feeding themselves. As usual they are very wary and this is often the view one sees of them.
During one of the short sunny intervals I managed to spot a couple of Blue-tailed Damselflies at the garden pond. This time one obligingly settled on a lily pad which gave me time to photo it. The only other insect life about was a hoverfly resting in the sunlight.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
A Different Noisy Bird
While sampling my first boost of caffeine this morning the peace was broken by a different group of birds. This time it was not the feathered variety but man made metal ones. All day passenger jets cross this area but they are way up in the sky and can rarely be heard. Today it was the turn of the military who fly a lot lower.
At first I thought it might be a couple playing chase as they do from time to time as they practice their manoeuvres. This time several were circling and then heading towards the coast a few miles north of me. Then it dawned, especially after hearing a few hollow explosions, they were using the coastal bombing range. I often hear the explosions of the practice bombs but it is rare for the craft to stack over this part of the countryside as they wait their turn.
After some ten minutes they had moved on and it was so peaceful. Even the Starlings were silenced though they too were stacking up, waiting their turn for breakfast.
From my kitchen window I often observe the cloud formations I can see between the trees at the end of the garden. Where I live the 'weather' is often split as the height of the Lincolnshire Wolds divides the winds and clouds in different directions. It can often rain heavily north and south of me and we will be virtually in the clear.
Last week I spotted the first damselfly to spend some time flitting round the pond. Unusually this one did not land once while I was watching, and trying to get a shot of it. This is the only near decent photo I managed. There should be more opportunities later as the dragons and damsels usually visit me during July and August.
Henry continues to visit on the early shift but I only see Honey occasionally. The other night Henry (the hedgehog) was drinking when Bobby went out. Bobby had to have a close look - too close as his nose met the spines - but Henry just carried on drinking. After we had been round the front garden Bobby went back to the water bowl but Henry was not there so Detective Bob went investigating.
It didn't take long to follow the scent. Henry had taken cover.
I keep forgetting to report back on the ringed Starling. I did get a message back after I had sent what details I could make out. Unfortunately, as I thought, there was not enough of the number showing to be able to trace that particular bird.
If you find a ringed bird in Europe, can read all, or most, of the information on the ring and want to report it then go to the following page on the BTO site and choose which type of ring it is. Then you will be shown a form to fill in with as much information as you can. If you are lucky you will get a report back telling where and when the bird was ringed. Reporting will help the various societies who ring birds develop their knowledge about each species. How long they live. How far they travel, etc..
British Trust for Ornithology Euring Web Recoveries.
At first I thought it might be a couple playing chase as they do from time to time as they practice their manoeuvres. This time several were circling and then heading towards the coast a few miles north of me. Then it dawned, especially after hearing a few hollow explosions, they were using the coastal bombing range. I often hear the explosions of the practice bombs but it is rare for the craft to stack over this part of the countryside as they wait their turn.
After some ten minutes they had moved on and it was so peaceful. Even the Starlings were silenced though they too were stacking up, waiting their turn for breakfast.
From my kitchen window I often observe the cloud formations I can see between the trees at the end of the garden. Where I live the 'weather' is often split as the height of the Lincolnshire Wolds divides the winds and clouds in different directions. It can often rain heavily north and south of me and we will be virtually in the clear.
Last week I spotted the first damselfly to spend some time flitting round the pond. Unusually this one did not land once while I was watching, and trying to get a shot of it. This is the only near decent photo I managed. There should be more opportunities later as the dragons and damsels usually visit me during July and August.
Henry continues to visit on the early shift but I only see Honey occasionally. The other night Henry (the hedgehog) was drinking when Bobby went out. Bobby had to have a close look - too close as his nose met the spines - but Henry just carried on drinking. After we had been round the front garden Bobby went back to the water bowl but Henry was not there so Detective Bob went investigating.
It didn't take long to follow the scent. Henry had taken cover.
I keep forgetting to report back on the ringed Starling. I did get a message back after I had sent what details I could make out. Unfortunately, as I thought, there was not enough of the number showing to be able to trace that particular bird.
If you find a ringed bird in Europe, can read all, or most, of the information on the ring and want to report it then go to the following page on the BTO site and choose which type of ring it is. Then you will be shown a form to fill in with as much information as you can. If you are lucky you will get a report back telling where and when the bird was ringed. Reporting will help the various societies who ring birds develop their knowledge about each species. How long they live. How far they travel, etc..
British Trust for Ornithology Euring Web Recoveries.
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Can't Wait Until the Kids Grow Up and Leave Home
I think there is one parent Starling who wishes they hadn't bothered with a second brood. It took me by surprise today when I heard that never to be forgotten noise of hungry young demanding to be fed. One was particularly aggressive towards the parent. It only shows briefly a couple of time in the video but it was constantly pecking the adult as it got impatient for more food. The adult kept moving around but the little darling kept following. I bet it is counting the days until the kids are old enough to feed themselves.
If you don't have Starlings and think this pair are noisy you should hear it when there are a dozen or more all demanding to be fed! The camera was in the kitchen. I hate to think what the volume is like when right next to them.
If you don't have Starlings and think this pair are noisy you should hear it when there are a dozen or more all demanding to be fed! The camera was in the kitchen. I hate to think what the volume is like when right next to them.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Juvenile Magpies and a Harassed Heron
Several times a day the Magpies visit the feeders. This morning I only saw two of the Juveniles. As always they are very wary and spend some time in a tree, first on the highest branch looking all round for danger then gradually moving lower until they feel safe coming down to ground level.
This one spent quite a while sat on top of the bird table before it ventured down to the paved area where I had scattered some seed and fat treats.
I wonder if the round patch behind the eye is where the ear is.
There are three parts to the video:
1) A juvenile sat in a tree flapping and calling to be fed. No luck there!
2) It tucks in to fat treats but has problems trying to pick up more than one at a time as the first piece is holding its beak open.
3) First one, then two juveniles at the ground feeder.
Fascinating the way some birds put their heads right on one side to pick up food.
Later in the day I spotted a Heron way up in the sky weaving around all over the place. It was being harassed by two crows who were chasing it. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get the Crows in shot. Eventually it flew far enough away for the Crows to be satisfied and return to their own patch.
This one spent quite a while sat on top of the bird table before it ventured down to the paved area where I had scattered some seed and fat treats.
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| From MIDMARSH JOTTINGS |
I wonder if the round patch behind the eye is where the ear is.
There are three parts to the video:
1) A juvenile sat in a tree flapping and calling to be fed. No luck there!
2) It tucks in to fat treats but has problems trying to pick up more than one at a time as the first piece is holding its beak open.
3) First one, then two juveniles at the ground feeder.
Fascinating the way some birds put their heads right on one side to pick up food.
Later in the day I spotted a Heron way up in the sky weaving around all over the place. It was being harassed by two crows who were chasing it. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get the Crows in shot. Eventually it flew far enough away for the Crows to be satisfied and return to their own patch.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Sparrow Throws Juvenile Greenfinch off Feeder
I had a feeling when I was watching the earlier video of the Juvenile Greenfinch feeding that the Sparrow did more than just scare the youngster away. I slowed the action down to 10% and you can see how the Sparrow lands on the Greenfinch and appears to use its feet to throw the youngster bodily from the perch.
Compo + Juveniles: Greenfinch and Starling
This male Blackbird has been spotted for several days. He looks so dishevelled that I named him Compo after the character in Last of the Summer Wine. Even though his feathers are in such a mess he has no problem collecting plenty of food for his brood or in flying. Such are the joys and responsibilities of parenthood!
A juvenile Greenfinch enjoying breakfast.
A juvenile Starling having a drink. Why is it when there is a choice of fresh clean water and green old water some birds choose the latter?
This moth was on the outside of the kitchen window which gave the opportunity to photograph the underside for a change.
A juvenile Greenfinch enjoying breakfast.
A juvenile Starling having a drink. Why is it when there is a choice of fresh clean water and green old water some birds choose the latter?
This moth was on the outside of the kitchen window which gave the opportunity to photograph the underside for a change.
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