A Few Birds

From time to time I have spotted a Song Thrush on the lawn, especially while the Blackbirds were gathering food for their younsters.



The Blackbirds had a nest in the garden hedge. Great to see two youngster have fledged and spend some time each day feeding on the seed scattered by the Starlings. For the first few days the Male Blackbird stayed near them, watching, as though to keep them from harm.



Finally - when I videoed the Rooks at the feeders I also managed to take a still which gives an idea of the wing span.



I now have three or four Rooks coming to the feeders every day. I am having to think of a way of making the feeder which holds the suet logs more large beak proof. The Rooks, with their large heavy beaks, keep hacking at the logs to break them up so they can extract the pieces and fly off with them.

Monday Mystery

Last week's close view



was a difficult one to identify but Ellen D. was spot on identifying it as a decorated pitcher. Well done Ellen.



I bought this at a car boot sale many years ago. The seller's wife was an invalid and decorated objects as a hobby. I was hoping to find another similar one to match it, but have not managed as yet to find another.

Maybe this week's close up view will be a little easier to work out



If you would like to have a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday. My thanks as always to everyone who has a go.

Corvid Visitors

I sometimes see a Jackdaw pay a fleeting visit to the garden. A few days ago I spotted a couple of them on the lawn:



After a short while they were joined by a Rook.



Recently a Rook has been making early morning visits to the bird feeders.



It usually manages to extract a suet ball or suet log which it enjoys on the ground.



This morning I spotted a Rook which seemed to be self identifying as a Blue Tit as it clung on the feeders to get its share of what was on offer. Fortunately the camera which monitors the feeders caught the action:



I sometimes think they expend as much energy trying to feed as they get from what they manage to eat.

Monday Mystery

For last week's mystery object I showed



which was part of ...



... my egg poacher. Well done to Adrian, Roy and Kev for guessing correctly. Yes, Ellen, once the lid is on steam does play a part.

I am running a bit thin on inspiration for new objects but will try this top view of ...



... what? If you wish to have a go at guessing what the object is the please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, together with the answer, next Monday.

On the Wildlife front...
I had a feeling that there was more than one hedgehog coming to feed recently as there have been many visits inside the feeding station each night. More on that later in the week.

Ouch!

The trail camera caught one of the local cats finding out that it prickles when you poke a Hedgehog.

Monday Mystery

Last week's close view



was more difficult than I expected. It was part of



Ardrian was the only person to get it correct. As he put it - It as to be a mouse, computers for the use of. Thank you to all who had a go. Ellen asked whether she could have more than one attempt at guessing. No problem. Have as many as you like.

For this week I have a close view of ...



what? If you would like to have a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.

Blue Tit - Nestbox Shuffle

A while ago I intimated that the next stage in choosing a nestbox would be a nestbox shuffle. The bird spreads its wings and shuffles round the bottom of the box.



It seems to be a way of checking whether the box is large enough for a nest and a brood of chicks. If she is satisfied with the box we may see some nest building soon, or maybe it being used as a roost overnight.