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.

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.

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.

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.

Back on the Early Shift

It took me by surprise when I spotted Henry on the monitor about 10.15 last night. It is quite a few days since the hogs were on the early shift here. As I watched and captured a few snippets of video I thought that Henry was by himself. It was a while later that I made out Honey was there in the background.

I scatter a mixture of dried mealworms, crushed unsalted peanuts and sunflower hearts all over the paved area under the bird feeders. That way they can both eat in peace without invading each others space.

At the beginning of this clip Honey is in the background and just looks like a reflection of Henry as he snuffles his way througn his supper. Honey didn't come close to the camera until well after Henry had moved on and I had already switched off the computer.

Juvenile Magpies Visit the Garden

This morning I thought there were about four Magpies in the garden but they scattered as soon as they noticed me. At that time I thought there was one juvenile in the group.

This evening they were back again and I could see it was one parent and three juveniles. The youngsters were bouncing around all over the place as though they were riding invisible space hoppers. Every now and they they would squawk to beg for food in spite of the fact that they seemed quite capable of feeding themselves.

Juvenile Magpie.

From MIDMARSH JOTTINGS

One youngster did manage to plead hunger and was fed by the adult.

How to Prepare Your Slug for Lunch - Video

I was watching a Juvenile Blackbird as it kept flying half way up the front wall of my shed. I thought - why is it trying to get in there? After about four attempts I found out why as it landed with a small slug in its beak. It must have good eyesight as the slug was virtually the same colour as the shed. Once the bird had grabbed the slug it then stood on the concrete busily wiping the slug backwards and forwards for quite a while before finally eating it. The video starts where the Blackbird is wiping the slug on the ground.



I wonder why they do that. Can it be to kill it? Maybe to wipe off the slime if it is not a nice taste. Whatever the reason I have seen Blackbirds perform this action on many occasions over the years.

While we on our afternoon perambulation I was pleased to spot a juvenile Song Thrush in a front garden. It is nice to know they are breeding round here.

On the weather front it has been a warm, humid day even though the Sun didn't break through the clouds until about 3.30pm. At least that stopped it from getting excessively hot though it did look pretty dismal for a lot of the day.