The garden bird feeder is quite busy at the moment. These Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus are certainly taking advantage of it and they are welcome too.
May 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
On The Bird Feeder
Tag: Garden Birds
The Sound of Starlings
My neighbour has a large cherry tree and one or two Starlings have been perched in it of late in the high branches. They make the most varied and curious bird song I have ever heard, which is quite fascinating.
Starling Sturnus vulgaris, April 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman
Spring Robin
April 2018, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. © Pete Hillman
The Robin Always Braves The Rain
I spotted this little Robin when I peered out my window this morning as the rain fell from darkened skies. Because of the low light, distance and because I took the shot through the windowpane, I did not think it would turn out very well. Even when viewed on the PC I thought there was too much noise in the image, but I saw that perhaps it almost made the photograph look like a painting, and that there was something a little different about it that made me think twice before dismissing it. In the end, after a little deliberation, I decided to post it.
January 2018, front garden, Staffordshire, England.
Taking A Moment
Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) taking a moment on my birdbath, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. September 2017.
I Got It All To Myself
Dunnock (Prunella modularis), September 2017, rear garden, Staffordshire, England.
Saying Hello
As I was pottering about in the garden this morning this little one suddenly appeared out of nowhere close by me. It is a young Dunnock (Prunella modularis.) It appeared quite inquisitive and didn’t fly far.
Rear garden, Staffordshire, England. June 2017.
Greenfinch
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) male, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. May 2017.
Go Blackbird Go!
This Blackbird was singing so beautifully from my rooftop aerial this late afternoon when it decided to take off.
Blackbird (Turdus merula), Staffordshire, England. May 2017.
Young Starling
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) juvenile, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. May 2017.
A Very Welcome Friend
This afternoon the Robin has returned to my garden. He sat in a bush at the bottom and sang a little tune before flying off.
Photographs of Robin (Erithacus rubecula) taken November 2016, front garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
More of Super Robin
Art thou the bird whom Man loves best,
The pious bird with the scarlet breast,
Our little English Robin;
The bird that comes about our doors
When autumn winds are sobbing?
Verse from the poem “The Redbreast Chasing the Butterfly” written by William Wordsworth in 1802.
Robins have to be one of my favourite birds, and it’s not just because of their bright red breast and sweet bird song. I find their manner both fascinating and delightful, and I can’t help but smile when I see one. They appear to be such inquisitive birds by nature, and they get fairly close to you, and don’t appear to have any fear of you. Maybe, in their own way, they find us interesting, perhaps even fascinating.
Photographs of Robin (Erithacus rubecula), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
An Old Friend Returns
This male Chaffinch was a regular visitor to my feeder during the summer, but I hadn’t seen him for the past few weeks, until today. The last time I saw him I noticed he had a problem with one of his feet, which looked like it was covered in a growth of some kind.
It didn’t appear to bother him then, and it doesn’t appear to bother him now, despite how nasty it looks. Looking this up on the net I believe he is suffering from chaffinch viral papilloma, a virus specific to chaffinches only. It may have got infected through a small cut in the foot. Unfortunately there is no cure, but infected birds rarely die from it. I notice he does have trouble balancing sometimes, and it must be quite an irritation, but he seem well enough, and he is still quite friendly and allows me to get pretty close to him.
Photographs of male Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Super Robin!
I was sitting in my garden earlier having some lunch, and I suddenly heard such sweet bird song coming from a nearby tree. It was very breezy, and amidst the cacophony of rustling leaves I managed to pinpoint the source of this delightful singing. And there, perched on a tree limb, was this most beautiful little Robin sporting his bright red breast.
I have never seen a Robin jump before, on the spot. It suddenly leaped into the air a short distance, but clearing the branch it was perched upon, and settled back down in the same spot. It only did this once. I thought maybe it was the wind jostling the tree, but who really knows. I found it quite atsonishing.
I observed the Robin for a fair length of time before it flew off and disappeared into a nearby bush. I have hardly seen any Robins this year, so to see this one and to listen to its sweet serenade, was a pure joy, and it sure made my day today!
Photographs of Robin (Erithacus rubecula), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Don’t Eat With Your Mouths Full
Photographs of Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Growing Up
Photograph of young Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis), taken September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Little Robin
Our little Robin friend here was tempted by what my feeder (which is just out of shot) might offer him.
Whilst at the same time keeping a close eye on me.
But the feeder was a lot more interesting than me. You got some on the end of your beak there …
Photographs of juvenile Robin, taken in September 2016, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Calling For Mum
Great Tit (Parus major)
I was out in the garden this morning when I heard the tits in the trees. There was quite a lot of chatter, so I gathered a family had arrived. And I saw an adult Great Tit come down to my feeder, take some fat nibbles, then disappear into the high boughs, all happening quite quickly I did not even get a chance to get a photo. This happened a few times. but the juveniles must have got impatient for they came down to help themselves in the end. And although the light was not particularly good, I managed to get some shots in.
It is a large colourful bird with a distinctive shiny black head, and a thick black stripe down the bright yellow underside. It also has a white cheek patch, blue-grey wings and a grey tail with white sides. The females sports a narrower black stripe down the underside. The juvenile has yellowish cheeks and a dull greenish-black head.
It mainly feeds on the ground compared to the smaller tits, eating insects, seeds, berries, and nuts. It forms a nest of a cup of moss, leaves, and grass in a natural hole such as a woodpecker hole or a nest box. The female lays 5-11 eggs in 1 brood from April to May. They can live for up to 3 years.
Seen all all year round, and found in a wide variety of habitats, including woodland and parks. They are a bold and aggressive species, and are well-known almost anywhere, being one of our most familiar garden birds. It is a common visitor to bird tables and feeders. Common and widespread throughout the UK, except the Northern and Western Scottish Isles where it is absent.
On The Fence
This is the delightful little fellow who has been helping himself to sunflower hearts from my feeder for the past few weeks or so.
This was the first time I have managed to get a photo of him. It is a male Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), and he always appears to visit around five in the afternoon. It was just by luck that I had the right lens fitted to the camera at the right time to get these photos of him.
It looks like a young bird, sporting his fresh and bright plumage.
He knew I was watching him, as I had watched him before, and although a little nervous, I think he wanted the sunflower seeds so much he had pepped up his bravado.
And kept flitting to the feeder to gather one or two seeds before settling on the fence post again.
To learn more about these wonderful finches please visit my Chaffinch post.
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
These have to be one of my favourite small perching birds. I am fortunate to have them regularly visit my garden and to be able to watch them feed. I often hear them singing in the trees.
A colourful and joyful garden visitor, this small bird has blue wings and tail and a green back. It has a bright yellow underside, and a distinctive black eye stripe on a white face with a blue crown.
They feed on various insects, especially caterpillars which are full of protein, and spiders, nuts and seeds. In the spring it feeds on pollen and sap, whilst in the autumn it feeds on berries. It often visits bird feeders.
They nest is a small cup of moss, hair and dead leaves lined with down in a tree hole or a nesting box. Lays 7-16 eggs in one brood from April to May. The fledglings hatch when the caterpillars are more abundant. They can live for up to 3 years.
Seen all year round, in woods of all kinds, also parks and gardens, and bushy places. Common and widespread across the UK except for some Scottish islands.
Photographs taken January and February 2014, rear garden, Staffordshire.
Nature Journeys 