My Garden Birds

The birds were very busy feeding in the garden this morning with flocks of Goldfinches and Greenfinches visiting the garden feeders and pairs of Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Blackbirds all looking as if they are pairing and starting to set up territories. All three of the Dove family - Rock Doves, Wood Pigeon and Collared Dove, pair of Dunnocks, Robin, Chaffinch, Song Thrush and Wren (too fast to photograph!).. Also visiting in recent weeks Tree Creeper,  Starling, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Redwing, Fieldfare, Jay, Magpie and Pied Wagtail 

I came across my garden list for Jan - Feb  in 1968-71. It had all these except Collared Dove and Stock Dove and also included Bullfinch, Marsh Tit, Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting, Yellow Hammer (still in Hedgerows), Tree Sparrow - all declined or absence with a change in the arable farming techniques.

Exciting Day at Rutland

A day of drama at Rutland Eggleton Nature Reserve with the RPS Nature Group both in the weather - thunder and lightning included - and the target birds - Hobby, Osprey and Cuckoo. Not quality photos by a long way but may give an idea of the action in sunny and cloudy skies (we failed to catch an Osprey with background lightnings flashes in a photo!). At the end, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Wren and Reed Buntings that tantalised us with brief visible moments in the reeds) 

Birthday Walk at Paxton

The pits at Paxton were more or less frozen over for our Third Thursday walk at Paxton so all the waterfowl were pushed into the small open areas. Lots of Fieldfare, Wren, Tree Creeper, Green Woodpecker, Single Lapwing, Several Herons and Cormorants completed the walk.

Wren and Whitethroat Show

It was certainly Wren and Whitethroats centre stage along Bourn Brook on Saturday morning. I counted 2 trilling Wrens and 5 singing Whitethroat males - at least one had attracted a female in a short stretch. Robin and Chiffchaff made guest appearances.