Garden and Local Birds

Our Dunnocks are paired up and displaying while a pair of Blackcaps come to our feeders. Already Bluetits are inspecting the nestbox. A Buzzard regularly uses the fallen stump in the field next to the house along with a Jay. The Stonechat may be passing through as not seen before.

Report 5 on Wildlife Garden

I have been documenting how my garden has progressed after redesigning areas at the beginning of 2020. Everything is now dying down with most of the wildflowers long finished flowering and their seed all dispersed. The meadow/lawn was given a strim in early October and Yellow Rattle seed sowed hoping for some plants next year to help control the grass. I have cut any areas where flowering has finished and left the seed heads to disperse in situ, having collected some seed from all the different species to distribute to other areas. This results in a very untidy look for a couple of months but does ensure good dispersal for next year. I include 1 image from July to show how it looked and the last image is the view from the garden of a Buzzard warming up in the morning sun.

Bradgate Park: Birds

Although most photographers go to Bradgate for the deer, especially in the autumn, there are plenty of birds to snap. Starting with the shyer species - Grey Heron, Buzzard, Jackdaw and Pied Wagtail. Jackdaws are born with blue-grey eyes. Their irises change to brown in the first winter and white once they gain their adult plumage. The Black Headed Gulls and Mallard ducks gave plenty of opportunities for 'action' shots as well as portraits.

Buzzards and Butterflies at Barton

The four resident Buzzards at Barton objected strongly to our presence by the pools on Monday and came to view us at close quarters a couple of times. The Beetle Bank, like the rest of the verges, has suffered from the dry spell but there are still enough Knapweeds and Thistles to support large numbers of Argus Brown, Common Blues and Green-Veined Whites.

Buzzard versus Rooks, Fieldfare and Redwings

The highlights of an autumnal circular walk Toft to Kingston were a buzzard being mobbed by Rooks and large flocks of Fieldfare and Redwings feeding on the berries. Still a couple of Hoverfly species feeding.