A happy and healthy New Year to all local residents
Heavy frosts with overnight temperatures well below zero were a feature of early January but several hours of strong sunshine highlighted the days. I personally like this more traditional winter despite the cold; but it is of course very challenging for the birds in particular. I spent time giving my feeders a good clean and was pleased to receive my order for suet fatballs ... the local birds love them and it is very rewarding to see the variety of birds coming to feed. A favourite is the Long-tailed Tit .... often up to 7 at one time ... their antics and soft chirruping always a delight. Also the Great-spotted Woodpecker soon latches on to a ready food source and swoops in; scattering all the smaller birds and protects "his" feeder fiercely from all other interested and hungry species that must wait their turn. A bit of a bully but stunning colours to brighten a dull winter day ... If you are similarly lucky to see these striking birds in your own garden it is important to separate the sexual differences. At first glance they look identical ... particularly when they grip the feeder side on ... I have added 2 photographs to show the comparative differences ... both regulars on our peanut feeders. The black and white plumage is wonderful with contrasting red areas around the vent (back end!) But grab the binoculars and look carefully ... only the adult male has a red spot on the nape ( NB The photograph showing the bird on the left side of the feeder is a juvenile male ... which has a red head stripe ... as the bird moults into adult plumage the head feathers turn black and the red is reduced to a spot.
Heavy frosts with overnight temperatures well below zero were a feature of early January but several hours of strong sunshine highlighted the days. I personally like this more traditional winter despite the cold; but it is of course very challenging for the birds in particular. I spent time giving my feeders a good clean and was pleased to receive my order for suet fatballs ... the local birds love them and it is very rewarding to see the variety of birds coming to feed. A favourite is the Long-tailed Tit .... often up to 7 at one time ... their antics and soft chirruping always a delight. Also the Great-spotted Woodpecker soon latches on to a ready food source and swoops in; scattering all the smaller birds and protects "his" feeder fiercely from all other interested and hungry species that must wait their turn. A bit of a bully but stunning colours to brighten a dull winter day ... If you are similarly lucky to see these striking birds in your own garden it is important to separate the sexual differences. At first glance they look identical ... particularly when they grip the feeder side on ... I have added 2 photographs to show the comparative differences ... both regulars on our peanut feeders. The black and white plumage is wonderful with contrasting red areas around the vent (back end!) But grab the binoculars and look carefully ... only the adult male has a red spot on the nape ( NB The photograph showing the bird on the left side of the feeder is a juvenile male ... which has a red head stripe ... as the bird moults into adult plumage the head feathers turn black and the red is reduced to a spot.
As highlighted in the notes for December last year the numbers of Fieldfares and Redwing are building up almost daily ... with the birds coming much closer to the house as the colder days force them into gardens to search out new food sources ... giving us spectacular views. If you have a water feature do make sure you brave the elements and keep the bowl clear of ice and topped up with fresh water. The Collared Doves and Blackbirds literally line up waiting for me to appear each day and immediately take a long drink; the ready availability of an ice free water source is vitally important for drinking and bathing ... it only takes a few minutes each morning.
In the middle of the month on a pleasantly warm day we were visited by a single Lapwing (aka Peewit and Green Plover) which alighted in the horse field nearby. More usually a bird that prefers social contact and flocks in the winter stubble fields to feed. Can only think that after a teeth chattering cold snap with rock hard ground all around the bird was able to probe in softer mud to find a meal. For those not familiar with the Lapwing I have added some shots to highlight the very distinctive broad round ended wing structure in flight and a close shot on the ground to show the actual stunning plumage colours. A cursory glance conveys a big wading "black and white" bird; the camera always shows us otherwise! Sadly this is now a bird on the Amber watchlist ... at risk and declining in numbers ... so different from when I was a child.
Did you manage to fit in an hour over the weekend 24th-26th to do the Big Garden Birdwatch? My wife and I took different window seats and managed a total of 23 birds ... (10 different species). Using the weather app we picked the Saturday and were rewarded with a cloudless blue sky and dead calm conditions. At last ... I even managed to get a half decent record shot of the Long-tailed Tit ... just one single bird in our rowan tree in perfect light. Not the best I know but always particularly difficult through window glass and no time to change to a telephoto lens.
The sunset time has now advanced to beyond 16.00 hours ... at least we can perhaps dream about Spring? Both Snowdrops and Tulips are pushing through the leaf litter so maybe we are on our way.
Let us hope February does not set us back into gloomy sky days ... an early morning bright pink sky this month was a great start to the day ... sadly very few like this in the month.
Brian Taylor
Did you manage to fit in an hour over the weekend 24th-26th to do the Big Garden Birdwatch? My wife and I took different window seats and managed a total of 23 birds ... (10 different species). Using the weather app we picked the Saturday and were rewarded with a cloudless blue sky and dead calm conditions. At last ... I even managed to get a half decent record shot of the Long-tailed Tit ... just one single bird in our rowan tree in perfect light. Not the best I know but always particularly difficult through window glass and no time to change to a telephoto lens.
The sunset time has now advanced to beyond 16.00 hours ... at least we can perhaps dream about Spring? Both Snowdrops and Tulips are pushing through the leaf litter so maybe we are on our way.
Let us hope February does not set us back into gloomy sky days ... an early morning bright pink sky this month was a great start to the day ... sadly very few like this in the month.
Brian Taylor