Psilos
allotment birds |
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Saturday March 10th 2007
- "The nuthatch arrive" |
Yesterday the weather had been fine and
warm and I had got stuck into physical clearing work that needed doing
on my plot. Whilst I worked I had the sound of the birds singing for
company and I gave some considerable thought to the type of perches
I want to use to photograph the birds on. I want to use perches that
are as natural looking as possible and so I think I may need to go searching
in the woods. |
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As usual I could hear the Greater spotted
woodpecker alarming from the top of a tree and as I scanned I saw him
lurking in a tree nearby. He is one bird I definatly want to see closer
and so I get to work on a perch for him. After the storm damage of a
few weeks ago I didnt have to look very far. Thirty feet away there
was a pile of rough sawn tree trunkss just waiting to be put to good
use. With help from my son I selected an eight foot trunk and planted
it deep in the ground. I then gouged out plenty of holes and filled
them with plenty of fat and seeds. All I had to do now was wait and
hope.... |
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Today was the first day when I actually
sat down with my camera intent on taking some photographs. Frustratingly
though the sun kept playing hide and seek and bird numbers were low.
There were a few female Chaffinches and tits around and the jays were
making a terrible racket down the bottom end of the plot but I didnt
think I would be lucky enough to see those birds so close so soon. My
greatest delight though was in seeing the Nuthatch for the first time
and there was a pair of them. Sadly when they did appear I didnt have
my camera to hand and when I did of course they didnt appear. Oh well
it is only early days! |
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As I was leaving there was an outburst
of warning calls and I looked up just in time to see a sparrowhawk flying
low over the tops of the trees. I guess that is another female with
an interest in my feeding station.... |
