Psilos
allotment birds |
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March 22-23rd
2008 - "A few new visitors" |
March 22nd - The weather has turned incredibly
cold and wintry with hail and snow showers sporadically falling. The
small birds have been busy feeding and there have been one or two other
surprise visitors too. The female Sparrowhawk has been busy terrorising
the birds. First I saw her hot on the tail of a redwing and later a
wagtail sprang out of her way. Even the robins have been keeping an
eye out for her. No photo opportunitites for me though as she is much
too fast. |
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Today I put my car just a couple of feet
closer to the feeders to see if it would make a difference to the success
rate for flight shots. In the end it made no difference at all. My shots
were still rubbish! Did manage to spot my pair of Coal tits mating though..ahhh... |
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The funny marked Greattit was in and out
more today too. |
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Also had a new visitor to my
plot. A single Collared dove. Whilst they are pretty common around here,
they join the starlings and sparrows in never having shown up here before.
He was quite tame too and after having a good feed he huddled down on
a branch and went to sleep. Even when Igot out of the car and set about
working he didnt seem in the least bit bothered. Heres hoping we see
more of him. |
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March 23rd - Another cold day with snow
overnight and lightly during the day. I didnt much fancy going out birding
today but Ben was adamant and so in the end I drove him to the allotment
and let him use my camera. Today the track was so wet and muddy my car
got stuck and I couldnt get it up to the feeders so Ben had to just
hang around on foot and see what he could get. |
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Four Mistle thrushes were around with one
being very tame and giving good views. I drove slowly up to it whilst
Ben took photographs out of the car window. It seemed so unbothered
by our presence that we thought it may be injured but as someone finally
approached on foot the bird readily flew away. Birdsong was everywhere
today. The woodpecker was drumming in the woods and I could hear the
plaintive mating call of a Bullfinch somewhere close by. |
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As we were leaving I slowed down near the
manure heap. I often see a grey wagtail here but on foot he is impossible
to get close to. It would seem that fortune was on our side once
again as there he was right in front of us. Always on the move and
a difficult target I was very proud that Ben got this excellent
shot of him! Why take photographs at all when i can have my son
do it for me?! |
