Wednesday 13 January 2010

Scandinavian Visitors



The Redwing tally in the garden was back up to 5 birds, I witnessed the wonderful sight of all 5 Redwing on the lawn feeding on the apples I had just put out. Earlier at 7.50am I had to dash out quickly and spray one of next door's cats with my high projectile water gun, it soon ran off. Apples are a great way to attract winter Thrushes into your garden, chat to your friendly greengrocers and they may give you their cast-offs or buy cheap value apples at a supermarket. I bought a pack of 7 value apples for 68p at a local supermarket, that's less than 10p each! If you're really lucky you might just attract a Fieldfare or a if your very, very lucky you may even see a flock of them. You can also strategically position the apples to maximize your chances of getting a good photographic shot!
Having the morning off work, I logged yet another new bird in the garden when a magnificent Fieldfare was seen at 10.15am by one of the apples, it was very timid and didn't stay long and I fired off just 2 photographic shots before it flew over the fence towards the Fallowfields area.
Other birds in the garden this morning included the Green Woodpecker, which rather precariously perched on the top twigs of the central tree. 3 House Sparrows (rarely seen in this garden), an adult male, 1st winter male and a female fed regularly on one of the fatball feeders. A Song Thrush also perched on a bush just outside the garden. 3 Chaffinches, all males fed on the seed I put out as did 5 Wood Pigeon & 1 Dunnock. A Collared Dove also briefly alighted into the garden. I make no apologies for posting yet more pictures of Redwings. They are my favourite common bird (Tawny Owl aside) and I have struggled to get any decent pictures of this species in the past, as they are usually ultra timid and shy and fly off before you can get anywhere near them.

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