What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[Maclintick]

I wish thrushes or even blackbirds would re-appear in the garden although sparrows, and Blue/Great Tits are hereabouts. Woodpeckers yet to appear but loads of gulls following late ploughing tractors.
Out this afternoon and saw a couple of butterflies next to a field of emerging Rape, a peacock and something I couldn't make out clearly enough. Meanwhile the skylarks were out in force.

Woodpeckers very much in evidence here in Oxfordshire, along with longtails, goldfinches, chiff-chaffs, yesterday a greenfinch...and

[kernelbogey]

Verified this morning that I have a pair of blackbirds nesting about 2 metres from my back door (avian social distancing ) which will require them to be a bit tolerant of my comings and goings. A bit surprising, too, because I have a cat: but she's just turned 17 and her hunting days are well behind her (even hunting the kitchen counters for her favourites!).

[oddoneout]

Woodpeckers very much in evidence here in Oxfordshire, along with longtails, goldfinches, chiff-chaffs, yesterday a greenfinch...and

Aren't they glorious things?
A previous house had a large old shed in the garden that was a favoured hibernating site for peacock butterflies, which was how I discovered that not only did they hibernate, but also that they 'hissed' if disturbed - most disconcerting! Apparently the noise is made by rubbing wing edges together.

[ardcarp]

which was how I discovered that not only did they hibernate, but also that they 'hissed' if disturbed - most disconcerting! Apparently the noise is made by rubbing wing edges together.

Never knew that. How fascinating!

BTW, if you're beneath them as they fly they just look dark.

[Bryn]

Aren't they glorious things?
A previous house had a large old shed in the garden that was a favoured hibernating site for peacock butterflies, which was how I discovered that not only did they hibernate, but also that they 'hissed' if disturbed - most disconcerting! Apparently the noise is made by rubbing wing edges together.

I would think any butterfly seen i the UK at this time of year must come from one of the imago hibernating species. While I knew that Peacocks and Commas were of their number, I had not grasped that Large Whites also hibernate. Seems they can in the south of the country, but not so much in the north.

[oddoneout]

Never knew that. How fascinating!

BTW, if you're beneath them as they fly they just look dark.

Yes the underwings are dark, and look like bark or dead leaves, but close up they are beautiful I think. Makes the sight of the upper surfaces all the more striking.
Getting back to birds - as I looked out of the spare room window this morning a small bird flew down onto the roof of the kitchen extension( which at that point is only a few inches below the windowsill) and started prospecting amongst the spider webs and the assorted detritus gathered on the pantiles. Its reaction to the sticky webs suggested a juvenile and the confident demeanor suggested goldfinch although the plumage markings don't correspond all that well with images I've just been looking up.

[ardcarp]

Just got back from our permitted walk. Mrs A and I went down a narrow footpath bordered by hedges. Knowing there are occasionally some quite bold robins down there we took some bread. The robins were obviously feeling a bit deprived since one landed on my hand and took crumbs three times. But the extraordinary thing (to us) was that each time he flew back to a twig and shared the morsel with another robin. Having looked this up, females will occasionally beg food from males. It didn't look like begging to us, more like offering and receiving. It's the first time we've seen this. Has anyone else?

[Vox Humana]

Just got back from our permitted walk. Mrs A and I went down a narrow footpath bordered by hedges. Knowing there are occasionally some quite bold robins down there we took some bread. The robins were obviously feeling a bit deprived since one landed on my hand and took crumbs three times. But the extraordinary thing (to us) was that each time he flew back to a twig and shared the morsel with another robin. Having looked this up, females will occasionally beg food from males. It didn't look like begging to us, more like offering and receiving. It's the first time we've seen this. Has anyone else?

Yes, they do indulge in courtship feeding.

[LezLee]

Could you find something other than bread? Bread has no nutritional content for birds and they just waste energy eating it. Fruit or dried fruit would be better.

[ardcarp]

I expect mealworms would have been even better, but somehow I didn't fancy them in my trouser pocket....

[Vox Humana]

I expect mealworms would have been even better, but somehow I didn't fancy them in my trouser pocket....

Dried ones are fine, but put them in a bag because they do pong a bit.

[oddoneout]

I was puzzled by a bird I saw on the neighbour's feeder today. It was dark, elegant in movement and outline and I didn't recognise it at all. After a minute or so of delicately extracting seed it flew down to the ground and scuttled under a bush, so it must have been a dunnock I reckon. There are several of them around but I've never seen one on the feeder before.

[jayne lee wilson]

I was puzzled by a bird I saw on the neighbour's feeder today. It was dark, elegant in movement and outline and I didn't recognise it at all. After a minute or so of delicately extracting seed it flew down to the ground and scuttled under a bush, so it must have been a dunnock I reckon. There are several of them around but I've never seen one on the feeder before.

They do go on feeders fairly frequently, very agile on them too. Very active courtship at this time of year, darting & flirting & wingflicking, often involving some pretty hot threesomes....
2 males and a female, often extended right through the nesting/rearing process. Smart females getting extra food & protection for the young (who often have different fathers.....)

Ducks are FAR more debauched but that's another story...

[kernelbogey]

Advice please

Verified this morning that I have a pair of blackbirds nesting about 2 metres from my back door (avian social distancing ) which will require them to be a bit tolerant of my comings and goings. A bit surprising, too, because I have a cat: but she's just turned 17 and her hunting days are well behind her (even hunting the kitchen counters for her favourites!).

What is best strategy for helping these birds feel safe with my movements? I have to do some work near their nest, and I will need to pass by to move down the garden. The garden is very narrow at this point so I have no choice but to pass within less than two metres of the nest. I hope they would just get used to my movements and not feel threatened or wish to abandon the nest.

Any tips?

[Bryn]

Advice please



What is best strategy for helping these birds feel safe with my movements? I have to do some work near their nest, and I will need to pass by to move down the garden. The garden is very narrow at this point so I have no choice but to pass within less than two metres of the nest. I hope they would just get used to my movements and not feel threatened or wish to abandon the nest.

Any tips?

I would suggest you do not worry too much about it. As long as you do not directly interfere with the nest or its contents, you may well, in effect, act as their guardian, your presence deterring potential predators.