Okay, it's the Maritime Alps but I've just heard my first cuckoo of the year so it shouldn't take them too long to reach the British Isles. Quite cheering in these troubled times to know that an annual occurrence is still with us.
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Yes but they’re slackers and their child care skills are abysmal - so no visas there I’m afraid - but then they’re always entering illegally and never brought to book!Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostComment
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Any sign of swifts yet? I always look forward to their arrival but it won't be for another month or so, I guess.Originally posted by HighlandDougie View PostComment
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Swallows and house martins first, of course (sand martins should be already here?). Nightingales arrive in East Anglia round about for my birthday, about a week away.Originally posted by hmvman View Post
Today the greater spotted woodpecker was back on the sunflower hearts feeder! In this town-centre property...Comment
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The house martins arrived a couple of weeks ago. À great joy to have them swooping around the house. They are pretty fearless as they don’t hesitate to mob the local ‘aigles royales’. But, alas, no nightingales here as I suspect that we are too high so am very envious of being woken at 2am among the parsnip fields of Suffolk by their glorious song. My resident blackcaps will just have to do as a substitute.Comment
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Most of our sunflower hearts are going to the jackdaws!Originally posted by silvestrione View PostComment
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Originally posted by kernelbogey View PostA pair of blackbirds around, the cock singing lustily
from 5 am today. Their movements suggest that they might be the same pair I had posted about at least a couple of times here in previous years, as I had been concerned that their nest was a mere 4 metres or so from my back door, and I thought my movements might frighten them off. (Others here thought not.) In fact they appear not to have hatched any eggs two years running. I had heard no sound of progeny, although the cock flew back and forth, perhaps feeding his mate?
I wonder whether they are likely to build for the third year in exactly the same place, despite their lack of success?
I would be grateful for any feedback on that question - thanks.Comment
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A fantastic substitute! But, yes, nothing actually equals nightingale....Originally posted by HighlandDougie View PostComment
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Jackdaws are characterful, but I'm not sure I'd like them emptying my feeder!Originally posted by hmvman View PostComment
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They don't stay too long but they come mob-handed!Originally posted by silvestrione View PostComment
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The last few days a very busy little wren has been collecting bits of leaves and presumably nesting - whether one or more nests as I understand they do build more than one as decoys or to give a choice to their chosen mate!Comment
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Strange isn't it? - the variability of crow species populations in given areas. Here we hardly ever see jackdaws or even rooks, just the occasional jay; carrion crows and magpies predominate strongly.Originally posted by hmvman View PostComment
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That's been happening at the bottom of my neighbour's garden. I was working on my side a couple of days ago and getting a right earbashing from the troglodyte before it popped over the fence and disappeared. Later it returned with a beakful of nesting material, and made several more trips over the course of an hour or so. There is a useful(from its point of view) thicket of bramble and Russian vine between the fence and the railway line which gives considerable protection from potential troublemakers. I mentioned it to the neighbour so that any attempts to clear the plants trying to recolonise their garden are postponed/modified to prevent disturbance. Wrens and robins have nested and raised chicks in that area in recent years and I've enjoyed sitting down there watching the youngsters finding their wings and the lie of the land on many occasions. As you say it may be a courtship nest rather than a functional one but we won't know until there is evidence of continuing activity - repeated trips over the fence with food would be a clincher.Originally posted by cloughie View PostComment
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It's interesting that when the Jackdaws are in the garden they're not bothered about the Pigeons (Wood and Feral) or Blackbirds being around too but the other day a Magpie turned up and there was a right rumpus with the Magpie being driven away by the Jackdaws.Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostComment
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