Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Tools Of The Trade

Don’t let anyone say blogging is easy, especially when you haven’t been out birding because of summer chores like painting the gates, power washing the patio then repointing the weed filled joints of the said stones. All this only after a trip to B&Q for the necessary materials at the Wednesday 10% discount for OAPs, followed by lunch at the “Kingfisher” pub, which was the nearest I got to a bird this morning.

Later I sneaked off on the pretence of a sit down with a cup of tea and there were lots of birds in the garden, if but common stuff. So an hour or two later after my brief respite I opened the bag of sharp sand and set to with a stiff brush and a heavy heart, but not before I got a few pictures.

Young Starlings don’t look a lot like the adults do they? I think Will said to me last week that he hadn’t seen the large gangs of young around in the same numbers this year, such a feature of early June. I think he was correct but there were a few in the garden today.

Starling

The Chaffinch is obviously one of the regular garden visitors. Note the ring, right leg. Wow the picture is nearly good enough to read the number!

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

My garden is absolutely crammed with Goldfinch at the moment. This bird has to be one of the most successful British birds of recent years, most of it due to its sheer adaptability and the fact that it has become a very common garden bird.

Goldfinch

I swear the branch of the silver birch sagged when this fat young Woodpigeon landed on it. The thing isn’t long out of the nest but wasted no time in joining the others in searching out local gardens.

Woodpigeon

Woodpigeon

This Jackdaw is clearly up to some villainy, like nicking all the peanuts.

Jackdaw

Even the young Great-spotted Woodpeckers waste no time in searching out my nuts!

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Now I must get back to the chores, where did I put that paintbrush?

6 comments:

Stuart Price said...

I did a double take when I skimmed through your post and read 'weed filled joints'!

I too noticed Goldfinches had increased the last time I was home........

myonlyphoto said...

Wow I would love to have your garden, lol. Some of your regulars, would be called exotic in my garden. Hope you have fun doing your chores, lol, yes blogging isn't that easy when you have so much to do. Great photos! Anna :)

Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok said...

Nice set of garden birds photos!
I love the colourful goldfinch and as you said, I could read 592 something on the ring of the Chaffinch!

Unknown said...

Awww,.... you have a great variety there, even though to you they are 'common'. ;)
Lovely shots as usual!
Come to Sinai NOW and get bored ;)
I DID have some surprise Bee-eaters today though.
No idea if they now breed down here (experts would say 'hell no', but hey, are THEY here counting?).
Maybe they are just here for a brief summer vacation?
;)

Phil Slade said...

Thanks for your positive comments everyone. Stu, sorry I misled you. by the way did you leave Preston in a herry?

Ari said...

What a garden you have, Phil! How I wish I can have a garden like yours... Lovely shots of the birds, thanks for sharing....

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