The Drop In Centre

[May]

Goodness they're noisey little things! It's like a drop in centre for house and tree sparrows here! They are absolutely everywhere and are now joining their parents at the bird table but the funniest thing is they're attempting to use the window feeders now! Cue many mishaps when they get knocked off by more experienced birds .. just yesterday I saw a young tree sparrow venture onto the window seed feeder before falling off, hitting the periwinkle then emerging like a bolt from the undergrowth!

I've also seen a mum being harrassed non-stop by her twins, who were either side of her, fluttering their wings madly to be fed.

They're such little characters and are clearing the bird table in such short time I'm running out of seed! It was only recently that I commented that everything here had slowed down .. I couldn't have been more wrong!

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by May

Goodness they're noisey little things! It's like a drop in centre for house and tree sparrows here! They are absolutely everywhere and are now joining their parents at the bird table but the funniest thing is they're attempting to use the window feeders now! Cue many mishaps when they get knocked off by more experienced birds .. just yesterday I saw a young tree sparrow venture onto the window seed feeder before falling off, hitting the periwinkle then emerging like a bolt from the undergrowth!

I've also seen a mum being harrassed non-stop by her twins, who were either side of her, fluttering their wings madly to be fed.

They're such little characters and are clearing the bird table in such short time I'm running out of seed! It was only recently that I commented that everything here had slowed down .. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Hahaha.......fun to watch though isn't it May.

It makes you wonder how the parent birds don't collapse from exhaustion especially when they have big broods to look after.

I saw my first Magpie babies yesterday............four of them mobbing the mum........they were as big as her.........i'm surprised she didn't give them a clip round the ears for there behaviour

[nightshade]

It is good to know that the spadgers are on the up in some places,there are a fair few here
but overall the magpies are well in the lead

[May]

Originally Posted by Mark43

Hahaha.......fun to watch though isn't it May.

It makes you wonder how the parent birds don't collapse from exhaustion especially when they have big broods to look after.

I saw my first Magpie babies yesterday............four of them mobbing the mum........they were as big as her.........i'm surprised she didn't give them a clip round the ears for there behaviour

It is fun, yes! I love watching them. They were having a grand old time. Feeding, chirping, folowing mum about, falling into the periwinkle, harrassing the poor parents, bathing in the saucer of water! It's rather quiet here now after the frenzied periods when they all come down. I saw one poor mum being mobbed by three youngsters earlier.

It always astonishes me how big the babies seem, not the sparrows but blackbird and magpie young. We don't have any magpies here in our garden, but they're certainly fun to watch. When I lived in Portsmouth I passed by a park one day to see two magpies perched on a bench while two others were jumping around on the play equipment! Obviously play time!

[May]

Originally Posted by nightshade

It is good to know that the spadgers are on the up in some places,there are a fair few here
but overall the magpies are well in the lead

It's sparrows I've seen the most of. I haven't seen any blue tits at all, the babies we've had here have all been dunnocks, greenfinches and the sparrows.

[Tinkerbell]

My kitchen was transformed into a literal 'drop-in' centre this morning.

On my way out I went to collect a few things, only to find a sparrow frantically trying to get through a closed window (bird droppings everywhere!). I chatted away to it as I opened the latch and away it went none the worse for wear. I cannot imagine why it came through various doors into the kitchen, rather than finding its way back out again, of its own accord. And, at the get-together with friends at a local village hall this a.m. a swallow decided to make an appearance too, causing one or two ladies to cringe. It too had a lucky escape.

Tink

[Wolfhill]

I know the feeling May, the Tree sparrows and House sparrows are doing the same here!!!! Its great fun to watch though isn't it??
Fergus

[May]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

My kitchen was transformed into a literal 'drop-in' centre this morning.

On my way out I went to collect a few things, only to find a sparrow frantically trying to get through a closed window (bird droppings everywhere!). I chatted away to it as I opened the latch and away it went none the worse for wear. I cannot imagine why it came through various doors into the kitchen, rather than finding its way back out again, of its own accord. And, at the get-together with friends at a local village hall this a.m. a swallow decided to make an appearance too, causing one or two ladies to cringe. It too had a lucky escape.

Tink

Did you manage to free the swallow? Or did it find its own way out?

Oooh, I dread birds getting inside the house as they have a terrible habit of ending up behind seemingly immovable objects. Where we used to live all the neighbours were gathered around one of the neighbours front doors peering up at his window. A sparrow was caught inside and he had left the country for six months .. leaving his living room windows open and curtains drawn as he did so. So the sparrow was trying to go through the kitchen window.
Much talk ensued and my husband was nudged into going up a ladder, going through the open window to free the bird. As he tried to get it out, it made a beeline for the cooker Luckily it changed its mind and it was soon freed.

[May]

Originally Posted by Wolfhill

I know the feeling May, the Tree sparrows and House sparrows are doing the same here!!!! Its great fun to watch though isn't it??
Fergus

Yes it is! I love watching them, they're such characters! I wish my camera had a better lense as I could have some lovely photographs

[Tinkerbell]

Did you manage to free the swallow?

Certainly did May as it protested loudly. There were loads more outside swooping around - I wondered if they were concerned for the little one.

I recall freeing a woodpecker from a neighbours house when we lived in Germany - quite a priviledge form me to get so up close with such a lovely bird.

PS I very much enjoy reading your observations May - keep them coming.

Tink