Bird of the day!

[John]

I did no birdwatching at all this weekend, except the odd look through the back window into the garden. At 15:50 today I certainly had my bird of the day and I have started a thread about it. It is here.
Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.

I am well pleased.

John

[Deer Stalker]

4 Woodlarks & a couple of Hawfinches while out walking this morning.

[mrs fish]

Female siskin I think

[John]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Female siskin I think

Well here's a couple to look at. Male and female. Was it one of those?

John

[nightshade]

The Lioness has been telling me there was a Siskin in the garden
It comes in on its own with the Goldfinches and Greenfinches
I saw it for the first time today!

[mrs fish]

Yes she did look like that, thanks

[Barbara]

I was off work today, the weather was good and I had plenty of garden visitors, and the bird of the day has to be this little Wren who kept me entertained for most of the morning.



Barbara

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Barbara

I was off work today, the weather was good and I had plenty of garden visitors, and the bird of the day has to be this little Wren who kept me entertained for most of the morning.



Barbara

That's a lovely shot Barbara, I expect nothing less from you though.

[nightshade]

Lovely shot Barbera I do love these tiny feisty birds

[Barbara]

Ha ha thankyou Graham, I remember when this little Wren was so elusive, but now it just doesn't care, it must hear me clicking away and I am sure it must see me and it comes so close that I can't always get the angle to capture because it comes right up to the hide.

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Lovely shot Barbera I do love these tiny feisty birds

Thankyou nightshade, I managed to get lots of images of it, it is a right little poser

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Barbara

I was off work today, the weather was good and I had plenty of garden visitors, and the bird of the day has to be this little Wren who kept me entertained for most of the morning.



Barbara

Stunning image of a Wren, Barbara- they don't always sit still. Looks like Jew's Ear fungus to the left of it.

[Barbara]

Well thankyou for you comment aeshna it suprised me too how long he posed for and on different perches as well. Thankyou for indentifying my Jew's Ear fungus. I have loads of it on an old log, when the weather is dry, it sort of shrivels up and when it gets wet (because we have had plenty of rain recently) it comes back to life again
Barbara

[wyevilla]

Great shot, Barbara.

My birds of the day are, once again, "my" Goldfiches. Now up to 4 at a time which begs the question: should I put out more nijer feeders as mine one only has 2 perches. Oh decisions, decisions.

[badgerwatcher]

My 'birds of the day' are gradually being picked off by a small tabby cat.
I love cats, (but I'm allergic to them), but a very nice woman has just moved in down the road with eight of them!
There are lots of cats anyway, but this tabby in particular is a very good hunter. I haven't seen the male blackcap for a while, my long tailed tits are disappearing fast. Yesterday a pile of fluffy dark dunnock feathers, today he's right up in the silver birch terrorising everything.
Too far for a water pistol!
I have a Barnet Diabolo. I don't want to kill or even hurt the cat. Screwed up balls of paper don't travel very far.
Has anyone got any ideas?

[smartie]

That's a shame and a difficult one, Badger. I have a similar problem with a visiting young tabby, that gets into places my own cats wouldn't attempt and terrorises the birds from the top of the hedge. It is out of reach of my usual deterrents, which are loud clapping, sudden rushes at it and throwing gravel or spraying water. Have you got a hosepipe? I have resorted to a long range spray with mine, and that usually works at the time - though it keeps coming back. If your neighbour is a very nice woman, would she put some bells on it? I've not found that terribly useful myself, to be honest, but it might give the birds a bit more warning.

[nightshade]

Where does it come in? can you impede its progress
with chicken wire or trellis
Set up a sprinkler ready to go, put netting collars around the trees
ask the owner to bell it (offer to pay for bell and collar)
In the last resort Diablo and balls of wet (biodegradable)newspaper
corn or pulses

[badgerwatcher]

She IS a very nice lady, and she say all her cats have bells, so if I see her, I may get her to check he hasn't lost his. He is quite a small cat, quite young, and having a lovely time.
Yes, Smartie, the ose pipe would be a good idea. I may have to set it up so I can 'fire' it from the bedroom window!
And hadn't thought of wetting the newspaper, Nightshade. I don't want to use anything like corn, in case I hit its eyes. I'm a really bad shot, so more likely to do damage accidently.
And may have to skirt the tree, but don't want to as it is so beautiful, and also, that wouldn't deter the cat from the garden.
The fencing runs to a considerable distance, and is old. My dog is showing me some of the holes, but some that I have blocked the Badgers patiently remove the barriers again as it is there right of way! And we are talking fencing round about an acre and a half, some of which I can't reach as it's too overgrown, and at the front quite a low wall, as the shrubs and trees provide us with privacy.

[Deer Stalker]

Hi BW, will a Supersoaker water pistol go far enough (they're more like a rifle than a pistol)?


My birds of the day are Hawfinches, Redpolls, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers & Firecrest while out walking this morning.

[Barbara]

I nipped in the house to get a cuppa and walked back to my hide sat down and looked up and there was this beautifull male Bullfinch staring back at me. His female friend was sitting on a nearby branch. I was so delighted because it is ten years since I have seen a Bullfinch in my garden and then it was only a fleeting glimpse.

The male flew to the wild bird flat dish and ate sunflowers right in front of my hide he wasn't at all bothered about the camera clicking, then he went to the bird table where he and his lady friend enjoyed some more sunflowers before flying off.



Barbara

[aeshna5]

Stunning photo Barbara- Bullfinches are such stunning birds. I've twice seen them in my garden, though they breed within a half hour walk from where I live. A bird you usually hear before you see it, despite the male's gaudy plumage.

Hope you don't wait so long for their next visit!

[mrs fish]

Your photo is perfect Barbara, you should be very pleased

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Stunning photo Barbara- Bullfinches are such stunning birds. I've twice seen them in my garden, though they breed within a half hour walk from where I live. A bird you usually hear before you see it, despite the male's gaudy plumage.

Hope you don't wait so long for their next visit!

Thankyou aeshna. I have never heard their song, I do hope they revisit. What really suprised me is that he must have seen me go into the hide becasue he was on the perch right in front of it. The female waited on a nearby branch and didn't come in a close. She flew to an upright perch and then on to the bird table. Looking forward to next weekend to see if they come back.

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Your photo is perfect Barbara, you should be very pleased

Oh thankyou mrs fish yes I am over the moon. It's always nice to get a new visitor to your garden especially one as colourful as this