Bird of the day!

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Gaina

How big are they in relation to a chaffinch? Could I possibly have had one in my garden? It was up a tree and I know male chaffinches have a little crest when they get exited, I remember thinking this one was quite prominent

Oh, and also I heard a bird this evening with a very strong call that I didn't recognise. It sounded like rapid 'doo-doo-deep!' I have mainly broad leaved hedges and a few tall trees in my garden if that is any help.

Skylarks are slightly larger than a chaffinch, but smaller than a blackbird. Normally they prefer open areas of grassland. You can't mistake their incessant song, which they normally do in flight.

[badgerwatcher]

My bird today is my first goldcrest in the garden, which was sitting on the peanut feeder outside the sunroom, when I came in from work and went to my desk.
He sat there for long enough to be I.D.ed, then flew off as I reached for my camera.
I don't mind. He'll be back!

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Yep. Your timings alright, heard my first Skylark of the year on 24th Feb. What habitat was it in?

Agricultural land.. ploughed field nextdoor.. but lots of fields down to grass... especialy the field two over where the swans are living! About half a mile across the fields (as the crow.. er...skylark flies) there is a small wild life reserve. Other than that.. housing. Of course, a skylark's song can be heard over long distances. Gorgeous sound, to my mind second only to blackbird who sings out the back of my house... wonderful liquid golden notes!
jaki

[Ollie]

Bird of the day for me today has to be these two House Sparrows that I photographed out the bedroom window. Not much else about in my garden today
Roger

Female House Sparrow


Male House Sparrow

[John]

I had to go to work slightly later today, 8:45 instead of 07:45. Thankfully that extra hour got me a lovely moment with the Wren that is a frequent visitor to our garden.

I have never been in a position to photograph it before but this morning I looked through the back window and saw him rummaging about in some undergrowth then he popped out onto a wooden planter I have with a grub in it's mouth. He belted the life out of it by banging it continually onto the wood. Once finished he popped back into the undergrowth and came up with another one. Finally once fed he popped up onto one of my plants for a short rest.

Judging by the previous mess left on the wooden areas this isn't the first time he has used this for killing of its food.

Cracking moment and a good start to the day for me. Following are a few of the many photos i took through my back window.













John

[Ollie]

Great shots John and as you say a lovely start to your day. Difficult birds to photograph with them always being on the move.
Roger

[Barbara]

Well John,
Your little Wren are some of the best Wren images I have ever seen. Absolutely superb, escpecially to capture him with breakfast as well is an added bonus. I bet you really had to force yourself to go into work. Superb images. 10/10

Barbara

[Barbara]

Lovely feather detail on your Sparrows Roger, very kind of them to visit you knowing that you can't get out and about

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Barbara

Lovely feather detail on your Sparrows Roger, very kind of them to visit you knowing that you can't get out and about

Thank Barbara, I am getting very frustrated at being stuck indoors with all this nice weather.
Roger

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Thank Barbara, I am getting very frustrated at being stuck indoors with all this nice weather.
Roger

I'll bet you are Roger, lets hope the good weather is still with us when your up and about

[aeshna5]

John, excellent sequence of Wren shots- these behaviour shots are even more interesting than a posed image. Wrens are real characters- it's amazing how many non-naturalists say they have never seen one!

[smartie]

Great photos of both wrens and sparrows, John and Roger.

Roger, I do hope your back is better soon and you can get out and about, but in the meantime you are providing us with some really good images from your garden.

[nightshade]

That is a really nice sequence of the wren.Is it literally knocking the dung out of them?

[Ollie]

Hi,
Birtd of the day for me today has to be this little Robin who I watched catch breakfast off my heighbours Privet hedge. Aploogies for the quality, it was a fair way away and taken from my open bedroom window.
Roger

[vinnychameleon]

My bird of the day for yesterday was an absolutely beautiful male hen harrier who was seen quartering salisbury plain. It was so unexpected and i am soo happy as i have been searching for hen harriers for ages .

[badgerwatcher]

Today, my male blackcap was back, after a long absence, in the macrocarpa outside my office. He's a bird I could watch all day. He's so handsome. (I was on the phone, so couldn't get at my camera.)

[badgerwatcher]

And a giggle of long tailed tits have just shot through, relieving my worries, as I'd only been seeing one for a while. They are sooooo pretty!

[smartie]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

And a giggle of long tailed tits have just shot through, relieving my worries, as I'd only been seeing one for a while. They are sooooo pretty!

They are lovely, aren't they? We've had a pair visiting us every day this week, so I'm hoping they are taking up residence somewhere nearby. They arrived to feed while I was out chasing the deer out of the garden for about the fifth time yesterday, and didn't seem at all concerned that I was within 5 feet of the hedge.

[smartie]

And now my bird of the day - a male great spotted woodpecker on a tree in the garden. Commonplace for many of you, I know, but it's the first I've ever seen in my garden and I was quite excited. Unfortunately my cooker beeped at the wrong moment and spooked him

[John]

I have set aside this weekend for gardening only as I am going to be very busy soon with planned trips that are going to take me far and wide away from my house.

Whilst working hard on the garden (and doing my back in I might add. ) the familiar sound of one of my very favourite birds could be heard behind me. I looked behind and there were a couple of Long-tailed Tits on the feeders.

I gingerley crept indoors and grabbed my camera, thinking they would have disappeared by the time I was ready. Luckily enough they hung on for a few seconds more allowing a few shots of them. It's a shame they are on the feeders but apart from one quick shot all of the chances I had where when they were concentrating on the food source.







And one with attitude.


John

[goosey]

Excellent images John, I just love third - how unusual, it doesn't even look like a bird.
I bet you couldn't believe your luck when they were still there after getting your camera I dont think that having the feeder in the shot takes anything away from such great photo's.

[badgerwatcher]

Great pictures, John. Love the last one!

[Ollie]

Another fan of the last photo John, great shots. Just go steady with that gardening John and watch that back, don't want you out of action.
Roger

[nightshade]

I get the feeling you have got the measure of that camera now
very good images