One of the things I am hoping to do during this day count is have something new for each posting. Or at least to see how many days I can go with finding something new each time. As the day count goes on it is likely that I will get more and more difficult. I might find myself prodding around looking for a Wood Louse and failing. We will see how it goes. I will at least try and limit myself so that if I do post a photo of something that has already appeared it has something about it to make it worth it, such as different behaviour, i.e feeding their young, or a clarity and quality that makes a really good photo.
Today I am actually starting with birds that I have already posted photos of Goldfinch and Green Finch. The header image is a Goldfinch but the photo above shows one with grass in its beak to use as nesting material. I saw Goldfinch picking up twigs and feathers and whenever it flew off with material another immediately followed it. I wonder if that means they build a nest as a pair. This Green Finch, singing away, was out in the open and showing itself much more than when I usually spot them. They are usually tucked in the bushes and you are lucky to see an eye peering at you. Unless you have a feeder that they like.
Now onto new birds.
Parts of the dawn chorus are dominated by Blackbird song similarly in the evening. During the day you either hear their alarm call or the swish, swish as they sweep leaves aside looking for insects and worms.
At one time during the day two Great Tits could be heard signing loudly. One was in a tree in the far left corner of our garden and the other in a tree to the right in the far left corner of our neighbour’s garden. They were declaring the territory and trying to attract a mate or impress the one they already had. Several pairs of Dunnock seemed to be flying between the trees and bushes keeping quite well hidden. They seemed to be less territorial.
This Magpie was strutting about our garden pulling at stalks and twigs but they were still attached to the plant or bush so it was not having much success. One was also seen at the top of a tree failing again to get twigs for a nest. Another Magpie was near it probably regretting that it had paired up with a useless nest builder. In this photo you can see the nictitating membrane is part way across the bird’s eye.
This is the index to the Days in our garden series.
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