Birds and Gaura

Isn't this weekend the RSPB garden bird spottng weekend?

I didn't take part as I forgot, however I still got up early to watch the birds and between 8-10:20 when I went out we had:

Sparrow
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Dunnock
Robin
Blue tit
Coal tit
Magpie

There were periods when I wasn't at the table though, like when having a shower and getting ready to leave.

I went out to a garden centre to pick up my silk-tassle bush for the front garden, an early birthday present from my parents. It was so windy and cold outside that we didn't browse at all, I would have liked to check for other plants I wanted. Oh well. I'll be going back in a few weeks as they have all their Christmas decorations and such in, and I'd like some cyclamen to put in pots and bring a bit of colour back to the garden.

Actually, I'm very impressed with the verbena, it's been flowering now for months, as has the Gaura and both are seemingly still going strong. I will definitely get more for next year!

And now for some photos:

Gaura

and something to make you feel a bit warmer... Peruvian Lily

Hydrangea

Probably one of the most photographed flowers in Autumn/Winter thanks to their wonderful ability to keep their skeleton...

In August...

Perhaps I ought to actually post photos when I take them rather than waiting for almost 2 months later??

A few photos taken back in August:

Resident little Dunnock, I presume it's an adult (would they still have a gape by now??)

Bullie arrives, one of the more tame birds in the Garden along with the Dunnock and Blue tits

Juvenile Blue tit dines with Bullie

Yet to catch Coal tit, Great tit or Baby Bullie up close *Shakes fist*

Visit from a Dunnock

Oh the pleasure of having a bird feeder...

You get all kinds of weeds growing under it! I definitely plan on getting a free standing station, because I've had enough of having to weed out sunflowers and such from under the feeder (it wouldn't be so bad if they didn't go to slush when wet and subsequently get a disgusting fungi/moss layer.

Anyway, as we had some ok weather a few weekends ago I decided to sit on my bird watching slab and try to get some photos...

Here's a Dunnock that came to see me:

Most likely checking me out

Trying to work out how to get to the seeds

Searching on the ground for seeds and insects

Checking out the gravel for seeds

Found one!

There are prizes for anyone who can guess which plants are actually meant to be in the border!

Weather and Birdies

Today started out somewhat terrible, raining heavy, grey and rather bleak.

Oh joy thinks I.

Eventually around 10am the rain stopped, but the weather remained grey and cold. Then suddenly around 11am it cleared up and made way for sun and blue skies!

Our house warmed up beautifully and actually sat at the kitchen table at the laptop was a tough job because it was so hot - although outside was chilly because of the wind.

Finally I had inspiration to get the macro lens out and take some shots. My plan was for Autumn berries, but because of my lack of interest recently (no thanks to someone seeing me taking photos in the garden and thinking I was taking photos of them and accusing me, I'm now scared to take shots... Bah, c'mon grow little Jasmine, firethorn, rose shrub!!!) I'd missed the best time as most of the elderberries were gone...

Oh well, there's always next year.

No new birds sighted, although it was a fairly busy day with most of the usuals putting in an appearance. Haven't seen Bullies for a week or so though. Shame. I'm sure they'll be back next spring or hopefully in the coming months!

Current Bird List

Well, I think it's time I updated our birds list and I thought it might be nice to see which have brought their youngsters along!

Nothing quite as exciting as Tricia's Ring-Necked Parakeets though :)

Blue tit + youngsters
Great tit
Coal tit
Long-Tailed Tit
Green Finch + youngsters
Gold Finch + youngsters
Bull Finch + youngsters
Sparrow + youngsters
Blackbird + youngsters
Robin
Dunnock + youngsters
Collared Dove
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon (although I'm not sure I can recognise any type of juv. pigeon…)
Starling + youngsters
Willow Warbler (maybe, not sure, could've been… who knows??)
Garden Warbler
Chiff chaff
Magpie + Youngsters
Sparrow Hawk
Swift + youngsters (well, above the garden)
Crows/Rooks
Tawny Owl

And my latest find - Wren. Before I had *thought* I'd seen one next door. This morning I definitely had one creeping around through the willow against the fence. I might have to put out dried mealworms for it - we had them a few years ago in a different house, and they really appreciated the mealies I put out.

Now I just need:

Woodpecker
Gold Crest (+ firecrest)
Nuthatch
Song thrush (seen them across the street, we do have lots of snail shells in the garden, but I can't be sure it's due to Song Thrushes)
Brambling
Chaffinch
Linnet
Treecreeper (unlikely with no mature trees in the garden.)
Redwing
Mistle thrush
Waxwing (haha, yeah right. none have been sighted in Sheffield since 2004 or around there)
Might as well go all out and wish to see a crested tit!!