The patchwork of bright Spring sunshine, glittering on the wet daffodils, has alternated with heavy grey clouds and short, sharp showers. Here it is enlivened by the local wind that comes around the corner of the Eildon Hills and straight up the village main street. Locally, it’s called ‘a lazy wind’ because it doesn’t go… Continue reading Sunshine and showers
A busy day
The garden has been busy today and for the first time this year, I have seen a bird collecting nesting material – a ring dove which scavenged some straws from the rosebed mulch and flew off across the school roof. This was good news. I’ve come to the conclusion that ring doves are elegant but… Continue reading A busy day
Starter for ten…
Since there is no chance of a trip to the pub for the Saturday night quiz, here are a few questions for contemplation in a quiet moment. It”s raining, in fact, it’s pouring, so why is the blackbird taking a bath? Why is the greenfinch on the cone feeder such a curious colour? It’s not… Continue reading Starter for ten…
Gentlemen’s Buttons
There were two visitors to the lawn today, previously regulars, but missing of late – or I haven’t been at the sink/kettle at the right time. A couple of goldfinches, hoovering up the small seeds and digging out the occasional peanut, are flashing their smart tailcoats and brilliant heads on the lawn. When their wings… Continue reading Gentlemen’s Buttons
Spring is sprung
In barely a couple of days, the character of the garden seems to have changed, as though the birds had been watching the calendar for the clocks moving forward. There are fewer coming to the feeders and suddenly the spug motel is become a house of ill repute. There are undignified skirmishes between males that… Continue reading Spring is sprung
King of the castle
The woodpecker doesn’t share. He will see off even the jackdaws with a well-aimed jab. Mid-afternoon and he is monopolising the cone-shaped peanut feeder, clinging to the wire half-way up, thin black beak hammering into the packed nuts. He’s a great spotted woodpecker, a mixture of intense focus and suspicious caution, so that he often… Continue reading King of the castle
The vandal in the flourish
There is a thief in the garden who refuses to take the smallest precaution at concealment, brazenly flaunting his black and red plumage that sings out amongst the dark and mostly bare branches and the branches will be even more naked after his attentions. A bullfinch is come to strip the leaf buds from the… Continue reading The vandal in the flourish
Everyone’s a critic
Today there is a chaffinch perched on the edge of one of the suet feeders. He’s a handsome chap, with richly coloured plumage around his head and chest that fades softly into a rust-coloured belly. However, I have to admit that I’m less focused on his plumage and more interested in what he’s eating. Over… Continue reading Everyone’s a critic
Two’s company
It was snowing when I went to put down the birdseed – a fine spray of small white ice particles that whirled on the wind and stung your face. The sparrows had retreated to the motel and if sparrows could look glum, there were half-a-dozen glum faces peering out of the greenery. The snow didn’t… Continue reading Two’s company
The colours of the Tweed
Most of the small birds who scour the grass for seed and flit amongst the feeders blend into a soft tweed of feathers; threads of browns and blacks, blocks of red and blue from the male chaffinches and flashes of yellow from the yellowhammers. One or two individuals stand out – our robin, hovering at… Continue reading The colours of the Tweed
thekitchensinkbirdwatcher 