WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

[Placido]

That's what next-door's s-i-l said. An escapee, not the bit about Specsavers .

[Butterfly]

There was a woody's down feather on the garden fence, gently blown by the breeze. A gold finch landed, took it in its bill, ripped it in half and few off with the half. Someone is building a nest me thinks

[Jacksparrow]

I reported the other day that Jackdaws were taking materials off my drive for nest building. It appears that word has got around in the Jackdaw community as this morning at 9am there were six on the drive and a seventh sitting on the fence awaiting it's turn. My drive is looking a good deal tidier.

[Butterfly]

My drive is looking a good deal tidier.

They are all busy these days, I had a starling ripping off bits of what I believe is skunk vine, and taking beakfull away, clearly for the nest building purposes

[Butterfly]

I enjoyed watching my Robin on the ground tray having dinner, than when he finished he jumped off, picked up one large dry leaf from the ground and put it on the tray before flying off! I saw that before, a single dry leaf in the food tray but always thought its blown by the wind, now I think it's been him all along, covering the food to hide it from other birds maybe

[Butterfly]

I went out to check the feeders in the garden, and saw a commotion on the wall. There were 4 dunnocks hopping around each other and fluttering their wings. Than the two of them started fighting really viciously, fell on the ground and continued fighting there . They were so consumed with the fight that they didn't even notice that I was there. I tried whistling just to get their attention and make them stop, but that was ignored
Only when I started moving towards them slowly did they take notice and let go of each other. Never see dunnocks fight before

[Jacksparrow]

I went out to check the feeders in the garden, and saw a commotion on the wall. There were 4 dunnocks hopping around each other and fluttering their wings. Than the two of them started fighting really viciously, fell on the ground and continued fighting there . They were so consumed with the fight that they didn't even notice that I was there. I tried whistling just to get their attention and make them stop, but that was ignored
Only when I started moving towards them slowly did they take notice and let go of each other. Never see dunnocks fight before

The lovelife of Dunnocks is a complicated affair. It does not surprise me that it turns nasty on occasion.

[Butterfly]

My blackbirds are super busy feeding their babies at the moment, suet being their favourite to take away to the nest . Bluey took a leaf from my lavender plant and flew away with it, clearly trying to make a calming atmosphere in the nest

[Jacksparrow]

I saw something I'd never witnessed before. One of the two magpies that hang around appeared to take a dislike to the Collared Doves. The doves usually turn up late afternoon to pig out from the SF hearts feeder and today was no different but each time one or more of them perched on the feeder the Magpie would swoop in a scare them off. In the end it wouldn't tolerate them being anywhere in the garden. Meanwhile Sparrows, Blackbirds ,Woodies and feral pigeons all fed uninterrupted and unhindered

[Placido]

How strange. Mind you, a magpie in a bit of a mood isn't strange at all.
I've forgotten what a collie dove looks like.