Thursday 10 March 2011

Sunny garden birds

What a difference a bit of sun makes! For the past few days, if not weeks, the sun has been quite `shy` to say the least, but over the past few days the sun has been shining and the world has seemed a slightly better place.

The photo`s below were taken in my little back garden in Peterborough and whilst the number of species isn`t great, I think the detail shown in the photo`s is pretty pleasing. Ofcourse, the fact that the sun is shining helps with the light!



Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
It is hard to believe that 25 years ago the Goldfinch was a rare visitor to gardens in Britain, but now, with the availability of feeders aimed at them (the nyjer seed feeders), they are quite a common sight across the country. This is a gorgeous looking bird that is also known locally as the `Redcap`, for obvious reasons.

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)



Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

All photo`s digiscoped using Lumix FS15 and Kowa TSN-883 x30

12 comments:

  1. I was thinking of adding a nyjer seed feeder to the several I have. Do you think I would see a Goldfinch on the east London/Essex borders?
    I have never (knowingly) seen one.
    Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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  2. Dear John,
    thank you for coming over!
    I love the blue tits very much - sometimes I see them here. And yesterday I was convinced that spring comes: from the train window (Berlin to Hamburg) I saw hundreds and hundreds of geese (or were it cranes - I could not hear them), flying North.

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  3. Really nice shots of the Reed Bunting John, hopefully there will be a few more of them about now in Spring.
    Yes, we regularly get two Goldfinch visiting the seed feeder now, which makes a nice addition.

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  4. Hi bazza,
    You never know! There is no reason why you won`t get a visit from a Goldfinch or two. You may have to put the feeder up and wait a bit for the birds to find the food source, once found they will return and probably bring some friends too. I regularly get 8 Goldfinches visiting.
    J

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  5. Hi Britta,
    The pleasure is mine for `coming over`!
    It is the time of year when the geese start to leave Britain and West Europe and start to make their way North to their breeding grounds. Hopefully they will breed successfully and more will come back in the Autumn!
    J

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  6. Hi Roy,
    Thankyou for that. The Reed Buntings in my garden will soon disperse to where they breed (not sure where), and return in November or December. I enjoy seeing them while I can, luckily we have a whole load of sites in the Peterborough area where I can still get to see them!
    Goldfinches are really stunning birds, they would fit in with the most exotic birds (in my opinion!).
    J

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  7. Hi John. Lovely selection of garden visitors. I certainly envy you re the Reed Bunting ... that would create a mega twitch if one appeared here!

    Thanks for joining The Early Birder and hope you find time to drop by from time to time. I'll also be keeping a watching brief on your activities. Cheers FAB.

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  8. Hi Frank,
    I am quite lucky at getting the Reed Buntings visiting my garden, my Dad is someone else who is envious!
    My thanks go to you in return for visiting my humble blog and for the `Follow` and comment. I will indeed be dropping by `The Early Birder` as I hope you do to `Hedgeland Tales`.
    Thanks,
    J

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  9. Your goldfinch is so gorgeous--very different from our own (which is also lovely, but not so dramatic as yours). Always love seeing the bluetit and chaffinch. I've not seen the reed bunting "live," but hope to one day. Thank you!

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  10. Lovely set John.
    Seeing the sun makes such a difference to everythin
    The Goldie is a beauty.

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  11. Thankyou Raining Acorns, Goldfinches are beautiful birds. I am sure that you will see a Reed Bunting one day, hopefully their numbers will sufficient for you to do so.
    J

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  12. Hi Keith,
    Thankyou, yes, the sun makes a whole lot of difference!
    J

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