Monday 28 January 2013

Harry's birds and some Mice

Yesterday was my parents wedding anniversary and also my Mum's birthday, very convenient for Dad to get  married on his Wife's birthday, stops him from forgetting! I spent the afternoon at my parents house, along with my Brother and Sister-in-law and my Niece and Nephew where I was treated to my Nephew showing his burgeoning interest in the natural world, especially birds. Harry is getting to be quite the birder, only 7 and already knowing quite a lot of birds, some common and some uncommon and even correcting his Dad on how to pronounce a Ferruginous Duck (more of which another time)!

My parents have some feeders in their garden which attract the normal fare, but just lately some Lesser Redpoll have been turning up and feeding on the niger seed. On Sunday I was hoping to get some photos of these little birds, but as it was the Big Garden Birdwatch, there was of course no sign. Very disappointing. Instead of this, myself and my Nephew Harry settled down to watch the Blue Tits and Great Tits and even a House Sparrow come to the feeders, which gave Harry a chance to see these birds 'up close' and try his hand at taking some photos. The results below speak for themselves.




These photos are brilliant, in my humble opinion, especially for a seven year old who hadn't even held my camera before yesterday. What will his future hold?

Another common visitor to Mum and Dad's garden is below, feeding on spilled and sometimes placed bird feed. I think that they are House Mice, but am no expert!




All in all, an enjoyable day with Harry going home with several copies of my old Bird Watching magazines to read. I am going to test him next time.

10 comments:

  1. there is certainly a budding Wildlife photographer there!! great photos

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    1. Thanks Gary! I will pass on the compliment.
      J

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  2. Dear John,
    it is a good thing for a child to have someone who gives them enthusiasm for nature!
    His photos are great! What do your parents feed to the birds? Here I tried some bought things on the balcony, but the birds are right: I wouldn't eat that either. So the tits are weeding the old plants.
    The mice, if I am not mistaken, are what we call garden mice - and I call them "Brambley Hedge mice", I can see the little caps and pinafores on them :-)
    Would you be so kind to change my blog address from witty&pretty to berlinletters on your blog list? (I don't write 'witty' anymore :-) Thanks!

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    1. Hi Britta,
      I try and nurture his enthusiasm without being pushy. I will pass on your compliments.
      Mum and Dad feed an assorted bird seed and niger seed, also fat balls and peanuts. Thanks for the advice on the mice, you can imagine them appearing in a Beatrix Potter book.
      I have put Berlin Letters on my blog list, but for some reason it won't show up! I will look into it!
      J

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  3. Always great to get youngsters enthused! Love the mice!

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    1. Hi Lou,
      Hopefully it will continue, for a bit anyway! ;)
      J

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  4. Very well done to Harry...he's a natural. And extremely well done to you John for fostering an interest. I'm sure with your encouragement he will have a lifelong interest in birds, your enthusiasm and passion for the subject is sure to enthuse him. Does he have access to a computer at home so he can follow Uncle John's blog? I'm sure that would keep the interest going too. Sweet pics of the mice also.

    Lovely photos of the B-h G on the previous post, a very striking and underrated bird I think.

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    1. Hi Jan,
      Thank you, I will pass on the compliment! I haven't really done any fostering as such, as a family we are all interested in the natural world, I am a bit more extreme perhaps. He has access to a computer and his Mum is one of my 'Followers', so he can have a look now and then. He has got a mountain of magazines to flick through too, enough to keep him interested for a while.
      All gulls are under rated in my opinion, but because the B-h G are so common, people sometimes turn a blind eye.
      J

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  5. Hi John. Harry has a gift; it must be in the genes. I can tell how proud you are of him.
    I think he is lucky to have a mentor like you!
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. Hi Bazza,
      Thank you. As I have said to everyone else, I will pass the compliment on to Harry. I am proud, but then I am proud of both my Niece and Nephew, both exceptional kids. I try not to be too pushy with Harry and birds, but to be honest, he is so keen, I don't have to push. :)
      J

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