These two Crossbills, male and female visited the tree outside our apartment a few times during the week. On the majority of occasions they were seen feeding, but on one visit I noticed that they were collecting material in their cross beaks. Maybe birds nest at different times in Mallorca, but it did seem a bit early to be collecting nesting material at the beginning of October.
I was so focussed on watching and photographing the birds that I didn't notice until going through the photos at home that there is a green insect close to the male. I think that it is a Praying Mantis, the second one of our trip.
How wonderful to have an apartment with crossbills included in the price! My own sightings have always been brief or so high up in the trees that I've soon had a crick in my neck.
ReplyDeleteHi John,
DeleteI know, I was very happy! Not only the Crossbills, but we had Sardinian Warblers Too! The apartment was on the first floor, which made the birds eye level from the balcony, another bonus!
J
It does look like a mantis - we often find them on our fly-wire doors!
ReplyDeleteSeems strange to see a cross bill that is not in a pine tree!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Thanks for that Stewart, they are a very strange looking animal. It seemed odd to me looking at Crossbills in a palm tree, but they were seen in pine trees too.
DeleteJ
Crossbills are one of the (small) group of birds that I think I would recognise anywhere....and Praying Mantis's are very aggressive creatures. They should be Preying Mantis's.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that you would recognise more than you think Bazza! I didn't get close enough to the mantis to find out how aggressive they were, they were pretty fascinating to watch though.
DeleteJ
Lovely shots John.
ReplyDeleteLong way to go to see them though.{:))
Thanks Roy! It was a bit of a trek for a twitch! ;)
DeleteJ