International Dawn Chorus Day 2014

'Grainy' screen-grab start to the day for the dawn chorus!

It was 4.30am and my iPhone was gently playing 'slow rise' from underneath my pillow. As I came to, I remembered why I had set my alarm so early. Today is International Dawn Chorus Day when everyone is encouraged to 'celebrate nature's daily miracle'.

Whilst there were dawn chorus walks planned all over the country I opted for the lazy way to enjoy the wonderful birdsong, by staying on my home patch, which also meant I could stay in my PJs. Living in a town, it could be thought that birds won't perform with as much gusto as they might out in the countryside but I had no worries this morning. The birds were already well into their performance by the time I had stepped over the perplexed mutt and visiting friend, sleeping in the kitchen. Out into the back garden, the light was just increasing in the east whilst in the west, the sky was still the wonderful deep blue. I set up my camera on the wall and recorded several short burst of birdsong, in the end choosing just a 45 second recording to post here.

For those who weren't up early enough this morning to enjoy their local performance, here is what I enjoyed at 4.40 this morning, in our sleepy north Essex town. So sit back, turn up the volume, click on the link below and enjoy!

Dawn Chorus 4th May 2014 

As I said, I opted for the lazy way to take part in the International Dawn Chorus Day - which meant creeping back to bed for a few more hours, just as the morning light was streaming in through the curtains and the unmelodious, wood pigeon late-comers began their coo-coooo-cooing.
Was it worth the early start? Absolutely!

Surprises and Wishes

On Tuesday I was basking in the comparatively balmy temperatures of 13+ degrees whilst out on my daily walk.
It was beautiful!
Finally, after a miserable Winter, Spring was with us at last...

...or was it? This morning we woke to a covering of snow and had to face almost blizzard-like conditions out on the walk. Although a change of weather had been forecast, it had still surprised us.

During this time of changeable weather, it is more important than ever to continue with feeding the garden birds, and as a result it becomes a source of pleasure to sit and watch the birds from our kitchen window. Our avian neighbours arrive with eager anticipation for the daily helping of meal worms which I put out on the wall. Next, they are all carefully gobbled up, unbelievably systematically, from left to right, dunnocks, wood pigeons and blackbirds all arriving for a share.

However, some seem to secure a larger share than others, and it has been noted that the female blackbirds, of which there appear to be two regulars, come in for their essential nutrition in preparation for the impending breeding season. So in need are they, that they do anything to chase off all other food contenders in their quest, over-sized wood pigeons included. They are feisty to the degree that even the male blackbirds have learnt to give them a wide berth, just as this one I caught today, always keeping half an eye to ensure they don't get surprised by the future mother of their brood.

Motherhood (existing or impending) is clearly powerful both in the natural world and in our own lives, and so with that, I would like to send my wishes to my mother and thank my own off-spring for their wishes too on this Mothering Sunday.

To mothers everywhere, all good wishes.

Bird Brains

(Taken with handbag-cam!)

So, what are these two lovelies up to?

Trying to build a nest in the prime neighbourhood of the local supermarket carpark, that's what...

...but after this amount of failures on the floor beneath, could someone please put them out of their misery and tell them that it perhaps isn't the suitable des-res location they thought it might be.

(We will watch to see if they have a bright idea to try elswhere or stick it out!)

Mind you, the ducks were non too clever this morning either, choosing a paddling puddle with a cosy view of a rear nearside wheel, when only a matter of a few hundred yards away, there is a perfectly good duck pond.

Hares, Pigeons & Deer

Brown Hare Lepus Europaeus

It was late morning when I bundled mutt and my camera into the car, to go out for the daily walk. Off to see what the snowy conditions might reveal, and although I didn't know it then, it was going to turn out to be a gamey sort of day.

Taking a slightly different route to our favourite woods, it took me past an area that can often be full of hares. However, it is usually quite difficult to spot these leggy ground-dwellers as they hunch themselves up, appearing like clods of earth, from a distance. Today, their cover was blown by the blanket of snow still lying over the fields and very quickly
I was able to spot around fifteen of them as I went by. I watched as they gracefully moved around each other, occasionally taking a practice punch from a startled buddy. (Yes, that season is approaching)

Suddenly, a huge flock of wood pigeon swarmed out of the nearby wood like a black cloud, smothering the white field as they landed to feed on the new crop shoots. This undesired grazing by hundreds of birds was clearly of great concern to the farmer as shortly after, the in-situ gas scarer let off three intense bangs. And did the pigeons move? No. Not a flinch! Only in their own good time did they flock up to move to the next field quarter.

It was time for me to move on too. Mutt was being patient but would rather be off on her way. With a heightened snowy contrast amongst the trees I was hopeful of catching sight of a deer or two during our walk and I wasn't disappointed. A group of five fallow deer pronked through the trees, stopping just long enough for me to catch a couple of shots before vanishing again. Any hope of sneaking up on them was thwarted by our crispy footstep alarm, but for once, I wasn't too worried as what I really wanted was to return to the hares.

Suitably exercised, mutt was left in the car as I set off alone, creeping along a drainage ditch down the side of the field (This is where for once, I was thankful for the dry Autumn/Winter) I wasn't the first to leave footprints in the snow here either. Mr fox had been along sometime before, probably with a similar hope of getting close to a hare or two. Thankfully for me, the air was completely still and so there was little risk of the hares picking up my sound or even, my scent. Conveniently, a stately tree gave me the cover I needed to climb out of the ditch, and I sat amongst its branches hoping that the hares, who were now in much better camera range, might continue their gambol around the field in front of me. Whilst it may have been -1, the lack of any breeze made the long, quiet wait quite bareable. Thanks to my substantial clothing I was snug. The only thing not provided by my coat was camouflage. My normally inconspicuous colour was woefully inadequate in the current conditions, but the hares didn't seem to mind. Instead they just sat, and sat.

Patience finally had to give way to conscience and I returned to the car where mutt had fallen asleep.

Through Rain-spattered Windows

I am pleased to say I was able to look out of my rain-spattered windows whilst observing the comings and goings in my garden today. It is amazing what an effect a steady shower of rain has had on the amount of birds dropping by.

Sparrow, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit all made an appearance. Also a male black bird, hastily returning for three servings of broken bread I had left on the patio. We watched as he made these trips back to his waiting family in a nearby tree - and then the bully boys turned up.

Three of them arrived all puffed up and looking for trouble. First they contemplated the small bird feeders, and then they noticed the choice pavement table. They flapped their squeaky flap down to the ground and waddled along the garden path like bombastic bouncers in grey overcoats. Then they plonked down the three steps onto the patio and muscled in on the civilised 'family' meal gathering that was taking place.

With one last desperate peck at the bread chunks, daddy blackbird attempted to load his beak once more. Finally, he surrendered this cafe table and flitted back off home, not to be seen again at this sitting. Now that the table was set for a clean sweep they took just a few undignified gobbles to clear every last crumb.

I don't expect for one minute that in their haste, they were able appreciate the special dietary benefit of this gluten free bread though!

Evidence of a Close Encounter

It was another Windolene day yesterday as for the second time in about a month, my kitchen windows had a close encounter with a pigeon. It is as if these birds want to play noughts and crosses on the grid of window panes, laying claim to their square in this very definite manner.

This time it was slightly different as there was secondary evidence of this encounter, by way of some feathers on the patio, but unlike last time, there was no imprint from the head of the bird. However, I was puzzled to see that just as before, a clear geometric mark appeared arount the neck area (check out the picture 'Imprint' Thursday 24th March) Initially I thought it might be created by the beak, but closer inspection of the first imprint rules that out due to the position of the eye.

If anyone has a suitable explanation to this puzzle, I would be delighted to hear it.

(Judging by this picture, it was high time my windows saw a Windolene-soaked cloth too!)

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Imprint

Upon my return from a successful shopping trip to buy the new ball head for my tripod this afternoon, I found I was able to put it straight into good use.

One of the many local wood pigeon had left a different kind of calling card on my kitchen window. At only one foot wide and surrounded by glazing bars, it must have been an unfortunate encounter, as the more usual targets are large patio windows.

By clicking on the third image for an enlargement, it is possible to see what stage of open (or closed) the eye was at the moment of impact. As there was no dazed bird on my patio, I can only think the pigeon is roosting somewhere this evening but nursing a blinding headache.

Out with the Windolene tomorrow.

Sunshine - coohoo!

Today my fear of contracting rickets has been allayed with the welcome appearance of the sun. January has been the most dreary month weather-wise and I'm not sorry to be seeing the back of it.

On the back of this wood pigeon the sun has cast the shadow of his chosen delicacy, ivy berries, whilst lithely taking the last pickings from this winter larder.