It's the
RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch today and tomorrow! We don't have much of a garden ourselves and can't see it from any of our windows. So we decided to go to
Inverleith Park and
The Royal Botanic Gardens to record our birds there. The biggest birds we saw were mute swans (though we also saw two
grey herons up a tree!). This swan was particularly co-operative.
I was particularly pleased to see siskins in the Botanics, they're such a lovely species, the male is very handsome. We didn't get any photos of the
siskins or any of the other smaller birds. This squirrel though was eager to pose.
As ever, text in red contains hyperlinks which take you to other websites where you can find out more.
I was particularly pleased to see siskins in the Botanics, they're such a lovely species, the male is very handsome. We didn't get any photos of the siskins or any of the other smaller birds. This squirrel though was eager to pose.
As ever, text in red contains hyperlinks which take you to other websites where you can find out more.
I spotted the following birds in our urban garden: blue tit, dunnock, feral pigeon, goldfinch, sparrow, jackdaw and starling.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any blackbirds or thrushes this year so far, and the resident robin disappeared a couple of years ago.
If we have time we might do another count tomorrow in the churchyard.
My friend in Milton Keynes is taking part, and having much success - she's posting photos like crazy! Events like this always make me long for songbirds - but my herons and gulls are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI just heard this morning that Scott's seed company in this company is encouraging a goal for its customers of setting aside some 250,000 acres of land across the US as habitat - all through individual effort. A fellow with a garden show here is setting aside three acres, and one of my friends has a half acre she's going to devote to bird and butterfly plants. Step by step!
Great photos.
ReplyDeleteWow, that squirrel is keen - is that usual behaviour of squirrels around there? Great photos.
ReplyDeleteHabitat, habitat, habitat ... save it, make more of it. That is what all my birder and Audubon friends harp on .....
ReplyDeleteCan't believe that squirrel!!!
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased when we did the birdwatch yesterday. Up to 45 mins it was just wood pigeons and magpies and thankfully the robin, but with minutes to go the jay arrived (yay, see him about once a month, but mainly in spring/summer) and then a greenfinch and a family of great tits. Thank goodness.
I may have seen a wren too, but it flitted through so fast I wasn't sure so didn't count it.
Maybe it will come back when it smells my soon to happen home made fat balls! He hee!
I find my birdwatching much impeded by my eyesight, even with my glasses on. There is also the challenge of using binoculars these days with the glasses. The small birds are particularly difficult. Those such as nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, and titmice are easy to distinguish through their songs, but the small ones whose songs are unfamiliar to me are often difficult to identify. Ah, the joys of aging!
ReplyDeleteWhat a friendly squirrel. He certainly knows a good thing when he sees it!
I love the bird watch!!! I have at least 1/2 of my acre in weeds and brush piles and overgrown trees just for the birds and other animals. I expect my birdwatching will get curtailed because of the big family of feral cats I am supporting..but so far the doves are still around, magpies, scrub jay, finches,swallows, Canadian Geese, Gambel's Quail, and others.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like you had a wonderful birdwatch excursion. Love the picture of the swan and that squirrel is ADORABLE. How'd you get him to pose?
ReplyDeletemadhat - sad that your robin disappeared, hope it comes back!
ReplyDeleteshoreacres - that's a good idea of Scotts, people often like to join in that kind of thing
Carol - thanks
Gabrielle - it's normal behaviour for squirrels in the Botanics, because they are used to being fed
Rabbits' Guy - totally true, habitat needs to be protected and created....
The human - i love to see jays, rare round Edinburgh but they sometimes visit my parents garden near manchester
bunnits - sorry about that. i have the same problem with binoculars and glasses. I take my glasses off and then use the binoculars, but that can lead to me losing the bird....
Kay - sounds like a nice acre for wildlife!
Megan - Crafty green Boyfriend had a selection of seeds in his hand and the squirrel was hungry!
I love the photo of the squirrel and hand! That's a keeper!
ReplyDeleteLove your squirrel! I have never seen one in our garden, despite it being quite big and woody. The chap that comes and helps in our garden in the summer says this is a good thing - he hates them and says they watch him plant bulbs and then come and dig them up... I think he is a bit paranoid about squirrels and would rather have them than the bulbs anyway!
ReplyDeletex