Hi! Thank you for paying me a visit. I love the shot of the blue tit. We have heavy snow today and our bird tables have been covered - at one time there were 27 chaffinches (all male) on the ground catching the seeds other birds dropped. We also have greater spotteds, goldfinches, greenfinches, coal, blue and great tits, the all the usual garden birds. One lovely thing is that long tailed tits have started coming to the table in a little group, presumably on their way up the hedgerow they are making a bit of a detour. Interesting when you visited that you mention Sedbergh - did you live there at one time or just visit. I have associations with the place so would be interested to know.
Hi Weaver. No I have never lived North of the Trent. We have had a couple of wonderful holidays around the Lakes and Dales and always stay at a farm cottage just outside of the town of Sedburgh. I am hoping we can return again this year. The birds up your neck of the woods have a hard time in the winter months. We generally have a much milder climate which is a lot easier on our birds.
Superb acrobats. Have you ever noticed that after a good meal they find it more difficult to hang upside down due to their increased weight? Same as you & me I suppose LOL!
My Abbot friend, perhaps you will find this funny:
Until now, most people have likely regarded bird-feeders as merely a pleasant addition to their gardens. But scientists have now discovered that bird-feeders in the UK are actually having a serious long term impact on bird life – they’ve found that the feeders have brought about the first evolutionary step in the creation of a brand new species.
Historically, European Blackcap birds migrate to Spain to spend their winters, where they feed on fruit and berries. While in the past the part of the population that accidentally flew to the UK had a hard time surviving, since the rise of bird–feeders in the UK things changed.
The food supplied by animal-loving Brits, along with the luxury of not flying over the Alps, have made Britain an increasingly popular holiday destination for wintering blackcaps. And that has set them down the path towards becoming two separate species, Gregor Rolshausen from the University of Freiborg and colleagues write in the journal Current Biology.
Thank you bonequinhoda. We have had a male and female Blackcap visit our small backyard garden for the last two years now generally arriving in the first week or two in December. I do think you are right what you say and I think the feeders now are appealing to a lot of species which would have been considered very rare years ago. The times are indeed a changing.
Love that one.
ReplyDeleteGreat little acrobats
Nice one
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for paying me a visit. I love the shot of the blue tit. We have heavy snow today and our bird tables have been covered - at one time there were 27 chaffinches (all male) on the ground catching the seeds other birds dropped. We also have greater spotteds, goldfinches, greenfinches, coal, blue and great tits, the all the usual garden birds. One lovely thing is that long tailed tits have started coming to the table in a little group, presumably on their way up the hedgerow they are making a bit of a detour.
ReplyDeleteInteresting when you visited that you mention Sedbergh - did you live there at one time or just visit. I have associations with the place so would be interested to know.
Hi Keith
ReplyDeleteYes they are like fighter pilots appearing from out of the sun (well it sprang to mind) very versatile and much welcomed in the garden.
Thanks Keith Hargreaves. Plenty of colourful evening shots down your way at present. Look forward to the Mousehole lights.
ReplyDeleteHi Weaver.
ReplyDeleteNo I have never lived North of the Trent. We have had a couple of wonderful holidays around the Lakes and Dales and always stay at a farm cottage just outside of the town of Sedburgh. I am hoping we can return again this year.
The birds up your neck of the woods have a hard time in the winter months. We generally have a much milder climate which is a lot easier on our birds.
The cliche is very true - if Blue Tit was rare, the twitch would be epic! Who said we don't have exotic looking birds in the UK?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is the grass over the hill looks greener syndrone.
ReplyDeleteSuperb acrobats. Have you ever noticed that after a good meal they find it more difficult to hang upside down due to their increased weight? Same as you & me I suppose LOL!
ReplyDeleteFrank. I find it difficult without a meal nowadays. :-)
ReplyDeleteYeh....I know what you mean! Have a restful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThey are a real pleasure to watch,nice shot Trevor
ReplyDeleteGreat shot Trevor.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
My Abbot friend, perhaps you will find this funny:
ReplyDeleteUntil now, most people have likely regarded bird-feeders as merely a pleasant addition to their gardens. But scientists have now discovered that bird-feeders in the UK are actually having a serious long term impact on bird life – they’ve found that the feeders have brought about the first evolutionary step in the creation of a brand new species.
Historically, European Blackcap birds migrate to Spain to spend their winters, where they feed on fruit and berries. While in the past the part of the population that accidentally flew to the UK had a hard time surviving, since the rise of bird–feeders in the UK things changed.
The food supplied by animal-loving Brits, along with the luxury of not flying over the Alps, have made Britain an increasingly popular holiday destination for wintering blackcaps. And that has set them down the path towards becoming two separate species, Gregor Rolshausen from the University of Freiborg and colleagues write in the journal Current Biology.
Thank you bonequinhoda.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a male and female Blackcap visit our small backyard garden for the last two years now generally arriving in the first week or two in December. I do think you are right what you say and I think the feeders now are appealing to a lot of species which would have been considered very rare years ago. The times are indeed a changing.