This month is a special on all the weird and wonderful birds we've had to the garden - giving them enough prep time for next weekends big bird-watch. I also tried to find somesort of interesting fact about each of them...however this failed in some places...still waiting for interesting science-y research to catch up with some species...
So, the regulars are as follows:
Blackbirds (Turdus merula) - We get more of these in winter (there are currently 5, all bar one are female) so probable that these are some Scandinavian stock. There's a pair that try and nest in the ivy at the back of next-doors wall; but no chicklets to date. Females blackbirds, remind me of fussy Asian housewives dipping in and out with their chopstick beaks when they find something tasty. FACT: they will often pair for life, splitting up after the breeding season and getting back together the following year. Seems a sensible arrangement.
Crow, Carrion (Corvus corone) - We don't get too many of these, I think they are perhaps uncertain about landing/taking off in a small enclosed space. I sometimes think we don't cater enough for the larger birds - but that one time I 'rescued' a dead pigeon from next door, nobody wanted it. Not even the foxes....
Dunnocks (Prunella modularis). Despite what all the books tell you about these birds, the ones in this garden are neither shy nor always ground dwelling! FACT: females have been known to be be promiscuous during the breeding season. However the males have equally been known to bring up the resultant offspring even if they are not its own.
Gull, Lesser Black-backed (Larus fuscus) [right]
Distinguished from the larger, Greater Black-backed Gull by having yellow legs [as opposed to pink], being generally smaller and paler in colour. I think this is what this is...
Gull, Common (Larus canus) [left] I had to join a birding forum to find out what this was. I'm not a massive fan of birding forums as it is a very niche subject area and members are *sometimes* a bit pernickety for me. Apparently it is definitely a common gull in this photo as it has a "soft expression", a "non-bulky profile" and its legs are green (not grey, as my unprofessional eyes saw them as...). Well, now we know.
Magpie (Pica pica). For all their chattering and cackling, I do like magpies [which is good as we get plenty]. I love the way they stride about as if they own the place...even if they want to toss things around [pond pumps etc]. There are several that nest in a big leylandii hedge near us and thus often bring their chicks to the garden. Young magpies seem to try their luck as long as possible, half the noise is made by [presumably last year's] chicks, now fully grown, but still squawking and flapping their feathers to encourage their [weary] parents to feed them. They are very curious about everything in the garden and seem to love noseying about!
Pigeon, Feral (Columba livia) I came across some interesting reading the other day which described the different names for the different wing markings on feral pigeons. This one here, has the classic 'bar' which is apparently the original design for the wild pigeon/rock dove. Other designs are: 'T-check: almost fully black wing; 'Check': white and black speckling and 'Barless': which is the same as the original, but with no dark stripes.
We get many of all these varieties and they absolutely scoff birdseed like nobody's business. However they do encourage other smaller birds out [herd mentality] so hopefully everbody wins....
Pigeon, Wood (Columba palumbus) Another guzzler of birdseed. I do like their absolutely outraged expression when another bird [often another pigeon] has the sheer audacity to eat/breathe/exist in its presence. In this photo the male [right] is 'woo-ing' his date by feeding her the peculiar-ness that is pigeon-milk in return for an amorous encounter. Probably not the weirdest date ever [bearing birds of paradise in mind] but perhaps not one to try at home [given as pigeon or crop -milk is a regurgitated semi-liquid substance, of a cottage cheese texture, with a high protein and fat content, generally used for feeding the kids with]. Each to their own.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula). There's always a robin about. Dipping in and out, all round the garden. There must have been a nest nearby last year, as we had a couple of very speckled young birds darting about. FACT: they are highly territorial within their own species and will sometimes fight to the death. It is thought that the younger birds do not gain their red chest until fully matured, to prevent its parents attacking it. Y'know just so it can get completely blindsided on its graduation day...
Starling (Sternus vulgaris). In summer, their plumage is an iridescent green, purple and black, with a bright yellow beak. While in winter their plumage is much darker: white/cream spots on the body with a black bill. This bird pictured is clearly between seasonal wardrobe changes with iridescent, white speckled plumage and yellow bill.
We get A LOT of these, as they nest in most of the houses in the street. Although they make a bit of a racket when the whole population descends on the back garden, they are really comical and are fun to watch. FACT: the largest recorded murmuration of starlings in the UK was in Somerset - it consisted of 6 million birds! It is my hope that one day [in the not too distant future] Liberton Place will have sufficient starlings for our own murmuration. Watch this space.
Sparrow, House (Passer domesticus) Around here it is known for rowdy pool parties - even in the depths of winter. I'm super happy we get lots of these, as they always seem to be in a population decline. They have such character for being the ubiquitous 'small brown bird' that most people probably ignore. FACT: the size of the male's black bib relates to its age and dominant status within the social group (gets larger the older the bird gets). This photo is of a female, hence no bib for her. She is however asserting her dominance over me by slowly extracting sections of the fence, one twig at a time.
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Whilst not exactly a regular, we get a few sightings of sparrowhawks per year. Apparently as the females are the heavier bird [needed for reproductive purposes] they are less agile than the males. It has therefore been suggested that it is the females that take down the clumsier pigeons, whilst the males are more likely to take songbirds, tits and sparrows. Good to know we are providing food options for all the sexes.
Tit, Blue (Cyanistes caeruleus) These little guys are pretty opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of all the feeders I've put out - including coming down to the doorway and helping themselves to peanut scraps that the squirrels have left! FACT: Apparently they weigh the same as a £1 coin, not sure if the exchange rate is similar...
Tit, Coal (Periparus ater) I used to think these guys were quite rare, but we get them more than the Great Tits. Super tiny little birds who [like most of the tits] love anything with suet.
FACT: Apparently [continuing with the monetary weighing system] these weigh slightly more than a 50 pence [again, I'm not sure if this is the slightly newer, thinner 50p or the older style 50p]. Their collective noun is a 'banditry'.
Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes) - often seen, but yet to be photographed! Smallest bird with the longest Latin name. FACT: wrens will often huddle together for warmth in winter - one box was found to contain 63 individual birds! [Would be interesting to known how they advertise this? Like a lonely hearts advert? 'Companions wanted for winter snuggles....only wrens need apply'?]
Over winter we have some less commonly seen visitors (from left to right):
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) One of a small flock that demolished the berries on next-door's rowan tree in a matter of hours. Such was their gluttony that they left berry skins over the driveway. Seen here stealthily hiding behind a leaf.
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) Joint smallest UK bird with the firecrest - which I've never seen. It weighs a mere 5g and is just 8cm long. This little guy was seen in our first winter/spring in 2021.
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Super excited to have seen this single individual [I think 2022]. I'm hoping that this years teasels in the front garden will encourage more of these exotic looking birds. FACT: the collective noun for goldfinches is a 'charm'.
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) This little guy came with his Pied Wagtail friend in last winter [2023] during a cold snap. Not been seen since although apparently they eat ants and midges...so maybe they could be encouraged back if I ever get round to digging that pond.
Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) We really don't get that many finches here - either there is a shortage or else people down the end of the street put out a better buffet.
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) Really uncommon to find jackdaws here, suspect they are kept at bay by the magpies, as they kind of fill the same niche. FACT: when jackdaws age, they can turn grey. This is not due to a change in pigment/colouration, but rather a change to the feather structure [this changes how light is reflected through it]. It seems like many birds do this, but it is more noticeable in normally black coloured birds.
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) This rather phabulous phemale was spotted strutting around in the garden. It was clearly trying to gain some height from which to fly away, but unfortunately at the time none of the bushes could withstand this kind of activity from a larger bird. Eventually it got onto the wall and after several moments prancing about, flew away. We assume it got lost somewhere between the Braids and [maybe] Craigmillar Castle?
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) FACT: It is unclear why they constantly wag their tails. Some studies suggest it is to disturb their insect prey; while others think it has something to do with [behavioural] social signals.
Tit, Long-tailed (Aegithalos caudatus) Love these guys...hate trying to photograph them. There must be some that live near [ish] by as they flurry through every so often. FACT: these guys weigh 9g which is just under that of a pound coin.
So now we're all set for next weekend! Pens at the ready!
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