Birders' Nest

[Elgarian Redux]

No hills today, but instead a walk along the old disused railway track that runs along the river valley. Saw some willow warblers flitting among the trees, but impossible to photograph them. In fact there were very few birds at all until we reached the big bend in the river, where there were some white geese, but a long way off. See photos.

[JBS]

Oh I'll settle for a maximum of 2.5 feet long!!! Are they as scary as they look?

Not really. But one does need to stop a moment to make sure they aren't a small alligator. (It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while an alligator will show up in the lake.)

[Elgarian Redux]

Not really. But one does need to stop a moment to make sure they aren't a small alligator. (It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while an alligator will show up in the lake.)

Yes, I can see that might be something to look out for!!

[Elgarian Redux]

Up in the hills again today, to be greeted by Aslan and Red Cloud coming all the way across their rough pasture to see us. Sometimes they do this, sometimes not. They seem to have a dual character, one day being the Guardians of the Hills, other days seeming anxious for company. Today they came very close and posed, as if inviting me to take their portraits. So I did.

No birds up there to be seen, today. Overcast, with a silvery-grey sky, and a silence that our footsteps seemed to intrude upon.

[Elgarian Redux]

The bird feeder in the window is becoming extraordinary - or rather, the birds' attitude to it is becoming more and more trusting. The leaders of this surge are the coal tits. They seem to understand, now, that the feeder is a safe space, even if I'm standing just 2 or 3 feet away on the inside. There are four coal tit regulars now, and they take it in turns flying into the feeder, grabbing food, eating it, and flying off again. If I move, I disturb them, but as long as I'm just standing there and not moving, they come and go freely. There's a certain feeling of privilege that they've chosen to do this.

Photographing them is still very hard because they move so fast, but persistence eventually pays off.

[Iota]

That's a beauty, bravo!.. prompted a little internal swoon here. Nice shots too of Aslan and Red Cloud above, lovely looking horses. Red Cloud seems to have had a patch shaved on his throat for some kind of wound maybe (?). Looks alright on it anyway.

The bird feeder in the window is becoming extraordinary - or rather, the birds' attitude to it is becoming more and more trusting. The leaders of this surge are the coal tits. They seem to understand, now, that the feeder is a safe space, even if I'm standing just 2 or 3 feet away on the inside. There are four coal tit regulars now, and they take it in turns flying into the feeder, grabbing food, eating it, and flying off again. If I move, I disturb them, but as long as I'm just standing there and not moving, they come and go freely. There's a certain feeling of privilege that they've chosen to do this.

Photographing them is still very hard because they move so fast, but persistence eventually pays off.

Great pic, I admire your tenacity! Exciting news about the bird feeder. I totally understand the feeling of privilege you describe too, a special thing indeed, you're very lucky but certainly seem to have earned it! (I saw what I think was a jay in the street today, flitting across my path and landing in a garden for a brief peck, a lovely bird, and a lovely moment.)

[Elgarian Redux]

Red Cloud seems to have had a patch shaved on his throat for some kind of wound maybe (?). Looks alright on it anyway.

They both tend to scratch themselves on wooden posts, and I guess from time to time they overdo it. Their owners take great care of them.

(I saw what I think was a jay in the street today, flitting across my path and landing in a garden for a brief peck, a lovely bird, and a lovely moment.)

Lucky to get a good view in the garden. I've never had a good clear view of a jay: they always seem to be flying from one tree to another whenever I see them.

[Iota]

They both tend to scratch themselves on wooden posts, and I guess from time to time they overdo it. Their owners take great care of them.

Ah right, that makes sense, I wondered about the position of the wound. Glad to hear they're well looked after.

Lucky to get a good view in the garden. I've never had a good clear view of a jay: they always seem to be flying from one tree to another whenever I see them.

I certainly felt lucky, such lovely colouring they have.

[Elgarian Redux]

So I'm sitting by the kitchen window playing a guitar and watching the birds this afternoon, when I notice that among the goldfinches, blue tits, great tits and coal tits enjoying the feeders outside, is a house sparrow that doesn't quite look right. He's clearly a male sparrow, but he doesn't have a grey patch on the top of his head. The whole cap is brown. As he moves about, I can see his black bib. It's noticeably small. In fact he is not a house sparrow. He is a tree sparrow!!!

I have not seen a tree sparrow for maybe 40 years. Do I try to grab the camera, or just watch? I decide just to watch...

10 seconds later, he'd gone, and didn't return. If I'd been fiddling about with the camera, I'd have missed those last 10 seconds for nothing.

[Iota]

I have not seen a tree sparrow for maybe 40 years. Do I try to grab the camera, or just watch? I decide just to watch...

10 seconds later, he'd gone, and didn't return. If I'd been fiddling about with the camera, I'd have missed those last 10 seconds for nothing.

Always a conundrum for habitual snappers I guess .. I'm not one, but with phones doubling up as cameras these days the issue inevitably arises even for lightweights such as I. Fwiw I too think you took the right decision.
I of course would have had no idea it was not a 'regular' sparrow in the first place.    I know you don't consider yourself a birder, but from where I'm standing on Know-Nothing Island, you certainly look suspiciously like one ..