Around the Patch

Things are up and down around the garden - quiet one day, busy the next. There is plenty of activity from the Starlings and Sparrows, picking up nesting materials, there are a few nesting around which is promising.

This Sparrow was eating the Dandelion leaves on the lawn, I managed to grab a couple of photos through the window.

A pair of Robins stayed around the garden for a few days.

Up until 10 days ago we had a pair of Long-Tailed Tits around the garden every day, i'm hoping they've disappeared to nest. Great, Blue and Coal are putting in an appearance on the feeder quite often.

I had my first Chiffchaff in the garden a couple of weeks back, so far the only one though. Also a female Blackcap hung around the garden for half an hour or so one morning. A Wren has taken to singing in the climbing Rose on the side of the house on a daily basis.

Woodpigeons have been frequent visitors in the garden and spend a lot of time sitting in the Laburnum. A pair of Magpies made a half hearted attempt at building a flimsy nest but seem to have given up.

In the park however I spotted 5 pairs of Magpies building nests, good solid ones, my Magpies need to take lessons I think! The Redwings have finally gone from here now, still plenty of Mistle and Song Thrush around though. Lots of finches, tits, Blackbirds, Dunnocks and Crows.

There is a lot of colour from the blossom.

I took a walk through Churwell woods before work this week. I counted 3 separate Chiffchaff, the woods were busy with birds - Wren, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Dunnock, Sparrows, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit.

The woods are looking very spring like, lots of greenery and a few flowers here and there.

Walking on to work afterwards I had a new patch tick of a flyover Cormorant, first on the patch ever not just for the year!