From his 'lockdown bedroom office', Andy M has recently been able to watch more of the birds in his garden, in particular the comings and goings of the corvids - Magpie and Jay - and Sparrowhawks, which don't stay long, but are a spectacle to watch - as were the Blackbird feasting on the garden hawthorn berries.
Male Blackbird picking the large ripe red Hawthorn berries
Female Blackbird with a particularly large berry that managed to slip down ... just!
Male Sparrowhawk, lurking, partially concealed in a tree, watching for small birds below.
Note the pale patches on the shoulder, maybe indicating a young adult bird
Suddenly, something catches his attention ...
... it's a Magpie, less than keen on having a raptor around, swoops in
and starts aggressively calling. Its cover blown, the Sparrowhawk rapidly retreats.
A victory drink for the Magpie at the bird-bath
Another day, and a different male Sparrowhawk -
note the lack of white feathers on the shoulder
Imagine being a small bird, caught in that Sparrowhawk stare!
A Jay searches for food amongst the garden beds ...
... beneath a female Great Spotted Woodpecker - distinguishable from
the male which has a red patch at the back of the head.
An unusual view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker drinking
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