A few Garden Birds

With the coming of the colder weather, a greater variety of birds have been visiting Andy M's garden recently, with the prospect of finding easier food. One or occasionally two Jay have been busy gathering acorns from the oak at the bottom of the garden, and carefully stashing them for the colder weather to come. Several Blackbird have taken up residence in the hawthorn, carefully selecting the most nutritious berries to eat, scattering the rejects carelessly below. Similarly, Greenfinch have been learning how to take the ripe seed from the spent sunflower heads. Both Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker have visited, and a male Sparrowhawk has found easy pickings from the Goldfinch flock that regularly frequent the feeders. Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit are also regulars, passing through in noisy, busy flocks of ever-increasing size.

Jay

Jay, just before carefully 'planting' the acorn in the lawn

Jay carefully stashing an acorn

Jay

pair of Jay

male Blackbird, making the most of the haw berries

Greenfinch, working out where the seeds are

Greenfinch, getting the hang of taking

ripe sunflower seeds from the old heads.

Green Woodpecker

male Great Spotted Woodpecker

female Great Spotted Woodpecker, 

which lacks the red nape patch seen in the male

male Sparrowhawk

male Sparrowhawk, with its Goldfinch prey

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit - taking to the air