Self Isolation Part 1 - Birding in the garden.

I have managed only two birding trips this year and just I was getting round to going out again along came Covid-19. Unfortunately, for various reasons, Liz and I have had to self isolate. Not, I hasten to add that we have the damned bug but to protect ourselves. Day 1 of our prison sentence dawned and I have to admit that a wave of despair came over me, dark news from social media can get to you pretty quickly.

However, mid-morning and the dark clouds lifted, my faith restored in humanity, friends and neighbours calling asking if they could help, deliveries of essential supplies left in the air lock (the porch). Spirits lifted I ventured out into the garden and, as on most days, a camera went with me. I resolved to record what I could during our enforced incarceration. Damn the doom-mongers and the storm crows. My interest in all things natural has never been shaken - it soothes the mind.

Anyway first to be recorded was our local Sparrowhawk who has taken to bathing in the pond. I was in the greenhouse, potting up some seedlings, when I became aware of an almighty racket, Blackbirds, Great and Blue Tits all giving strident alarm calls. I looked out and as soon as I heard splashing noises I knew why. Oddly when the Sparrowhawk is bathing he almost ignores me, so I stood in the open, less than 15 feet away and snapped him until he had had enough.

Second subject was a Chiffchaff, there had obviously been an overnight fall as there were three frequenting the garden. The pond is a great attraction as there are always insects of some description to be captured and I sat and waited for a photo opportunity. Sadly the light was poor but I cranked up the iso and fired away.

The third visitor was one of our long staying Jays, we have had three frequenting the garden since November and I have fed them everyday. God knows how many peanuts they have had - most of them cached, but in all this time they have not become less timid. Given how they are persecuted then I can't say that I blame them.

So Day 1 ended as it had started, dark leaden skies and dark foreboding news from the BBC. Take care.

Garden Jays

Occasionally we have a mini irruption of Jays, birds that are probably forced south by a dearth of acorns in their normal environment. Luckily we live not a stones throw from a large avenue of Holly or Holm Oaks, Quercus ilex and these produce a veritable cornucopia of small acorns that are irresistible to Jays. I guess that not only Jays but Squirrels and Magpies are happy to devour them too. Trouble is that they don't eat them all and there are always mini oak trees sprouting like weeds in the garden, from acorns cached for harder times but obviously forgotten.

However, I digress. Our colourful guests are attracted by our collection of feeders and as the number of acorns available diminishes they are searching for new food sources. The first visits are very tentative as they are naturally shy birds and have, in the past, suffered persecution at the hands of gamekeepers.  When offered peanuts they become much more confident and given time they can be approachable.  I place small caches of nuts in strategic places in the garden and set watch by the patio windows, they obviously know that you are behind glass and often venture to within a few feet. Sitting out in the garden is a totally different matter, but in the end I have had them to within 10 feet. They land on the nuts and devour as many as possible before flying off to cache them.

Just to show that nothing is new in birding - almost the same happened in 2012 but slightly earlier in the year - look here

Firecrest

When I am working in the garden I invariably keep a camera close to hand. Today was no exception, mainly because the Jays, which have been with us all winter, were about. Since last October I have been feeding a handful of peanuts on the lawn each day, slowly the Jays have become accustomed to being fed. They now tolerate my presence on the patio as they drop in to grab some nuts and fly off, so, today was the day to get some clear photographs. Also, the garden residents have been subject to some predation lately as several circles of feathers have indicated a Sparrowhawk at work, at least two Blackbirds and our lone Song Thrush have provided his meal. If he visited today then I hoped to get some shots.

Having captured the Jay and realised that these birds are extremely wary, just the noise of the camera shutter was sufficient to spook them, I noticed some movement in our dilapidated Christmas tree, home to a pair of Goldcrests. I was about to ignore them when I realised that this bird was much greener and brighter. Suddenly it dawned on me that we had our first ever Firecrest, into headless chicken mode as I chased the highly mobile bird around the garden, at least she gave me several decent glimpses to record.

 

 

 The usual resident of the Christmas tree

 The Jay, obligingly at about a distance of 15 ft

Danger, with a distinctive damaged tail feather, circles the neighbourhood

The male Blackcap looking rather 'worn'

At least one pair of Blackbirds are collecting nest material

J's I

 

Apart from a short outing to Church Norton yesterday, which I am now regretting, I haven't been out and about for several weeks. I have to admit that boredom has got the better of me,  I wondered just how close up and personal one can get with Jays. They are normally very wary but this autumn they have been happy to come in the garden, as I wrote on a previous blog. So, after several days conditioning, the answer is about six feet. Some of the eye shots were quite unusual so here they are.

They can't resist peanuts!!

 

Jays

Just what to do on a dark dank day? With a stiff easterly blowing, clearly the onset of winter, I wasn't keen to be out birding. However, just lately there has been an influx of Jays on the South Coast and our garden has not been an exception, although most of our visitors have been over, rather than in, as it were. So with time on my hands I decided to see if I could attract a Jay into the garden, getting sufficiently close enough for a photo or two. Mid morning I set up a small feeding table, just hammering it into the lawn close by the pond, in plain view of anything flying over and set up the camera on the patio. Sure enough by lunch time we had our first visitor, attracted by the peanuts and by four o'clock the population had risen to four.

The conditions for photography were poor and most of the following were taken at ISO1000 and barely enough shutter speed. Still, reasonable photos of what is a very handsome bird.

One nut in the crop.......



.......ten nuts in the crop



Of course the peanuts attracted other passers-by.