Wednesday was a bit of a wash out but the Golden Plover, Shelduck, various waders were all still present and a Yellowhammer was singing out the back of the shop. I spent most of the afternoon staking this bird out and never seen it once!
I stepped out this morning to see if the Shelduck were still present and found they had morphed into 2 Whooper Swan overnight - it must be funny water out there!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBnOBzoSx4Obekc8rWto0KUPlX-Ct0SPADCs7I5PfSSeOCNvuzn5Bh8Qf92N1_wqR2Eh7YPw-EKQcyWni1OVtzHH1BHmm9UqXMwK2ZEDOx6dKekr3Jn8Fz9b49iQWPJwaCN_R_XiqRiM/s400/Whooper.jpg)
I spent the rest of the morning watching the final touches being made to the White-tailed Eagle nest - a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours. A Golden Eagle giving an all too brief burst of displaying was a nice supporting act.
I guess I was inspired by the WT Eagles doing housework and I went home to do some chores (I'll get some ribbing for that) and watch the feeders in case the Yellowhammer put in an appearance. Chaffinches are abundant up here the same as most places but a treat to watch as they squabble over the dining table and they aren't keen on any other birds joining in. The Coal Tits dash in and dash back out again, Great Tits will stand their ground but are usually beaten by the numbers and best of all is watching a Collared Dove being harassed by a Chaffinch!
My favourite bird in the garden is the Dunnock. He scuttles along the ground or in the undergrowth like a feathered mouse. I watched the Dunnock doing his thing for about 15 minutes (while doing the dishes - that's about one item per minute) and thought that I had better give him a mention on the blog. Out came the scope and the camera and in went the birds.....next doors cat had the birds scattering again but Boris has no interest in birds he just wants some dinner, Sunny was out on the prowl somewhere so I was hoping he wouldn't come back just yet. Then I caught some movement in the Honeysuckle and sure enough it was the Dunnock, skulking at first...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY8KblaHkDrp6aWlCM0bcGfYqLa99ngVEyrUVGWLcMHhGr1WTMtG2ftZa4WLJQ7x1p7HJFXOm1qTjqQ-wlPQ9PrgtBhyphenhyphenB_b8gG2DaO6RC0PQADXO-hA7Nq0SlFtpi1Cr5sg9q7kbjhK0/s400/Donald1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__4MipqxSObEgRB0g5k5TUA3czg2339CXlXzIeZSyvDbboh3e3Xjcc-WImOHDqMoJYx_IcCXgd9QvDx4nKsJhzdO_9lzXj_P9DZq8MyOY6GmPc2UNWA9uSoRrUSMhALXdoRQ0dr1UFvQ/s400/Donald2.jpg)
2 comments:
Much underrated bird I reckon.
I first Identified a Dunnock whilst in a hide at the Hauxley Nature Reserve near Druridge Bay Northumberland, I love to watch these little birds scampering around in the undergrowth and now that I know what I am looking for, have seen one recently in my garden and look for it every day when I am doing the dishes. I agree a very underrated bird.
Michelle (birding about northumberland)
Post a Comment