Birds I have seen in Africa and Europe.

and

Friday, 10 July 2020

All taken in our French garden this week.

Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)...

As above...

As above.

Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus).

As above

Common blackbird (Turdus merula). One of the youngsters talking to the Elephant 😊 - interesting to see the size against the elephant compared with the pigeon...

Two of them got into the greenhouse yesterday and dug up all my pot plants and seedlings, they were not very popular. Although I managed to chase one out, I had to catch the second one to put it out of the door. I do not want to put netting over the doorway but I might have to if they return again.

A blackbird can look at an owl 🦉

Thinking up what mischief it can get up to next!!!

Little owl (Athene noctua) the closest I have ever been to 'our' Little Owls. They were very agitated about something and ignoring me. I wonder if there was a snake around, they sounded a bit like a pair of agitated parrots. I have never heard them making such a row. This one was on a piece of metal attached to the electric pylon on the corner of our garden at this stage. The other one was on the barn a bit further away making the same row...

As above...

As above.

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Sunday, 5 July 2020

South Africa and France this week

Thanks once again to Christelle for these three photos of the Kingfisher taken in her garden on the South coast of South Africa.

Brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)...

As above...

As above.

Back home, the Little Owl I am seeing almost daily (Athene noctua)...

For those that commented last week about possible nesting under the tiles on the side of the barn, the space you see next to the beam here is where they appear to have nested. Sadly no youngsters though it seems.

Standing on the lamp post watching all the bugs go by....

I have never seen them up here at all this year but I guess they have a very good view across the field.

Out walking yesterday I saw this grey heron (Ardea cinerea) on the opposite side of the dam to where I was so not the best photo...

Seconds later it was in the air and it disappeared.

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Sunday, 28 June 2020

The last couple of days in the garden.

My apologies if I have not visited blogs recently, I seem to have been extra busy. I will try to catch up very soon.

Great tit (Parus major)...

As above - I am almost losing track now as to which are adults and which are youngsters...

As above...

Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)...

As above...

As above.

House sparrow (Passer domesticus) female.

and saving the best to last 😊

Little owl (Athene noctua)...

As above.

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Saturday, 20 June 2020

Feeding the young, House Sparrows at home in Lock-down

The first 3 photos taken with my old lens the Nikon 55 -300mm.

Female House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). with her young family...

As above...

All the photos below were taken with the new Tamron Megazoom - 18-400 mm, You can see the better quality. Taken at the same distance as above.

Mum and the youngster...

As above...

and a second one arrives.

Dad trying to do his bit...

As above...

Guess Dad is getting fed up so he stamps his foot 😀

Just liked this shot of Mum and Dad...

and Mum taking a drink.

I was delighted yesterday to see outside the house an adult Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) with what I presume to be two youngsters. We have remarked that we have not seen any this year but they are obviously around even if not in such great numbers.

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