Saturday, July 25, 2015

Garden birds - spring 2015

The start of spring was rather sad when the cat crossed the line and killed the pair of Barn Swallows. Although it costed a small fortune, I sent him on vacation, and from may onwards it was safe. Luckily a new pair of Swallows arrived and bred succesfully, together with many other birds!
juvenile Dunnock, one of the earlier breeders and succesfully fledged
Blackbird, at least 2 succesfull pairs
juvenile Wrens, the nest was in the firewood-storage
Blackcap working hard to feed the young
recently fledged Blackcap, next to the kitchen window
Chiffchaff bred in the ornamental grass, second clutch just hatched
several pairs of House Sparrow bred in the roof
And also at least 1 pair of Starling in the roof. After fledging all Starlings of Pieterzijl gathered in my back garden, a rather noisy flock of 50+ !
Succesfull pair of Barn Swallow, and they started a second clutch!
these Song Thrushes would have been an easy meal for cat (the nest was only a meter high, next to the barn)
Icterine Warbler again bred succesfully and the young fledged a few days ago. Always hiding but very vocal, luckily this one showed in front of my window.
Collared Dove, no comment
Spotted Flycatcher is one of the last breeders, not sure where but the young fledged and favour the area around the kitchen. Note the spotted juvenile in the background and the catch; a Wasp!

Furthermore there was Wood Pigeon (1 breeding pair), Great Tit (1 breeding pair), Greenfich (territory), Goldfinch (territory, probably bred at neighbour's garden), Lesser Whitethroat (territory). Not a bad year!

Monday, July 6, 2015

more Farne Islands

With some delay, more images from one of the richest seabird-colony's along the North Sea. The Farne Islands is a group of several small island and some of them are open to the public. The short walk on the island is impressive, as 1000's of Puffin, Guillemot, Kittiwake and Arctic Tern breed here and can be viewed from close distance.
Arctic Terns breed everywhere, including the footpath

and they will attack you to defend their nest
they breed everywhere
Puffins, also everywhere!
stunning birds!
close views of Guillemot and Shag
image with standard lens
Sandwich Tern colony
Arctic Tern
also
Razorbill
a pair of Roseate Terns was present again this year (a rare and endangered species)
Roseate Tern in flight
more later!:-)