General update: Part 1

Stithians Reservoir: 16.06.07
A quick 15 minutes stop at this watery world produced a few Sedge Warblers, more Willow Warblers and the usual Dunnocks, Chiffchaffs, Blackbirds and other dreary flying creatures to which many of my trips are becoming well noted for spotting. In fact, if I see something small resembling a bird, I tend to accept my luck generally runs out the minute I wake up and announce the bird to be nothing more than a Sparrow and have done with it.

I spent 5 minutes watching the young Buzzard preening itself before deciding to head off back home.

Crowan Church: 17.06.07
Not much happening down this end today. The Jackdaws had fledged and could be seen (and more importantly heard) flying around with mummy & daddy. A Magpie was being lovingly assaulted in mid air strikes by a Collared Dove and a Chaffchiff perched on the telegraph wire for a good few minutes watching the commotion.

Home sweet home: This week.
The House Sparrows which are currently nesting around this area (including a large brood in the honeysuckle sharing our garden and a neighbour’s) have been out on mass. There must be around 8 pairs coming to the garden to feed, including young, making up to around 15 sparras at any given time.

A family of Magpies (2 young + parents) have been coming regularly to the garden to feed, which is always a lovely site. At first much of the feeding has been done with mother or father watching over them, although recently they have been coming alone. Then, much to my surprise, this morning before leaving for Redruth I counted 5 young Magpies hopping around the garden (our two plus the rogue three). I assume they have got together to start some kind of gang…

The Chaffinches have yet to return to feeding in the garden, as it is always around baby making time they head off to Patch One to breed. The same goes with the Wrens and the Bullfinches.

I’m currently filming what does make it to the garden, which tends to be the larger birds who usually arrive when they are heading back to roost over yonder somewhere…