Tag Archives: birds

The Thames at Brentford

Sunday 12th February 2023, 9.35am (day 4,189)

Thames at Brentford, 12/2/23

Despite having come to London regularly over the years there are still parts of this massive city that I have not yet explored. The western suburbs were amongst them, but this time I am staying in Brentford, giving me the chance to take a Sunday morning walk down the banks of the Thames to Chiswick and Barnes, all desirable spots. The river looks narrow here but that’s because over there is an eyot, or river island, which splits the flow in two at this point. What the old concrete post was, no idea — but the birds like to perch on it.

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Waxbills

Saturday 28th January 2023, 12.55pm (day 4,174)

Waxbills, 28/1/23

I’m fairly certain these are juvenile common waxbills (Estrilda astrild), a member of the finch family. They don’t yet have the bright red bill that gives the species its name (as it looks like it has been dipped in sealing wax) but everything else about them matches the description, particularly the red stripe through the eye. The one on the lower branch flew off the instant I pressed the shutter, and is fluffing himself up ready to make the jump. Taken on my walk to the summit of the island, Diana’s Peak — more photos from the day can be seen on my other blog.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Beneath the drop zone

Sunday 18th December 2022, 4.05pm (day 4,133)

Drop zone, 18/12/22

It is known that birds are relatively intelligent creatures for their size, so as I crawl through this null time before Christmas, trying not to think about work, questions come to mind, such as — do they deliberately crap on people’s heads, or is it all an accident? This old metalwork crosses over a street in Hebden as it links two buildings, and whatever it once was, it is now prime pigeon perch; and always worth a look upwards, before any attempt to pass beneath it.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Busted by the jackdaws

Thursday 27th October 2022, 9.45am (day 4,081)

Two jackdaws, 27/10/22

“That human is taking surreptitious bird shots again.”

“Hah! All that stuff about ‘not repeating himself’… Such rubbish. We’ve been on here before, I’m sure.”

“Yes, I remember that one. Glad you’re talking to me again now.”

“Hmmm, well, I’m still a bit miffed with you but I’m getting over it.”

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Staying above it all

Saturday 1st October 2022, 11.05am (day 4,055)

Pigeon scrum, 1/10/22

A pigeon food-fight, a moshpit of grain consumption, of a kind that must say something about how evolution will progress for this species, though what that is, we don’t yet know. The one in the middle seems to be staying above it all, however. But probably he’s just taking a quick breather.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Jackdaw negotiation

Thursday 8th September 2022, 3.45pm (day 4,032)

Jackdaws and meal, 8/9/22

“I dunno mate. It gets worse and worse. Look at these scraps.”

“Know exactly what you mean, Bob. You just can’t get the humans these days. Must be global warming or summat.”

“Well, let’s see what we can get out of it before that twat over there decides to muscle in.”

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Three fowl (not a birthday reference)

Friday 26th August 2022, 12.35pm (day 4,019)

Three waterfowl, 26/8/22

Let’s get on with another year, shall we? Three fowl (I assume, one duck, two geese) drifting by serenely on the Rochdale Canal is not any metaphor for life that I can think of, but it is a way of representing a peaceful (birth)day.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Reluctant to fly

Friday 5th August 2022, 3.35pm (day 3,998)

Fearful fledgling, 5/8/22

This pigeon nest has been under observation for a couple of days now, seeing as it resides just above the outdoor seating area in the pub, and for the duration, this fledgling has been receiving plenty of encouragement to leave it. Every so often it comes out, slithers around on the roof tile (some seven feet above the ground) for a while, cheeps in an alarmed fashion, then goes back inside. Mum, or possibly Dad, seems to be getting rather fed up with the whole thing. I can’t say I blame it. My one was off like a shot, first chance he got.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Temporary caring responsibilities

Monday 11th July 2022, 7.50am (day 3,973)

“Who are you then? I haven’t seen you before.” Nope; and they won’t see me again: but this morning I found myself temporarily responsible for these (roughly) six-week-old chickens, living still in their plastic incubator and definitely in need of plenty of liquid on these hot days. I conducted roll call, watered them and left them to it.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Goose family

Sunday 5th June 2022, 5.00pm (day 3,937)

Goose family, 5/6/22

These geese were behaving just like a human family. The little ones dashed hither and thither while the parents tried to keep up, looking concerned. I like the way, on this shot, the parents seem to have merged into one, only the bizarrely extended neck of the one in the rear makes it properly visible. Amazing to think that the little balls of golden fluff will become just like Mom and Dad in a relatively short space of time.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
%d bloggers like this: