August 3rd
It was a beautiful day, I'd seen a few birds flitting around over by the fence near one of the sheds so, I thought I'd take a wander over there, see what was going on.
I walked over to the area I'd seen all the activity, stood quietly for a while, just watching.
A Tree Sparrow popped onto the gate at the back, it was only when I came to edit this shot that I noticed the Whitethroat on the bar below, nice to catch them both.
I zoomed in a bit.
Whitethroats can be quite elusive so I was happy to see it at all.
Tree Sparrows are not UK wide and some people have never seen one.
This young bird sat on the wire watching me, you can tell it is young by the yellow "gape" on the beak.
I was standing next to one fence where I can see a lot of birds perching from the house and sure enough, a few landed right by me while I stood there. Most left as soon as I moved but this young female House Sparrow sat a bit longer.
Many of the birds disappeared so I took a wander round to the other side of the shed.
There was a bird working its way along the guttering, foraging for bugs no doubt.
A young Willow Warbler, great to see it for a period of time, they usually disappear as soon as they see you, obviously hungry.
I stood in head high weeds for a good while again just watching and keeping quiet.
A Wren popped onto a log quite nearby.
Again, nice to see a very shy bird so close up, I think I'm finally beginning to realise, standing still and quiet pays off. I'm usually walking as I look.
Remember the Willow Warbler? It was still working its way along the eaves, getting closer!
Possibly one of my first opportunities for this type of shot of this wee bird.
I said a few lines back, I was standing in head high weeds....
Think I've been spotted!
I also think there was water in one of the gutters ...
This bird was preening and looked wet. Then I saw another dropping into the gutter, then re-appearing.
Look closely and you'll that bird is wet and shaking the water off.
Why didn't I think of videoing? Mind you, hand holding the camera steady .....
It dropped onto the fence above me.
Getting a good shake off and dry.
When it flew off I headed back round towards the front again.
I called these birds the Gang of Four, I think they were a family with young birds, they'd been coming to the garden for a short while too.
I walked back to my original position round the front.
I have no idea where the Willow Warbler nest might be but they were hanging around this area a lot, I'd also see them working along our back fence daily.
I was standing below the fence line and the weeds here.
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| Tree Sparrow in weeds |
I think the birds weren't seeing me until they landed.
That warbler definitely didn't see me until it landed right above me.
It started getting quiet and I'd been out here a good while so I started shuffling towards the house.
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| Young House Sparrow females |
I'd had a great hour or two watching these birds, especially the Willow Warbler youngsters, a rare opportunity.
So, home to some editing, it can take days to get a set of shots ready.
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