Feed the birds!

Blue tit

As anyone who has bird feeders in their garden knows, the snow and freezing conditions have brought the birds out in their hundreds in search of food. As well as great numbers of the more common garden birds (Great Tits, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Starlings, Blackbirds, Thrushes and Sparrows), Woodpeckers and Nuthatches have been regular visitors. In addition, the rarer Marsh Tit regularly comes to the feeders in my garden. 

The common Greater Spotted Woodpecker is a most colourful and distinctive bird. It can usually be seen pecking at fat balls in winter. With jerky movements up the bark of trees, pecking for insects and larvae, it is fascinating to watch.

The Robin is always a welcome sight in winter, with its plump red breast. It feeds mainly on the ground, hopping and flitting in search of seeds and insects, but also visits bird feeders and bird tables for seed mixtures.

The Marsh Tit is a most pleasant surprise in my garden as I have never seen one before.  They are small, with a glossy black cap and can be difficult to distinguish from the Willow Tit, so I hope I have got this right! They feed mostly on insects in summer, but take seeds in autumn and winter.

The Nuthatch is a cute bird. It spends most of its life clinging to the branches of trees, using the strength of its feet and the sharpness of its claws. They eat a variety of seeds, berries, and nuts, and will visit peanut baskets and fat balls.

There has been a lot of activity on the river too! As well as the Herons, Cormorants, Ducks, Moorhens, Great Crested Grebe and Kingfishers, no one can have failed to spot the majestic Great White Egret, many of which have been flying up and down the river in search of food.
                                                                                               

If there is anyone else out there with an interest in birds, please get in touch!

Mary Atkinson

mea@maryatkinson.co.uk

Photos de Mary ATKINSON