Discovered a great tit nest in the garden today. It's located in quite a large hole in a dead tree half-way down the slope around the back. Managed to get a couple of photographs of the birds leaving the nest, one of which clearly shows the bird carrying a feacal sac. I captured doing some digiscoping. The pictures could be better though so that will be a target before the chicks fledge. They were being brought some rather large caterpillars so it might not be that long.
Lots of cuckoos and nightingales around. The cuckoos are the birds I most often see in flight around here and they regularly use the bigger trees in the garden.
There is also at least one nightingale in the scrub at the bottom of the slope in the garden but generally they seem to be everywhere. I reckon there are at least 3 singing males in close proximity to the house.
Also managed to confirm a golden oriole in the garden today. They are also commonly heard but not so easily seen - at least yet. While watching the great tits my attention was drawn to a disturbance behind me and to the right. It was a male blackbird harrassing a male golden oriole. The blackbird didn't take long to chase off the oriole. I wonder if this is common behviour.
Also managed to add yellowhammer, barn swallow and nuthatch to the garden list today.
Also heard the first turtle dove today but absolutely no birds anywhere near the feeding station.
Species in garden: 12
Species from garden: 18
Species anywhere: 22
Lots of cuckoos and nightingales around. The cuckoos are the birds I most often see in flight around here and they regularly use the bigger trees in the garden.
There is also at least one nightingale in the scrub at the bottom of the slope in the garden but generally they seem to be everywhere. I reckon there are at least 3 singing males in close proximity to the house.
Also managed to confirm a golden oriole in the garden today. They are also commonly heard but not so easily seen - at least yet. While watching the great tits my attention was drawn to a disturbance behind me and to the right. It was a male blackbird harrassing a male golden oriole. The blackbird didn't take long to chase off the oriole. I wonder if this is common behviour.
Also managed to add yellowhammer, barn swallow and nuthatch to the garden list today.
Also heard the first turtle dove today but absolutely no birds anywhere near the feeding station.
Species in garden: 12
Species from garden: 18
Species anywhere: 22
