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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ChrisKten" data-source="post: 1278445" data-attributes="member: 69033">I thought I'd post what's happening in my garden, maybe it will interest someone.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> I'm afraid there won't be any rare birds, but I do see quite a few species. My regular visitors are as follows:SparrowsStarlingsFeral PigeonsCollard DovesJaysMagpiesCarrion CrowsBlue TitsGreat TitsRobinChaffinchesSparrow HawksOccasional visitors include a Dunnock, Green Finches, Blackbirds, a Wren, a Goldfinch, and a Goldcrest. Oh, and at least 6 Squirrels. I have 2 seed feeders, a fat feeder, a nut feeder, a scraps feeder, and 2 home made trays, in the trees in my garden. I also have 2 trays in the tree with monkey nuts for the Squirrels, and I hang strings of monkey nuts for the Tits.I've not seen any Chaffinches, Green Finches, the Goldfinch, or the Goldcrest for a few weeks now. So I'll start with what's happened so far today.I was watching the Sparrows, Starlings, and Collard Doves at the feeders in the trees, and about 20 Pigeons fighting over the seed that dropped down for a while, when my Wife called me. When I got back to the kitchen window everything was gone. I couldn't see anything with the naked eye, but with binoculars I saw a Sparrow Hawk in the tree, with a freshly killed Sparrow. It must of got nervous, as it moved a bit deeper into the tree. I got the odd glimpse of it, it was a male, and saw feathers dropping to the ground. This is where I have a problem sometimes, I'm in awe of the Sparrow Hawk, but feel so sad for the prey. I've learned to cope with this in, what is perhaps, an odd way. I picture an emaciated Lion in my head that hasn't eaten for ages, and that will die soon if it doesn't eat. I then picture the Sparrow Hawk dead from hunger. Like I said, a bit of an odd way to deal with it, but it helps me to accept it I suppose. Anyway, after a while a Squirrel run through the tree and the Sparrow Hawk flew off with the Sparrow. Within about 10 minutes all the Birds had returned. They know they might be the next kill, I mean the female Sparrow Hawk hasn't been about yet, but they have to eat. I could probably type more but it's turning into a novel.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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