The most startling fact about the starling is that although there are 1.9 million in the UK, this is after a decline of 80% since 1969. I was 11 in 1969. What happened? The State of Nature report offers some insights. I remember the drastic removal of hedges and habitat by the farming community. Is it too simplistic to attribute the decline solely to this factor?
Feeding time
How do they know? Garden bird feeding stations can quickly be overtaken by these loud, raucous birds. As soon as the mealworm is put out they are there, not just ones and twos, but quite large groups. Their antennae for food works well.
The temperature is rising in the garden and there is plenty going on. Life is busy with family commitments, taking photos, editing photos, refurbishments among other things.
A bit of landscaping was needed. The bluebells and primroses have gone. Other flowers are appearing, but a helping hand was required to fill in a bit of a lull in colour. An old tree trunk was removed to make way for this beautiful, vividly red Azalea.
When removing the trunk we found two stag beetle larvae, which have been re-housed and have become family pets. These larvae remain in this state for up to 7 years and survive on a diet of rotting wood and leaves. They are yet to be named.
Colour continues to be a feature: some homegrown and some acquired along with the Azalea.
This juvenile robin is a regular visitor, attracted by the mealworm on the bird table. Other species of juveniles and fledglings are also visiting daily.
These starlings are quite raucous. They are gregarious and chatter away to each other, hoovering up any available food, both competitively and cooperatively.
We are yet to see any sparrow chicks, but if you look carefully at these two photos, you’ll see that its only a matter of time. These two are doing there bit to continue the recent recovery in the sparrow population following the more longer term decline from the 1960/70’s levels.
Blue tits are a constant presence in the garden, performing their acrobatics effortlessly.
We have a couple of great tits visiting daily at the present time. The coal tit is a shy visitor, but the long tailed tits appear to have moved on for the moment.
Sparrows and dunnocks chirp and sing respectively and are never far away.
Hoverflys are enjoying the increased temperatures and move jerkily around the garden in an attempt to make it difficult for predators (and photographers!).
The garden has seen an explosion of colour this month. I must have been aware of this in previous years, but this year I have observed it more closely – yellow primroses and daffodils; white snowdrops and blossom; purple crocuses; pink camellia, cherry blossom, clematis and apple blossom; blue bluebells; green grass and new foliage.
Whilst the background colours and textures have changed, the change in visiting bird-life has been more subtle and not quite what I expected. The bird species I have seen are: sparrow, dunnock, pigeon, magpie, starling, robin, goldfinch, blue tit, blackbird.
There have been absences too. Where are the long tailed tits, siskins, chaffinches, coal tits, wrens, blackcaps? Have they deserted the garden feeding stations now that nature is producing abundant new growth and insects?
My photography knowledge has increased. I leave it to others to judge whether this has resulted in improved quality. I now photograph in RAW instead of JPEG, giving greater flexibility in the post production stage. My camera is now set on manual rather than automatic and I now select the ISO, shutter speed and aperture setting. Most wildlife photo ops are fleeting, lasting only a few seconds and require patience and perseverance. Familiarity with camera controls and settings are essential to respond when those brief seconds present themselves.
With warmer temperatures and school holidays I have ventured beyond the confines of the garden. These are a few pictures taken at Brownsea Island, Pamphill and Moors Valley.
March coincides with the Church’s observance of Lent, a period of repentance and penitence. Jesus himself was the model for the Lent period. Following his baptism he was ‘led by the Spirit’ into the wilderness and emerged 40 days later ‘in the power of the Spirit’. The Church of England has produced a series of devotional readings and prayers using the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. They offer timeless teaching of spiritual rebirth with the ultimate promise and hope of sharing in Jesus’ resurrection.
Access to the garden has been restricted in March for various reasons and so it has been a joy in recent days to get back to see what I have been missing, particularly now that the storms appear to have passed and temperatures are slowly increasing.
Spring has arrived and the number of daylight hours now exceed the hours of darkness. The bird population that has survived the winter will now begin the process of renewal and rebirth. Insects are reappearing. Blossom and green shoots are bursting into life.
Bee collecting pollen
Honey bee
In the garden two themes are apparent: nesting activity and birdsong.
Nesting
Nest box
A few years ago we put up a nest box in the garden. Its never been used. I saw a blue tit inspecting it the other morning, but it must have found a better site, as it has not returned. To be fair the location isn’t brilliant. Its close to a feeding station, but it lacks privacy and security from squirrels, cats and other threats.
Male sparrow collecting nesting materialFemale blackbird collecting nesting material
Whilst I have yet to see any evidence of birds actually nesting in the garden, there have been plenty of birds collecting nesting material.
Birdsong
Robin in full song
Blackbird “Billy” in song
Dunnock perched prominently in song
The dawn chorus starts at 5.30 am. Robins, blackbirds, dunnocks and pigeons are clearly discernible. Throughout the day birdsong in the garden will rise and fall as the birds come and go.
Female sparrow
Male sparrow
In recent days the sparrow population has been particularly vocal.
Starlings – ever present
The starlings click, whistle and squawk at each other and then descend on the feeding station, hoovering up the meal worm as fast as it is put out.
New visitors
I have seen a wren on a number of occasions and actually managed to capture a few images this month.
Rare photo of wren
Despite the wren being one of the UK’s most numerous birds (see UK population table below), my experience is that it is quite secretive and normally scuttles away into the undergrowth.
The siskin, male and female, has been a constant visitor, but difficult to spot as it usually ‘hides’ among a group or charm of other finches.
Goldfinches are regular visitors to neighbouring gardens, but despite putting out seed specifically for finches they seem very wary of hopping over the fence. Maybe they can sense the presence of our cat – not that he’s ever caught anything bigger than a fly.
Coal tit
A very distinctive bird, but quite restless, the coal tit is constantly on the move.
Collared dove
Slightly smaller and sleeker than a wood pigeon…
Population – UK
The table below lists a few of the birds observed in the garden, showing their UK population and an indication of the trend, i.e. increasing or decreasing.
Siskin
420,000 pairs
increasing
Goldfinch
1,200,000 territories
Increasing considerably
Chaffinch
6,200,000 pairs
Increasing slowly
Sparrow
5,300,000
Declined by 64% since 1969
Great tit
2,600,000
Moderate increase over 40 years
Blue tit
3,600,000
Modest increase recently
Coal tit
760,000
No overall trend
Long tailed tit
340,000
Modest increase in recent years
Goldcrest
610,000
Long term trend is slight increase
Chiffchaff
1,200,000
Increasing in recent years
Blackcap
1,200,000
Increasing since late 1970s
Blackbird
5,100,000
15% decline over 40 years
Wren
8,600,000 territories
Stable population
Dunnock
2,500,000
Numbers fell (1975-1995), now partially recovered
Bullfinch
220,000 pairs
40% decline in 25 years
Source: RSPB Handbook of British Birds (4th Edition) – 2014
Stephen's Wildlife 