Parus Major

Great tit – Parus major

The woodland area near home is accessed by passing through an open area of grassland known as By-the-way field. There is a metal gate to enter the woodland. At this point the gravel footpath crosses a bridge over what might generously be called a stream, but probably more accurately, a ditch. This is a great spot to linger a little, to look and listen. The bright sunshine so evident just a few steps back is now shaded by the canopy and branches of tall trees. It takes a second or two for the eyes to adjust.

One of the first birds to be seen and heard here will be the Great tit, Parus Major to give it its latin name. It has a bright yellow breast with a black line running down the centre. The black continues up to its head. There is a black cap and collar, with white cheeks. The back is olive green and the wings are grey / blue with a thin white line.

Climbing trees

Treecreeper

Within walking distance from home we have a woodland area. I was delighted on Saturday’s excursion to capture this image of a treecreeper, so named due to their behaviour of scaling a tree starting at the bottom and jerkily working their way up. Their colouring is so well camouflaged that it is only the movement that catches the eye.

We are permitted to leave the house once each day for exercise. There is no time limit, but there can only be one outing. The outing has to be local, which is a little subjective. Fines have been issued to people driving over 5 miles. Taking a flask of tea has been interpreted by some police forces as an intention to have a picnic – not permitted. There has been quite a media blitz to gain public support for the lockdown.

The rollout of the vaccine continues. At present about 10% of the UK population have received the jab. But it’s still going to take a few months before the current restrictions are lifted.

Is this a chickadee?

Blue tit enjoying sunshine after Storm Christoph

“It rained and it rained and it rained. Piglet told himself that never in all his life, and he was goodness knows how old – three was it, or four? – never had he seen so much rain.”

Winnie-The-Pooh, A.A.Milne, Chapter 9 …in which Piglet is entirely surrounded by water

Storm Christoph wasn’t too bad for us personally, although there were heartbreaking pictures on the news of its impact in other parts of the country.

But today the rain stopped and the sun came out. The birds returned to the feeders.

The Blue tits visited and sang whilst performing their acrobatics. I think I prefer US name Chickadee to the UK Tit, even though it probably would only apply to our Willow tit or Marsh tit. It’s so much more genteel.

Anyway, here is a Blue tit in our garden enjoying the sun.

A Squabble

A squabble of seagulls

Collective nouns come up for discussion in our household now and then. They can be so descriptive. A ‘murder of crows’, a ‘parliament of owls’ and a ‘charm of goldfinch’ all offer some insight into the perceived nature of the birds.

A group of seagulls is known as a squabble. I think this recent image suggests why this particular collective noun may have been selected. This group of black-headed gulls were gathered on a short jetty on the larger of the two lakes at Longham Lakes on New Year’s Eve. As well as this half dozen on the railing there were another group on the deck of the jetty. There were probably about twenty birds or more gathered. at this location. Occasionally they would be disturbed, take to the air, and circle round the lake before returning to this favoured spot. As they jostled for landing positions there would be quarrelsome interactions between the birds.

Buzzard taking to flight

Buzzard

Winter had denuded the deciduous tree of its foliage. Long, spindly branches reached toward the grey, cloud covered sky. On one of the uppermost branches sat a buzzard, still and silent, surveying the surrounding scene. The only movement was the head rotating, presenting a profile first one way then the other of its dangerous hooked beak. Suddenly with one powerful beat of its outstretched wings it was airborne. It circled overhead a couple of times and then was gone disappearing eastward over a hedgerow heading east toward a mix of woodland and open farmland.

Power

Sunset

The electricity pylons that run alongside Longham Lakes are hard to miss, but they do not over power (pardon the pun) the beauty of the landscape or the wildlife which just accept their presence.

Little Egret
Male Kestrel – taking a break
Cormorants drying out

Refilled feeders

Blue tit

Today I heard the birds singing in the garden. Probably happy that I had refilled the feeders. The Robin was the most vocal.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th’angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Lyrics by Charles Wesley

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Long tailed tit
Robin in song

Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Yesterday we had two Mistle Thrush turn up in the garden. They tend to show up at this time of year. My observations aren’t exactly scientific, but I do have a couple of similar photographs from early in December 2019. It might be that they’re just a bit more obvious at this time of year due to the lack of foliage on the trees, but I suspect that that they are looking for food in local gardens as the food supplies in the nearby woodland becomes more scarce.

They are a bit bigger than our usual resident species of sparrows, robins, and finches. Probably just a bit bigger than a blackbird. The large spots on its light coloured chest are a significant element of its identification. The photo was taken through a grubby kitchen window so the picture isn’t of the highest quality. I always enjoy seeing these birds and trying to figure out whether they are Song Thrush or Mistle Thrush.

Another subtle observation and reminder of the natural rhythm and season.