<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Watch the Birdie.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I&rsquo;m not a twitcher but I am interested in birds, especially those I can see in or from my garden.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have written previous blogs&nbsp;about those I have seen. I have just collated my records for the whole of 2009; these cover 330 days in the year with separate spread sheets for each month and one for the whole year.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have seen 35 different types of bird, averaging 23 a month, and 9 per day. The ones that have visited the most are:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wood Pigeon 93%; Blackbird 89%; Rook 78%; Collared Dove 72% and Starling 69% of days.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Blue Tit frequency was 34%, the Robin 29%. The colourful Bullfinch showed up 2% of the time.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">December saw the appearance of a male Blackcap (2 days.) Three birds appeared on one day only &ndash; Cock Pheasant, Mistle Thrush and a Jay (the only Jay in the village?)</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: medium;">On my walk today I came across this colourful fellow tripping along the top of a fence:</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/S8m9kmdC-NI/AAAAAAAABIQ/bNTiQ80r1so/s640/Kirk%20170410%20012.jpg" border="0" width="640" height="419" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He didn't look anywhere near as 'pretty' when in a tree. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/S8m9n_RdC4I/AAAAAAAABIU/i_QHLnb9Oqo/s640/Kirk%20170410%20013.jpg" border="0" width="640" height="470" /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If I could only get a picture of the bullfinch that visits my garden I would be satisfied.</span></p>

<h3 class="post-title entry-title"></h3> <div class="post-header"></div> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our garden is alive with birds this morning. I have resorted to trying to photograph them through a double glazed window. Here's two to share with you at this holiday time.<br /></span></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/TRcly39wxRI/AAAAAAAACS0/a1RZfF7hviI/s576/Goldfinch%20261210.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/TRcly39wxRI/AAAAAAAACS0/a1RZfF7hviI/s640/Goldfinch%20261210.jpg" border="0" width="640" height="516" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Goldfinches</span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/TRcl-VV9wgI/AAAAAAAACTI/S_5myflThso/s512/Icicles%20Bird%20tracks%20015.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/TRcl-VV9wgI/AAAAAAAACTI/S_5myflThso/s640/Icicles%20Bird%20tracks%20015.jpg" border="0" width="640" height="614" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Robin</span></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">At dusk as the sun goes down behind the wood, the shadows lengthen and the light begins to fade.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Now&rsquo;s the time for Rocky to appear to clear up the daily debris left at the feeder by the birds. It&rsquo;s a mystery how he can squeeze his body through the small gap beneath the left-hand garden gate. But this is what he does each night and evades the watching dogs. Perhaps they see him, perhaps they are too tired to even bother to bark, let alone chase him back under the gate into the wood.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">This is also the time when deer emerge from the wood to feed long its edges. To the left of the fenced-off compound one stretches its neck to nibble leaves from the lower branches of the trees. To the right stands Bambi, tail twitching, her eyes fixed on the feeder &ndash; or is it Rocky that has caught her eye?</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Her tail twitching still, Bambi&rsquo;s back legs tense. Will she run? Has Rocky scared her off?</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">But no, it&rsquo;s the other way round. As Bambi springs athletically over the steel wire fence Rocky runs for cover, back under the gate to his refuge in the wood.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Unconcerned, Bambi lowers her head and begins to eat the grass enhanced with discarded bird feed.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Rocky&rsquo;s courage returns and so does he, back under the gate where he hesitates, not sure of the welcome he will receive. He scuttles up the side of the left fence and circles across the lawn approaching from Bambi&rsquo;s rear. She, head lowered, continues to eat with her tail flicking from side to side.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Reassured Rocky decides he should take his place and settles down facing her. The complimentary meal is enjoyed by them both.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In the gloom the paparazzi camera clicks and clicks again, no flash to pierce the gathering dark.</span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aSRiOKmg8d0/TgHquwZAjII/AAAAAAAADsY/j1tP-TWSSUg/s576/Deer%252520Racoon%252520002.jpg" border="0" width="576" height="464" /></span></p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> <p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The photos will be published next day under the heading, &ldquo;Secret Rendezvous! When Rocky Met Bambi.&rdquo;</span></p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p>