Yesterday I noticed one of the Nuthatch parents seems to be struggling a little with its grooming now its become a parent. They were both so sleek and full of themselves before the children arrived. Both are a little frazzled looking, but this one is looking seriously worse for wear. No time for preening these days. Such a familiar problem!
Here's the slightly better presented one but still not looking its best:
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All the new parents come to the feeding station, not to gather for the babies, but to have a quick feed to keep their strength up for the endless foraging. Species usually intolerant of each other are eating together in these exceptional times:
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This is my favourite!
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The Great Tits have been absent for a few weeks but are now back, presumably as their eggs have hatched:
A few more images from the last few days:
What a fabulous place to live
Feathers of a peacock at Woodlands Adventure Park....you don't need, or want, to know any more about that place!
Scent hound
Origami Boy scooting home
Happy dog
The flies have arrived at last. For some reason they gather inside our window frames and, on opening, flood the room in a hideous swarm. Nice.
I'm losing track of the foals but I think this is a new one. There's no definite herd like there was last year where I could compare one with another, just a series of individual mares and their offspring.
This sheep seemed to think I had something for it
Heath Milkwort at last - thanks to the little camera's fabulous macro function for this. The flowers are absolutely tiny
A stressful couple of days involving my mum and A&E on Sunday night, and short shrift from a doctor at 11.30pm. I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say she's fine. I seem to be getting even less done than usual but at least our runner beans are in and, as yet, remain uneaten. Potatoes are up and salad crops sown. After last year's hopeless lack of anything, things are already looking better. I shouldn't have said that should I - by tomorrow there will be rows of runner bean stumps. So, until next time, a couple more male Stonechat pictures. Featured on Springwatch tonight, talking of which, one of our local Chagford postmen was filmed a few weeks ago for the programme. He's known as Hairy Dave and I'm not sure if I've missed it or not.....
I do feel sorry for the birds at this time of year. Our bluetits are looking very scruffy. We had to move the fat ball holder as it was being attacked by blackbirds, but I ended up feeling guilty when they couldn't reach it any more, so now I crumble one up and put it on the table for them. They also get all the left over cat food!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed they eat cat food, but any port in a storm I suppose!
DeleteWow all great shots. I can't even pick a favorite. : )
ReplyDeleteThanks Happy One....I like the bemused Chaffinch looking over the Nuthatch best.
DeleteReminders of the early years of parenting when one was grateful for time to have a bath without having to leap out and tend to a crisis!
ReplyDeleteI've seen mother cats, so solicitous and hovering when their kittens are new, then disintegrating into thin and cranky weariness before the kits are weaned.
It seems to be the way of all nature!
It seems such an age ago now. It was hot the summer Origami Boy was tiny and I remember nodding off with exhaustion as he did after a grueling reading session. He had eczema as a baby so I could never leave him alone to scratch. I would sit him on my lap and read to him from two months old. I'm sure that's why he found reading so easy when it came to it!
DeleteI used to look like the mother birds after spring..feeding various chicks various diets every 15 minutes for 14hrs a day!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Oh yes - I don't think I looked in a mirror until my son was about two!
DeleteI am sure they all appreciate the "Fast Food" fly through.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the photo of Origami Boy running down the lane.
Woof to the Snippet from The Square Ones.
cheers, parsnip
I think they do Parsnip. It's a feeding frenzy out there every afternoon!
DeleteAs Happyone said, great photos. You can even see the little claws on the birds.
ReplyDeleteAren't their claws amazing? I love zooming in on them before I re-size them for the internet.
DeleteOurs are looking just as disreputable! And far fewer birds on the feeders too at the moment- I think they must be having a break after rearing one batch before going on to the next. Lovely pics as always Em. Glad all is ok with your mum.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe it when Chris Packham said that the Stonechats can have four broods in a year. They're looking pretty good compared with the less prolific ones!
DeleteI look knackered after one...!! x
DeleteBeautiful photographs Em
ReplyDeleteIt is hard work looking after babies - particularly if there is a big brood. We also feed our birds right through the summer - we feel it gives the parent birds more of a chance if they can use us as a filling station.
You're right - you see the parents with beak-fulls of insects and seemingly never taking any themselves.
DeleteBeautiful photos - adult birds round here are looking very frazzled and scruffy too :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your mum is ok after the trip to A and E.
Thank you - she's better for the moment. At least next time, she knows better than to suggest A&E on a Sunday night!
DeleteGorgeous photos. I love the birds feeding together. Our adult parent birds are looking worn out too, while the fledglings are looking full of life. The little Heath Milkwort is very pretty. I'm pleased to hear all is OK with your mum after the A and E visit.
ReplyDeleteThe blue Milkwort always seems to appear before the other colours up here. I don't know if that's the same everywhere. They're by far the prettiest I think.
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful photos! You live in an incredible part of the world! The view of the moor from the rocks was breathtaking! Your nuthatches look very much like ours.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with your Mother~
Thanks Gail. Every time we consider moving for whatever reason....mother.....land.....I start to panic at the thought of leaving here.
DeleteWhat beautiful photos, I love the two ponies.
ReplyDeleteSweet aren't they!
DeleteI've been out watching the woodpeckers today. Such energy they are putting into feeding their chicks! I think I've found the nest hole. The chicks must be getting big now because even some distance away we can hear them chirping when mum or dad returns with food..
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew where our woodpeckers were nesting. how brilliant to hear the chicks. No sign of the Nuthatch babies yet.
DeleteWow! What fab photos. I have just bought a new camera to try to do more bird and butterfly photographs. I would be over the moon if I could get images as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteI kind of wish I'd spent a bit more money on a camera now I;m having to carry around two! It's all in the cropping Elizabeth....
DeleteFab photos Em. The birds will be looking fit to drop by the end of the breeding season! You are determined to taunt me with those lovely Stonechats ;-)
ReplyDeleteHope your mum will soon be fully fit. A&E is a nightmare at the weekends!
More Stonechats to come. Apparently, a Pied Wheatear has been spotted close by but I haven't seen it yet....very exciting!
DeleteOne scruffy little Nuthatch indeed! But how lovely, Em, to have all these feathered visitors. What magnificent views of the open moor!
ReplyDeleteIt can be a struggle living up here in winter but with the weather like it is at the moment, it makes it all worth it.
ReplyDelete