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We were walking among the welsh hills. The sun was out when my Dad points up to the shoulder of a hill and there a pony and her foal. There was no saddle in sight. I looked through the zoom on the camera because the kiddy binoculars I was carrying were too light. I was six it was august we had gone on holiday to my Nan’s caravan somewhere near llandudno and today. Today was my birthday. It was the best present I could ever have asked for.
I have been living in this house for about four years and I now know all the different species that are common in my area.
House Sparrow
They are such wonderful little birds I love the details in their feathers.
Goldfinch
They’re flowers they’re cheerful flash of color among winter suburbia
Starling
I could stare at one for hours because of their breathtaking plumage (you can see can’t you well look closer)
Collared Dove
Not the most elegant or beautiful bird but they are always there and if you can’t see them you can certainly hear them.
Blue Tit
They are so cute 🙂 they kind of remind me of my baby brother.
Woodpigeon
considered a nuisance they are one of the three pigeon/dove species you can see in the Stoke on Trent area.
Blackbird
One of many peoples favorite birds they are famous for their song (I just like their feathers (again)).
Carrion Crow
Not many peoples favorite but then again I think maybe they might be gaining some fans.
Magpie
The bird most people hate because of the belief that they are having an impact on songbird populations despite the evidence against it personally I like them.
Buzzard
I mentioned them in an earlier post so their really is not much to say.
Kestrel
Britain’s most common bird of prey the sight of one hovering above the roadside can really brighten up a car journey.
Jay
By far my favorite corvid because of their colorful plumage.
Nuthatch
I first saw one in a tree out my bedroom window and ever since then I’ve absolutely adored them :).
Chaffinch
This is a male male the female is brown and has a greenish streak down her back between her wings, It’s Britain’s most numerous bird.
Well I’m sure I forgot a few but in general those are the birds that are most common around my house.
I would really like to know what birds are common in your patch so please comment.
Well it’s my third post and I thought I’d write a bit about a very common bird of prey that I like very much.
The common Buzzard (and oddly enough it really is common).
Buzzards are one of my favorite birds of prey for many reasons but I think I’ll only give you a brief summary and let you make your own opinions.
- They are very easy to see, in fact just yesterday I spotted one soaring with three Black-Headed Gulls while walking the dogs. And last Autumn two perched in a row of trees fifty meters away from my house.
- They are ( I know I’ve said this in every post but I’m going to say it again) beautiful birds. I get a thrill every time I see one. But the best bit for me (drum roll please ) a few weeks ago I saw one building a nest at the Barlaston downs a five minute drive away!
Well this is one of my photos of the first Grebes I ever saw.
A few years ago I heard about the Great Crested Grebes that had been seen on Trentham lake so naturally I decided I would try to see them. I set up my camera about a quarter of the way around the lake. but I didn’t see any, then off to my left I saw one. I picked up my camera and ran after it. This time I stopped next to the empty Ice rink/theater and the Grebe swam right into a patch of reeds. It didn’t come out for a few minutes but eventually it did two actually. (I think I’ll skip the few minutes of them swimming around in circles) Suddenly they disappeared under the water. They came literally a minute later holding reeds in their beaks. They swam towards each other heads close to the water, when they were close together they rose up out if the water and shook their heads from side to side clacking their beaks together. Then the show was over and they swam away.
As I write this I can look out my bedroom window and wonder that even here a midst all these people wildlife still thrives. I can sit and look and there not five feet from me, a beautiful bird. A sparrow, I could watch them all day. Watch them flit from garden to garden, watch them eat at next doors bird feeder, listen to them make a racket as they fly down the street. and more than daffodils or lambs. the sparrows nesting across the street tell that it is spring.
Wills Wildlife Diary 