Out and about in March

Not so much out and about really as we have been in lockdown until a few days ago.  When I did get out for a walk in the woods I met a frog coming the other way.  It wasn't in the mood to give way so I had to, after taking a photo on my iPhone.

A surprise sighting in the garden was a male pheasant, the first I have seen since my regular visitor used to come to the door every morning over three years ago.  He was here two days in a row but may not become a regular.

I doubt if I shall see much of the sparrowhawk from now on.  He was here a lot in March but in previous years the sparrowhawk has disappeared at about this time of year, probably to join up with a mate in a chosen breeding territory. This one is still looking very handsome.

I managed to squeeze in my Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee Walk in the brief warmth on the last day of the month. I saw only 12 bumblebees but of five different species.  Then when I got home there was a garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) in the garden, appropriately enough.  This was also taken on the iPhone.

I heard a chiffchaff in the garden, unusual for here and the first sign of a summer visitor.  I hope the first blackcap will be here soon.  This has been a very disappointing winter for visiting finches.  I haven't seen a brambling or a redpoll but I have recently seen male and female siskins on the feeders.

March felt to me cold, dry and windy, much as March should be, I suppose.  In fact the Met Office data show it was warmer than recent (1981-2010) average.  Perhaps it felt colder because of the wind.  The Met Office maps don't show wind speed.

Breakfast time

We had a little bit of snow - the first for four winters I think.  The pheasant came to the door for breakfast because he couldn't find much else to eat.

Still going strong

Well look who turned up this morning.  I hadn't even had time to get dressed and he was already shouting for his breakfast outside the front door, just like old times.

This pheasant first appeared in the garden five years ago and was a mature bird then so he must be at least six years old.  He was shy and reserved at first but has been taking food from my hand for four years.  (That behaviour, and the markings around his neck, make me sure it is the same bird.)

He disappears each July to moult and reappears with new body feathers (and, presumably, new wing feathers) but without a tail.  That regrows over the next three or four weeks.  His head is moulted separately so it is usually autumn by the time he is back to his finest.  Last year his summer break lasted seven weeks and I was afraid he wouldn't return.  This year he has only been gone three weeks so I shall have to order another supply of peanuts.

After eating the food I give him he goes to peck around under the bird feeders.  After that there doesn't seem to be much to do so he often stands in the garden for ages.  If it is raining he hides under a bush.  If it is sunny he often goes into the kitchen garden for a snooze under the raspberries or takes a dust bath in one of the vegetable beds.

It is good to see him back and I hope he'll stick around for a few more years.

Handsome couple

In fact they are not really a couple as this cock had at least half a dozen hens in his harem.  The females look dowdy in the wrong light but are beautifully patterned and coloured when the sun catches them.

You'll be pleased to hear that "my" pheasant turned up last week, the first time I have seen him for over six weeks.  I had given him up for dead but there he was, shouting for his breakfast in the porch, just like old times.  Not a word about where he had been, either.  He is now at least six years old so doing pretty well for an old timer.

My left hand

I am right-handed so if I am holding something to be photographed it is in my left hand.  As well as feeding the robin and the pheasant I seem often to be catching birds that have strayed into the house or greenhouse or, occasionally, been stunned by flying into the window and everything has to have its photo taken before release.  Over the last few years I have collected quite a few photos of my left hand and here are some of them.  I wonder what I'll catch this year? Whatever it is, it will have its photo taken.

I expect you'll recognise everything.  The only tricky one is after the pheasant and before the blackbird and is a juvenile whitethroat that got stuck in the greenhouse.