Fox on the rocks

In the garden.

Blue tit through a macro lens

I don't know what this was all about.  When I noticed this blue tit in the gooseberry bush it was hanging upside down from a branch and I thought it might be trapped.  Before approaching it I grabbed a camera (as you do).  I couldn't see any sign that it was stuck but it didn't fly away as I got nearer.

I went to change the camera for a shorter lens and when I got back the blue tit was the right way up.

I was using a 100mm macro lens and I could get this close.

As it wasn't trapped I just watched and eventually it flew to a nearby perch.  Even then it sat and watched me and didn't seem perturbed.

Eventually it flew away, seeming quite normal.  At one stage I was close enough to use the iPhone although the image isn't quite so good as it was in a shady corner.

You can see from the iPhone videos that the bird seems quite relaxed.

The only other thing that occurs to me is that it might have bumped its head on the window and was recovering, but it never seemed stunned.  Whatever the explanation, it needs to be more alert next time in case the sparrowhawk returns.

Not 100% vegetarian

I noticed on my jar of Marmite® that it is 100% vegetarian.  It left me wondering how something could be, say, 50% or 90% vegetarian.

Here is someone who is less than 100% vegetarian but is putting on a good show.  Foxes will eat almost anything.  I first found them taking apples left out for the birds last winter and recently noticed again.

Here the fox will take apples, peanuts, dog food, eggs, almost anything I leave out for it.  I previously posted photos of the fox with grey squirrel, wood pigeon, or squirrel and stock dove.  Its favourite is a whole squirrel or rabbit, which I don't have very often. The photo and brief video clip below, which I haven't posted before, are from last summer.  If you are 100% vegetarian I hope they don't put you off your dinner.  And, as if that isn't bad enough, they are followed by video clips of a fox running off with a squirrel (while the hedgehog keeps its head down), and another struggling to take away two rabbits at the same time, determined not to leave one for anyone else.  Bon appetit.

Another new neighbour

I saw the hole behind this starling when I was watching the other day and thought at the time I hadn't noticed it before. Then the next time I was watching a face appeared.

And look who was inside.

I reckon he must have started excavating the hole last weekend while I was away and got far enough to disappear inside before I noticed.  It looks as though he (or perhaps another bird) made a start lower down the tree and then gave up.

When I watched the next morning he was hard at work.  You can see the tip of his tail in this view from my front door.

Once he has loosened the wood he has to get rid of all the chips so he throws them out of the entrance.

To carry on working he has to make a slightly precarious and rather inelegant about turn

before climbing back in again.

His tree is right next to the starling's tree (2m away) and is less than 20m from my front door but he doesn't seem to mind my comings and goings.

So far I have seen only the male woodpecker in or near the hole although I have seen him with a female on the feeders outside the kitchen window.  It is interesting that he stays in the hole overnight, whereas birds building in nest boxes don't roost overnight until egg-laying begins.  I think this is perhaps to prevent the hole being taken over by another bird as he is certainly having to defend it vigorously from starlings in the daytime.  He seems to tolerate the starlings in the next tree but isn't keen on any others coming close.

What with the tree sparrows, the starlings and now the woodpecker I'm now wary of going outside in case I disturb them.  Oh, and the other good news is that the starling has attracted a mate - that's her above the woodpecker and he is to the right.  I think you can expect more woodpecker posts in coming days.

Shorties

I read on Peter Fletcher's blog that these short-eared owls have been at Prestwick Carr all winter but they have only started flying in daylight recently.  I was pleased to see them as I guess they will be leaving for their breeding grounds soon.

My new neighbour

Meet my new neighbour.  This hole has been in a dead sycamore opposite my front door for several years and has always been home to a pair of starlings (apart from last year when it was used by great tits).  This male starling has laid claim to it and has been carrying out a few renovations in the past couple of weeks.  I expect it was a bit like a student flat inside when he moved in so the first job was to get rid of all the rubbish.

Then he hopped onto a nearby branch to keep an eye on me

before bursting into song.

He sings from several nearby branches,

He also flutters his wings in time with the music.

Sometimes he sits in the hole and sings.

You can tell he's male because of his beak colour.  In the winter it was black but now is bright yellow with a blue base (the female's is pink).  I read that male starlings decorate their nests with flowers and herbs (especially yarrow) to improve the chance of attracting a mate.  If I see him doing that I'll try to get a photo.  I'll also let you know if he strikes lucky.