garden birding and elsewhere

A single ad. robin (Erithacus rubecula) in the garden this morning. The first of the autumn. ♂ and ♀ blackbird (Turdus merula) also present, although lacking bins at the time I could not confirm if this was the local breeding pair returning after several weeks absence or completely different birds?

On the work patch I was surprised to see a fledgling blackbird, standing stock still on the pavement with its back against a very high garden wall. Having passed it twice in half an hour in the same exposed situation - I broke all the rules and lifted the bird back up onto the high wall where it could receive some cover from over-hanging foliage.  It settled well and later I could hear it responding to an ad. bird calling from further up the street.

Fledged house sparrows and a brand new garden tick

Albeit poor record shots, a combination of both enthusiastic but rank amateur photography skills and a wet grey late afternoon. However, the cause of much excitement and poor photography on my part was the arrival of five recently fledged house sparrows (Passer domesticus) along with their parents in the back gardens.

Top picture shows 4 newly fledged + 1 ♀ ad, second picture 4 newly fledged house sparrow - the bright yellow gapes of the young visible.

A ♂ linnet (Carduelis cannabina) was a new garden tick, giving the briefest of views as it alighted on the fence before flying on and out of view.

woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) and collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) present as usual

fledged and visiting a garden near me !

This morning I was thrilled to see the local resident pair of blackbird (Turdus merula) attending to their two newly fledged young across the suite of back gardens. The ad. ♂ busy collecting food and passing it to the young birds.

Overhead a pair of swift (Apus apus) who arrived whilst I was Speyside "screeled" and cut the cold blue morning sky with their sharp silouhettes.