the garden grows some talons

I was late for work this morning distracted by a new garden tick which was self-evident from the explosion of woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) audible from within the house, the depression in the long grass, shattered oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and lost feathers that lay strewn about.

A ♀ sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) made good of several pounds of bird seed that has been fed to the local woopis over the last couple of months; the gory mess being consumed on a shed roof several gardens down. It was all very exciting.

The "long tom" was not readily available, so the compact on full zoom was responsible for the poor record shot. I am getting good at poor record shots maybe it's about time I stepped up my skills?

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