This week I've forgiven the people who put a flowering cherry in the back garden rather than planting something edible.
My header was taken last week before the temperature rose and all the flowers opened, then this week in the sun the flowers have all opened and standing underneath it was completely covered with buzzing bees large and small.
But what's this I see hopping about from the Flowering Cherry tree to bird feeder?
First thought- Sparrow, the wings were sparrow coloured but then it turned round and had a much blacker head.
Moving very slowly I reached for the camera and zoomed in..................
So not a House Sparrow (picture below from internet) or a rarer Tree Sparrow
I managed to get the 2 photos and it stayed a while and then I searched through the bird book but the only thing sort-of similar was a Reed Bunting, so looked on line and found this picture below on The Wildlife Trust website of a Reed Bunting.
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| Reed Bunting photo from Wildlife Trust website |
Are Reed Buntings seen on bird feeders in village gardens? The book says yes in winter they can be.
It looks like it from what I have just looked up. How sweet.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, and coincidentally, we have had a pair of reed bunting in our Cornish garden over the last couple of weeks. We had never seen them, and like you our first thought was sparrow. The more we looked we realised that we were wrong. A reach for the books, and internet and we decided reed bunting. Since then we've seen Mrs Reed Bunting, and there's no way that she could be mistaken for a sparrow.
ReplyDeleteIt's so lovely to watch the birds, and to see the occasional new visitor. I feel so sorry for people who have no time for, or interest in nature.
How absolutely fantastic. xx
ReplyDeleteIt does look like a reed bunting, I love the early blooms as well, the bees need every bit of help there is.
ReplyDeletePerfectly good spot, yes, a lovely male reed bunting!
ReplyDeleteReed buntings AND daffodils - oh what a beautiful morning 🎶🎶
ReplyDeleteI love to see the birds although my eyesight is not good but my D, came on Tuesday and I knew I had birds going in and out of the bird box but she said they were Blue tits so hopefully they might nest. It's another nice morning I need to paint several steps in the garden path this morning before I fall on them.
ReplyDeleteYour headed photo is lovely, I have a damson tree and it's nice when it's flowering
Hazel
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It certainly looks like a reed bunting. I love seeing different birds visiting and love to know the names of different birds.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely when we have birds we don't normally see in our garden? We're waiting for the house martins to arrive, it'll probably be another couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteOh wow - what a lucky spot! Never seen one (knowingly) in the wild. I cannot understand anyone not having an enquiring mind and wanting to know what things are - sign of a dull intellect.
ReplyDeleteWe have our Siskins and Greenfinches back, after wintering away. They bring such pleasure.
Reed Buntings! That's what I had in my garden last week. I'm also in Cornwall (near Liskeard) and I was watching a pair of bluetits, a male Robin and a male Blackbird scrabbling in the dead leaves and compost under the Dogwoods in my front garden, when this black-headed bird joined them. Initially, I thought it was a Sparrow, but no - looked it up and found that a Reed Bunting was the only one fitting that description, but doubted it was that. Now, having read more, I reckon it was. Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd that Cherry tree is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely not asparrow of any kind Sue. I have only once seen a Reed Bunting and it was where you would expect to find it - in reed beds. But you are fairly near those I would guess. Whatever it is it is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteYour cherry tree is beautiful and all the bees drawn to the flowers will be great for your garden. You got a great shot of the Reed Bunting visiting the feeder. You might have a pair.
ReplyDeleteYou know...I believe I may have also had some of these visiting our garden, and wrongly thinking they were sparrows...I shall have to keep a now well trained eye out! x
ReplyDeleteSince moving here to New Hampshire I've had some new bird sightings and like you can't imagine not wanting to find out what they are. My daughter managed to capture a photo of her oldest daughter (8 yr) feeding a chickadee from her hand. What a sight.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a Reed bunting as I used to get them in my town garden. We did live near a river. Well done on your photo.
ReplyDeleteLovely bird sightings, Sue -- and those trees are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill to see something so special. I, too, cannot understand why some folk are not interested in the natural world around us.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome to have birds of mystery perched in your garden. I love cherry blossom. It always makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to name the critters and plants makes having a back yard endlessly fasinating! Don't understand people not wanting to know!
ReplyDeleteI'm hopeless at identifying birds, but it does look like the picture of the Reed Bunting doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I love bird watching. On warmer days I sit on my back porch and watch them coming to visit. They make me smile.
ReplyDeleteMy weekly fynbos ramble includes a few birders, so our flower list has a bird list too. (Must have names for me)
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