The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 17⁰C, minimum 11⁰C. 18 - 36 km/h South/West winds. 80% chance of rain.
I have not used my bird blog for some time, and most people follow this one, so here are a few bird photos spotted in the garden over the past month. All were taken through glass from the lounge with my Nikon D3500 - TAMRON Megazoom - 18-400 mm, so not perfect shots.
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Épervier d'Europe.
It cleaned up so well after feeding that there were not enough feathers for ID, but looking closely at the photos, there are some brown feathers, I think. If so, this sadly might have been a Hawfinch. I hope I am wrong and it was only a dove.
Note the damaged left wing but there are new feathers growing,
Spotted the following day (3 of them), so if the sparrowhawk had one there are more around than I realised. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) Grosbec cassenoyaux.
As above.
Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) Verdier d'Europe. It had just had a bath, which I missed, but it had a bit of cleaning up to do 😊...
As above...
As above.
Another Hawfinch with what I believe to be a scruffy looking female, maybe she is raising young, I hope so.
Hawfinch and a Greenfinch.
Hawfinch is really pretty! How wonderful to have so many different kinds of birds in your yard.
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie, I wish I had the time to sit and just watch what does arrive, but no time sadly. We have lots of Goldfinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits plus sparrows as well. Have a good Sunday, Diane
DeleteHi Diane - what lovely photos ... and how fascinating to see these. Delighted to see a brief update - as I know you've been rather busy ... all the best this week - we had some rain overnight ... need a lot more, but at least we had some rain. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary, I love the birds of prey and they have to eat, but I wish they would stick to Doves which are numerous! N's back does not seem to be improving, so yes, busy is my second name at present. I still try to make sure I get a photo a day and I was just lucky to spot the sparrowhawk. We have had a bit of rain but the garden is quite dry! Take care ,Diane
DeleteI think you got some pretty fabulous shots. Living in the country you certainly have far more flowers and bird and insect life than I do in the heart of the city. I'm happy to enjoy it all through your lens. Enjoy your week and a very Happy Easter to you and Nigel. I hope he is feeling better day by day and week by week.
ReplyDeleteI have never really lived in a town so I think I would be lost for photos. I am glad you appreciate the photos I take though. N's recovery is much slower than we hoped but we will try to relax and enjoy Easter. Keep well Penny. Cheers Diane
DeleteGreat series of pictures with the Sparrowhawk, Diane. Its less than perfect wing obviously did nothing to impair its flight ability. Hawfinch is always noted as an elusive species, difficult to see, so to have them coming to your backyard is a rare privilege. The weekend is just about over, but enjoy what remains. Gros bisous - David
ReplyDeleteThanks David, I was so lucky to spot the sparrow hawk, and I only saw it as something hit the window which is rare with our transfers on them. We were having lunch and I got up to see if a bird needed help, but obviously it was the great escape as then I spotted the Sparrowhawk further out in the garden with what was I am sure a Hawfinch :-(( Joyeuses Pâques, bisous mon ami, Diane
DeleteStunning captures. Thank you so much for sharing, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, lots of luck attached to these photos 😉 Keep well and have a good week, Diane
DeleteGreat captures. The hawk is a beauty, fierce and stealthy looking!
ReplyDeleteThank you Marie, they are beautiful birds but I wish they would breakfast on doves instead of 'my' precious little birds. Have a good week, Diane
Deleteonce again great photos of nature in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane, it is surprising what goes on in our garden and most of the time I am too busy to watch. I must put the trail cam back out again. I hope you are both well, t'other Diane
DeleteHello Diane. I feel like we hibernated for months. Only now are we beginning to feel some warmth and looking forward to Greece in 3 weeks time. I think a Hawfinch would make a good sized meal for a Sparrowhawk but I hope it wasn't. The species is now so rare in the UK that I have not seen one for years. Enjoy the summer as we intend to do.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil so good to hear from you. It has been a long winter for us as we had to cancel our SA holiday because Nigel hurt his back. Looking at the feathers in close up under the Sparrowhawk I am pretty sure it was a Hawfinch :-(( Have a great time in Greece, not sure when we will ever get away now! Take care, Diane
DeleteBonjour Diane, Superbes ces photos d'Epervier d'Europe! Je n'en ai jamais vu par ici et uniquement de loin lors d'un voyage! Bravo pour l'observation. C'est une chance de vivre dans un endroit avec une faune si diversifiée. Belle semaine à vous!
ReplyDeleteBonjour Lucie, merci pour ton gentil commentaire. Si seulement j'avais plus de temps pour regarder ! J'ai eu de la chance, j'ai regardé par la fenêtre au bon moment ! Joyeuses Pâques ! À bientôt, Diane.
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