Tag: birds

February 7th – Been studying magpies a lot of late. These black and white bad boys of the corvid family get a terrible press but the are resourceful, clever birds who, like all wildlife, are just doing what they can to get by.

This fellow was watching me at Telford during my lunch break as I made some adjustments to the bike. He came very close, and seemed interested in the light shining from the wheels as I span them.

I don’t know, maybe he has an opinion on gear ratios and handlebar rake.

Whatever, he was bold and curious so I recorded him for posterity.

January 14th – We’ve had some foreign visitors in Brownhills. They’ve come before, in other winters when it’s been cold on the continent, and they’re here again. It’s good to seem these somewhat rare, colourful fellows.

Waxwings have come to strip the trees by Silver Court of berries before – working their way west from Eastern Europe, when their traditional feeding grounds aren’t bountiful they venture further afield. 

I don’t know if they remember Brownhills somehow, or it’s just chance, but the businesses in Brownhills are getting added trade from twitchers and it’s giving the town something to talk about.

I just adore these birds. Such pretty things.

January 9th – Later in the day, back in the Black Country, I had to be in Walsall for an appointment, and rode up the canal from Darlaston. It had been raining, and everything was quiet, but near Bentley Bridge by the old Anson Branch, I couldn’t resist crossing the canal bridge to give this cheeky beggar some of my pocket corn stash. One of the 2016 cygnets, he (or she, I can’t tell) is maturing well and in fine fettle.

I note the aggressive begging technique is coming along well too…

January 3rd – Still rough this morning, I took a leisurely cruise on some errands, and was surprised to note on the canal near Pier Street this couple – Goosanders. I know they’re fairly common on the local lakes like Chasewater and Ryders Mere, but I can’t recall seeing them on the canal before.

Fish eaters, they must be a sign – like the kingfishers and herons – of good water quality and a good fish population.

They were fast moving, so apologies for the poor pic.

January 2nd – The weather was sunny and bright, but cold; the paperwork wasn’t finished and I was still unwell, but that feeding station at Middleton beckoned, so I went for it with a good pal.

We weren’t disappointed – these photos show a variety of great birds that constantly zip in and out, and also a bit of a rarity: a water rail. Not uncommon birds in themselves, but infrequently witnessed as they’re particularly secretive. 

A billet moorhen-ish, slate grey/blue, with a long red beak it was picking in the mud under the feeders. That’s quite a spot, so it made me feel blessed to be out.

Not all photos mine, but taken in the same visit. If you haven’t been to Middleton Hall and RSPB Middleton, get over there – it’s great.

December 19th – It may be deepest winter, but along the cycleways and towpaths there are still tenacious hips, haws and berries clinging on to sparse shrubs and trees providing food for songbirds, who seem to be devouring them now with a passion not shown in many a year.

Grandad used to say that if there was a profusion of fruit, it meant a bad winter was in store. I’m not sure about that, but the birds do seem to be stocking up for something this year.

I wonder what they know we don’t?

November 13th – I slid out in the afternoon with the Remembrance air of sadness on my shoulders, and headed for restorative coffee and cake up at Fradley Junction. In the courtyard f the cafe there, song birds tamed and emboldened by a life of cheekily sneaking titbits and crumbs from customer’s tables flit busily among the leaves, hunting for morsels. 

Also present for the the autumn bug cloud was this cheeky little pied wagtail. 

He made for lovely, cheering entertainment as I relaxed.

October 18th – Stripes here is cross because on the way to work, I disturbed his hunting activities, and scared off the blackbird he was painstakingly stalking in Pleck.

Bless him, he was so very cross with me. But oh, hasn’t he got a wonderful ‘tache!

A lovely cat. But I’m glad the blackbird was spared for another day, at least.

September 16th – On the way through Wednesfield, I met their swan family; mum, dad and six cygnets in rude heath. The young are as big as their parents and look well developed. 

Bickering and playfully pecking each other, they were clearly enjoying life and seemed like a happy, noisy family uint, clearly on a mission to the east, assisted by the wind.

A real delight.

September 9th – A ride into Birmingham mid-afternoon along the canal was enjoyable, but the wind a little harsh. Despite the dullness of the day there was plenty to see, but as usual in darkest industrial Birmingham, the wildlife stole the show: this time, herons.

I clearly caught the one in Smethwick napping; perching on one foot with everything tucked in, he watched me grumpily as I took his picture, whilst the one in Ladywood was far more active, but just as suspicious of the human on the bike.

I love to see the herons, almost unthinkable a few short years ago that they’d be in such urban environments.