Casual birdwatching notes

[regshoe]

1) The year really seems to have turned a corner this week. It's still cold and still fairly wet and miserable, but you step out of the door first thing in the morning and it just feels ineffably spring-like. I think it's the birds, which are certainly starting to warm up for the dawn chorus. A robin burst into song just beside my head while I was walking along this morning, and the song thrush that always sits and sings from the top of a particular tree was in especially fine voice.

2) I have seen one or more herons flying overhead at some point on my walks almost every day this week. Whenever I see a heron these days I have to stop and appreciate it, so this has been very amusing. It's not as though they're particularly rare birds, but I don't usually see them this often. I'm taking it as a good omen.

I really must get out and do some proper birdwatching sometime soon. Time to look through the very helpful booklet of nature reserves from the local Wildlife Trust and search for places that are good for springtime birds...

Comments

[theseatheseatheopensea]

Yay birdwatching! Song thrushes are so cute, I love them! Here, we have red-bellied ones that are really lovely! And herons! <3 To be honest, I love every bird out there, I'm even happy when I see pigeons and sparrows ;) I hope the weather gets nicer so you can watch all the birds!

[regshoe]

*looks up red-bellied song thrush* Ahh, what a cute bird!

To be honest, I love every bird out there, I'm even happy when I see pigeons and sparrows ;)

I completely agree—those common, everyday birds can be just as interesting and enjoyable to watch as rarities, in their way.

[theseatheseatheopensea]

They are adorable, aren't they? :D

And yes, everyday birds have their own special charm! My cat agrees, she loves to watch the pigeons, haha ;)

At my job, we used to see a magpie everyday, it used to knock on the windows with its beak to demand food. Birds are the best! <3

[regshoe]

Aww, it must have been a treat seeing that magpie—what a clever bird! Corvids are some of my favourite birds (I mean, of course they are, but for themselves as well as for the JSMN associations :P)—they have such personality. And there's nothing like watching a flock of rooks in the sky on a windy day.

[theseatheseatheopensea]

Yes, magpies are so clever! This one was also a real troll. Once it knocked on my office's window, got food, then took a shit on the window pane and left immediately, haha. Sadly, we haven't seen it for a while. We do feed the pigeons that show up, though.

Haha, and yes, corvids also make me think of JS&MN! (although most black birds do, haha)

[regshoe]

Magpies certainly are trolls, haha :D And it's nice of you to feed the pigeons.

That bird has some very nice iridescence!

[luzula]

I've started to hear some birds singing, as well! A wren, and the great tits of course, and there was a blackbird the other day.

I don't see herons often, but when I did so a month or so ago, I too appreciated it. : )

[regshoe]

Oh, lovely! Wrens are one of my favourite songbirds—so tiny and so loud. Hearing them singing from close up is always a treat. :D