Birdwatching in the garden

I was talking to my mum about it earlier, we used to have flocks of starlings visiting the garden but it's now a rarity for me to see any at all in the garden. I had a lone one visit yesterday and it was such a surprise to see it.

There's not a lot of pigeons here anymore I've noticed.

It's strange how over time some birds disappear and new regulars occur.

Does it?! I must watch, I hadn't realised. I know there's a push for #30dayswild from the Wildlife Trusts for June, I posted about it a few days ago.

They're one of the big success stories for conservation in the UK. They were down to a really small population in the mid-60's in Wales having become extinct in England and Scotland, but through conservation and increased legislation on pesticides they slowly started to increase before the millennium, then had a population boom after. They kind of one of my special interests.

I think they have had a bit of conservation success locally here because I see loads of Red kites now compared to a decade ago.

Here in the countryside I see a lot of birds of prey.

Incredible to watch them suddenly dive for their prey, usually a rabbit. Poor rabbits though.

I think birds look very graceful and almost prehistoric in a way.

I have just discovered Spring watch starts tonight. I recall visiting the reserve as a child and seeing a Dartford Warbler. 

I prefer the sound of the collared dove too. They are also smaller and I think more attractive. 

Yes, red kites are amazing. So agile. We get buzzards and sparrowhawks round here too. Seeing birds really makes me happy. 

Now I'm very jealous, red kites are a favourite of mine. There's a few around here but not quite where we live, we get buzzards and sparrowhawks instead.

Sometimes get offal from a Supermarket when it’s near closing time, liver is a favourite, couldn’t eat it myself. I throw it onto the back garden, often 6 Red Kites will dive bomb and clear it in minutes. The speed is amazing.

Wow! I see them sometimes when I'm kayaking as a flash of blue but never as good as that.

I saw a kingfisher from my window, but only once.

So pretty I love the chance to see birds I wouldn't normally get to see so I sort of accept aviaries and zoos.

We used to buy loads of bird food but we had to stop as all the bird food was attracting rats into our garden. Plenty of neighbours feed the birds so we at least know the birds are not going hungry because we stopped feeding them. We have a bird Bath that they use a lot, and thanks to our fencing the cats can’t get into our garden so it’s really safe for birds. Sometimes we see sparrowhawks and buzzards at the back of our house too as it’s open fields. I love hearing the dawn chorus at this time of year. Worth waking up early for!

They are so beautiful - thanks for sharing these photos! Such lovely colours!

Not from my garden, but from today's visit to a park in Wakefield, photos not clear because they were taken thru a metal mesh in an Avery.

Me too. I love having them in the garden. I'm trying to convince my husband that it makes sense to bulk buy the bird food and he seemed a bit clueless about the different types of food to attract different birds, and got that glazed look when I started explaining.

I’m pretty obsessed with owls to be honest! But I love all birds. Recently we went to RSPB Minsmere and saw Marsh Harriers, they were so beautiful to watch. But I love little garden birds too, I love Robins, they’re so curious and friendly around humans.  Birdwatching makes me really happy.

Wow, that's wonderful! I've heard owls near us only a couple of times but haven't seen any.