There's a family of these in our garden. They are Black Redstarts. I love watching them, their orange tail really flashes when they fly and they flick their tails and duck their heads almost as if to show their tails off. They seem to eat a lot of insects and are quite skilled at hovering. We're not sure whether they already have fledglings or whether the nest still has eggs or baby birds or even if they are just visiting an empty nest from time to time. Fortuitously the nest is on the supports for the roof over the stairs and front door and is quite rough and ready. We have a birdhouse but were too late to put it up this year, maybe they'll use it next year. I hope so but, if they don't, they'll probably use the same nest site so won't disappear. They have a lovely tuneful song unlike the cheep cheep of the numerous sparrows around and a tic tic call which is quite distinctive.
As well as these wee characters, there are the ubiquitous sparrows, loads of house martins and the occasional wagtail but it is in the air that the most impressive birds can be seen. Massive buzzards or possibly kites ride the thermals over the farmland and circle till they find their prey and then swoop down for the kill. I could, and do, spend hours watching them. I must invest in a decent pair of binoculars.
I'm sure there's loads more I haven't even spotted yet. It would be good to spend some time up on the hill just waiting and watching. No 3 is really making inroads into the wilderness there - he's cleared up to about halfway but there's still plenty of long grass to watch from.
As well as these wee characters, there are the ubiquitous sparrows, loads of house martins and the occasional wagtail but it is in the air that the most impressive birds can be seen. Massive buzzards or possibly kites ride the thermals over the farmland and circle till they find their prey and then swoop down for the kill. I could, and do, spend hours watching them. I must invest in a decent pair of binoculars.
I'm sure there's loads more I haven't even spotted yet. It would be good to spend some time up on the hill just waiting and watching. No 3 is really making inroads into the wilderness there - he's cleared up to about halfway but there's still plenty of long grass to watch from.
I can't even think about pretending I can take photographs of birds unless they are right in front of me so I'll probably be nicking more from the net as I identify what I'm looking at.