In the Garden

Male & Female are very similar, the male being very slightly brighter. Territorial, and will fight off other pairs if they come into their patch. Dig the garden, and they will be there to come in close and take the worms.

Male & Female are very similar, with the male having slightly more red behind the eye. Often to be seen up in the treetops of Shatton singing out to his mate. This was taken in Spring 2024, before the leaves came out. 

Look at this for a pose, The female Blackcap on her guard, showing off her smart brown head. Different to the male in the same way as the Goosander where the female is brown headed and the male black headed.

And this is the black headed Blackcap, thus the name, although the female has a brown cap and greyish tones beneath and across the chest. Not rare in Shatton, and not too difficult to spot close by the River Noe.

Male & Female - have the same appearance, and that banded like stripe across the eyes which can vary in thickness, and gives them the reputation for being little bandits, as we like to call them. Great little birds.

Not quite so common, but still easy to find in most gardens. Just missing out from the top colouring spot of the Goldfinch, . The male and female very different, with the male being more brightly coloured.

Male and female have similar appearance, but these are one of the hardest to photograph, as they flit quickly from branch to branch. You hear their twittering, but snapping them is no easy task.

The male has slightly wider chest stripe than the female, otherwise they are difficult to tell apart. Striking and bold colouring like a child's colouring book. Larger than the rest of the Titmouse family.

The male is brighter in colour and has no brown line round the eyes. This one taken in 2023, literally taking insects into the nest in our garden. They have bred well in recent years, although the Magpie is a danger.  

The lovely sparrow, with far too few followers. Nesting well in our hawthorn hedgerow. Numbers in one hedge in excess of 20 in recent years. What a lot of chattering they do, especially when the sun is out.

I really am not to sure what this one has in  its beak, perhaps a big seed, but I don't think so. Will have to get back to the original image and see what I can see. Still much to learn after all these years.

The Wren has also been very successful in breeding and likes the banks of the river. Some good shots of this little chick and his brother or sister too. Waiting on the parents to bring them some more food.

The Treecreeper is an amazing bird that forages up and down trees. Well camouflaged, with only the white underbelly helping you to spot the, Appearing and disappearing as they spiralling round the trunk.

The Long-tailed Tit you are unlikely to see alone, as they travel in what are often called 'family parties', or troop, or little flock. It's great to see these little birds flitting around the branches and cluttering feeders. 

The Dunnock is a pleasant surprise. Looks a bit like a Sparrow at first sight, but slightly smaller, and with a delightful song. They are plentiful and can be found in most gardens across the UK.

The Magpie does not have a good reputation, and can be destructive as with 2024, destroying the beginnings of the nesting season for a pair of our Nuthatches!

They are however, striking in stark colours, and looks.

If you have quite a few conifer trees, then you are likely to come across the Coal Tit. Smaller than the Great Tit, this little chap can be found all over the UK and is also a regular garden visitor where there is woodland close by.

Before 2000 these were great in number, but have fallen away in their numbers, so good to hear and see in the tops of conifers in Shatton, Mid-April 2024. Not a great singer, but good to know they are still with us.