Lisa Coleman’s Bird Weekly challenge this week is all about ducks and geese.
The Canada geese were photographed at Conwy nature reserve
as was the Shelduck. There are large numbers at the reserve between January and May, then they relocate further along the valley to nest.
I hadn’t seen eider ducks before but on a visit to Amble in Northumberland there were lots of them in the harbour. The first is the male, the second the female. They are seaducks, nesting around the northern English and Scottish coasts.
This little duck family were enjoying life on the river Avon
Week 3 of Lisa Coleman’s bird weekly challenge is waders ~ any bird that forages for insects, molluscs and crustaceans in the shallows of practically any body of water.
Oyster catchers are quite common on the beaches and estuaries.
The redshank and lapwing were photographed at the RSPB nature reserve at Conwy
The heron had his eye on something but didn’t go for it, not while I was watching anyway.
The little egrets were also photographed at Conwy nature reserve.
There are lots of goldfinches about this year and they seem to like spending time at the very top of the conifer tree in the garden of a house at the back of ours.
Am I getting the what are you doing look…
Can you just make out the little insect that might be meeting its end very soon
What is it about our national bird, the robin, that captures the imagination? It has a friendly human name, although the original name was just redbreast or Ruddock. It’s become a symbol of Christmasand we love to see them in the garden.
The robin has many connections to folklore and has ecclesiastical links dating back to the 6th century AD. One explanation for the red breast originated with the idea that a bird tried to pull thorns out of the crown of thorns during the Passion of Christ.In reality it’s a warning…stay out of my territory.
A surprising fact (at least to me) is that the association with Christmas began with Victorian postmen who were known as Robin Redbreasts because their uniform included red waistcoats, and are thought to be the inspiration for robins appearing on Christmas cards.
Robins are likely to stay around the nesting area where they hatched. I hope that’s true as there are some of the next generation in the garden.
