Garden birds

The breeding season is slowly drawing to a close here on the south coast of Finland. After the unusually cold weather in early June, which killed a lot of songbird nestlings, we have experienced some warm and dry weather for two weeks now.  Many of the Great and Blue Tits, which lost their young during the cold spell, are feeding their replacement broods now, while Pied Flycatchers, which were still incubating during the cold, survived it better and have now fledged their young. During the last days I have been following the doings of the birds in my garden, which is a nice break from all that headless running in the woods of late May.

Female Pied Flycatcher feeding an almost fledged young in the garden. In fact, while I was watching this nest all 5 young left within 90 minutes in the middle of the day. When leaving they are fully fledged, and one of them flew 15 metres and landed quite successfully high up in a tree.

Female Pied Flycatcher feeding an almost fledged young in the garden. In fact, while I was watching this nest all 5 young left within 90 minutes in the middle of the day. When leaving they are fully fledged, and one of them flew 15 metres and landed quite successfully high up in a tree.

Twin occupancy, by Common Swift and Fieldfare. After losing their first broods to Hooded Crows two pairs of Fieldfares settled in the garden, maybe looking for improved security? One pair built their nest on top of an occupied swift box, the other 1,5 m up in a small tree just outside the house. The co-existence works fine, after i trimmed some of the long grasses hanging down in front of the nest hole.

Twin occupancy, by Common Swift and Fieldfare. After losing their first broods to Hooded Crows two pairs of Fieldfares settled in the garden, maybe looking for improved security? One pair built their nest on top of an occupied swift box, the other 1,5 m up in a small tree just outside the house. The co-existence works fine, after I trimmed some of the long grasses hanging down in front of the nest hole.

Wrynecks are breeding successfully again! In the past, like 10-20 years ago we had a breeding pair every year in one of the nest-boxes in the garden. Then the visits became more and more irregular with no breeders at all. The same trend was noted all over S Finland. But know, for the last couple of years the numbers seem to be doing better again. These birds should fledge their young any day now.

Wrynecks are breeding successfully again! In the past, like 10-20 years ago we had a breeding pair every year in one of the nest-boxes in the garden. Then the visits became more and more irregular with no breeders at all. The same trend was noted all over S Finland. But now, for the last couple of years the numbers seem to be doing better again. These birds should fledge their young any day now.

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Published:
7.2.09 / 8am
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