NUTHATCH
image from Wikipedia
In all my years of watching birds ( just as an interested nature-lover, not a fanatical twitcher ) I have never seen a huthatch .. until today. Yippee!
And where did I see this little charmer? Was I wandering in a quiet English woodland? Perhaps I was browsing the spectacular gardens of my local National Trust property? No – I was at a garden centre in a village nearby. This garden centre, which sells the normal array of plants, trees, seeds and expensive containers also has a bird feeding station and a handy coffee shop adjacent. I was the only person there and I spent a wonderful hour today watching all kinds of British birds including blue tits, coal tits, great tits, perky little robins and then, to make my day, a gorgeous nuthatch.
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I once saw a nuthatch trying to crack open a peanut against my PVC window frame. My most recent birding joy was seeing a yellow wagtail in the back alley behind the surgery amongst litter which had been scattered there. Little feathery purveyors of joy
You must stop waxing lyrical about wagtails or your ducks will get jealous. Are they Welsh speakers by the way?
Unfortunately not just a smattering of phrases and some Wenglish
Sounds like Kate has a lovely bird friendly garden, must try peanut butter although I think it would glue the ducks bills together !
This winter the nuthatch has become a permanent resident of our garden, as well as a family of tail tits. i know I’ve been spoiling them with peanutbutter and other treats, but I love watching them. Only when someone else drops by, who is gobsmacked by the fact that I’ve got a woodpecker in my garden, that I realise how used I’ve become to my feathery friends. I’ve taken loads pictures, but with my fairly ordinary camera I can really manage to do them justice (the same holds for mezzo’s, by the way).
Kate! how lovely to see you again!
I’m totally jealous of your garden residents and both Sarah and I are wondering how you feed peanutbutter to a bird
Whilst you are here could you please just glance over my Garanca page and let me know if there is anything in the schedule I have missed? Many thanks.
If you want to see how to feed peanutbutter to a bird, hurry over to :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34910159@N05/sets/72157632758431137/ and have a look at some other visitors to the garden as well.
Paradise for birds
As far as Garanca is concerned, I think you’ve covered all the bases. I was rather looking forward to her Didon when she had to cancel Elvira for Baden Baden concert of Don G in 2011. I’m afraid we’ll have to make due with her Carmen and Charlotte in Vienna (again). Saw DiDonato last sunday in Essen as a Drama Queen. My recording of the encore was rather crappy, but I managed to get some nice pictures and her autographed cd after the concert, though. It was well worth the trip. My next trip will be to London For DiDonato and Flores in April. I’m keeping my fingers crossed Garanca won’t cancel her Octavian in June, because I’ve got tickets for all 3 performances…
I’ll keep you posted and thanks for the birdpix
Thanks Kate. Any Garanca info or pics will go down well with the fans who visit here. Fingers crossed for you!