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“Feed me!”
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Set foot outside these days and your eardrums will be assaulted by the chatter of newly-fledged starlings that fill the trees and populate the grass.
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“Have a nice berry, dear. “
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Suddenly we can’t keep up with the demand for suet.
While doves merely look reproachful when photographed, starlings take to the air at first sight of the camera, so I have to be sneaky.
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Reflections on the window are a help and a hindrance, but you get the idea.
Here, the birds were scooping up suet that I began crumbling for the benefit of birds with small beaks.
But it’s a matter of who gets here first.
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“He’s throwing a tantrum!”
I think starling children abuse their parents.
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“Would this bit be to your taste, child?”
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“Maybe”.
“If you squash and shape it a bit.”
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“Here you are, then.”
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“How’s that?”
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“Next time, I want it more squashed!”
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No doubt about it, starling babies are brats.
But so entertaining.
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The seed trays are always busy these days.
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It’s quite a competition.
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The starling and the squirrel abandoned the field, leaving the chipmunk and dove to fight it out.
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“Shoo! Get out of here!”
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It wasn’t clear who scared who.
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But they were soon back.
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Before long, the chipmunk had the tray to itself.
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“Perhaps we should gang up?”
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At lunchtime today another visitor turned up but it was gone before I could get the camera.
We’ve had bears come by at night occasionally, but we never expected to see one in daylight and while we are always delighted to see any animal, it is concerning to see one so near farms where it is likely to get into trouble.
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“Hear ye, hear ye!”
Some captions are obvious.
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“Watch this space for a different sort of sighting soon.”
Bears! I would be excited to see one, but also a little concerned. The Starlings have been absent so far this year, which is just as well as they tend to clear all the food in a matter of moments. I have just been watching 6 Wood Pigeons wandering around eating scraps off the lawn, followed by tiny sparrows clearing up the pieces too small for the big birds to bother with.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the wonderful photos from you very busy restaurant! The chap who likes eating carrot stole my heart! I eat carrots every day with other vegetables but he is a star!
Watching nature is not only a great entertainment, but healing too!
Joanna
We are the same with starlings and their little brats, an unruly bunch always! I am replenishing the 3 fat ball feeders at least twice a day and have just ordered another pack of 300!
Starling mums must have a lot of patience – I think she should send the kids to the naughty corner for some time out 😉. My computer is next to a large window where I have a view of the garden … and I can watch the birds for hours. It’s wonderful that you can see such a variety of wildlife from your home.