After many years of tailoring my garden for wildlife, and spending a fortune on bird food to lure in something special, I nearly missed a very brief visit from a 1st summer/2nd calendar year Rose-coloured Starling. I'd gone into my kitchen to put on the kettle, and it appeared on the back wall with a few Common Starlings. A quick grab of my camera and I took a few photos through the double-glazing, and it promptly flew off, never to be seen again. I followed up with two searches in the surrounding area with no success. Maybe that was for the good as Olive's first words when I showed her the photos were "I'm not having birders tramping around the garden". I would have invited people in, how could I not when I hoped they'd do the same for me.
I've added in some Swift photos, but just couldn't get the settings right, or the camera was set up for insects when the Swifts flew by. The Swifts as they did last year showed an interest in a hole in the cement at the peak of my gable wall, and I thought, could they have nested there and I didn't know. Over a few days sitting watching from a less than ideal viewpoint, I did see Swift like silhouettes appear to fly into the hole? I'll wait until they've migrated and search my loft for evidence, and next year point a trail camera at the possible nest. I should also say, the window sill directly below the hole is covered in birds droppings...........
Rose-coloured Starling
Swift
Juvenile Magpie nearby
My Pigeon proof feeder - almost
One of my two Tree Sparrow juveniles
This what I do when watching Olive doing her favourite gardening job, dead heading flowers
These two I've called Finn and Robyn (grandchildren)
