Bedford lists

[Hazelnuts]

In my garden, I have the following

Robin
Wren
Blackbirds x 10
Song Thrush (now and again)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (quite often)
Collared doves
Wood Pigeons x 8
Blue tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Sparrows x 10
Dunnocks
Starlings x 30

and any others that come to mind.....

[Jandy]

My list, just seen today:

Starlings (crowd)
House Sparrow
Feral Pigeons (a lot!)
Blackbirds (2 pairs at least)
Robin
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Greenfinches (several)
Chaffinch (female)
Goldfinches (usual flock)
Woodpigeons (2)
and last but not least our juvi Moorhen (still with us!)

Our regulars (not seen today) include Collared Dove, Great Tits, Crow and Magpies.

Seen yesterday in local park:

Redwing
Pied Wagtail
Ring-necked Parakeets (3)

[Hazelnuts]

Much as the list on my first post, but with an additional Great spotted Woodpecker today. He only visits once in a while.

A Magpie came in for a short visit but I am not to keen on such large birds eating everything that the smaller birds rely on so much. Magpies can cope well as all the Crow family can.

I remember having Jackdaws, and they tended to come down in gangs (as Crows and Seagulls do) and eat everything in one sitting.

We have a lot more Male and Female Chaffinches around now and they are looking their best at the moment. The Male chaffinches are spectacular, and in perfect plumage.

The Pied Wagtails flew overhead in the back garden. I wish they would come down for a visit. I will keep hoping.

[Hazelnuts]

It appears that we have

Long Tail tits
Male Blackcap
Wren

More to add to our list.

Male blackcap was seem yesterday. The 4 Longs Tail Tits we have are around eating from our scone, and Fat ball feeders. I think wee will have them as regular visitors now.
OH saw them from our scope and they where so different to see. They like to sticlk together in their little group.

The same applies to the Male Blackcap, he ate his white berries and he was happy at that.

Saw a Heron pass overhead mobbed by Crows, and I hope that the Wren who was around before the snow appeared is alright and makes another appearance.

Our Thrush has a short stint eating the food scattered under the bushes. The blackbirds chased him off, but he is feisty enough to hold his own.

[Hazelnuts]

Some pictures and a walk around our local patch from a couple of days ago. Took out some Swan food, and fed the wildfowl in Bedford Park.

We had 2 adult Mute Swans, and their 4 cygnets, Moorhens, Coots, Mallards, Black Headed and Med Gulls (by the dozen), and to top it all a Crow.

The Swan Cygnets did not know what to make of the Swan food, but the adults loved it. So much healthier than cakes/Bread which are fed to them. It keeps the birds from developing Angel Wing.

Hopefully we will go to Sandy to the RSPB Headquarters for a walk today. Weather not as nice as yesterday but it is not raining at least.

Picture 1 - Mute Cygnet
Picture 2 - Adult Mute
Picture 3 - That hungry look
Picture 4 - 4 Cygnets and one adult
Picture 5 - Curious Crow

[Jandy]

Hi, Hazelnuts! Love your swan pictures. What is Angel Wing, some sort of disease? I haven't heard of it before. And does it affect swans only? (I ask this because I think their wings are not unlike angels' wings to start with!)

[Hazelnuts]

Hi, Hazelnuts! Love your swan pictures. What is Angel Wing, some sort of disease? I haven't heard of it before. And does it affect swans only? (I ask this because I think their wings are not unlike angels' wings to start with!)

Hi Jandy

Thank you for your reply.

The Swans are so easy to photograph as you can get really close to them. So our (current) digital camera is ideal for pictures at their best. Swans like their food anyday.

Angel wing is a condition that Wildfowl get when they eat to many sugar/wheat/carbs like as what there are in Bread and Cakes.

The birds diet does not rely on this source of food so the bird gets deformed wings which jut out sideways, and look horrendous. So the moral of the story is to feed Swans proper Swan food or foodstuffs that are better for them health wise.

Once a bird developes this condition they can never fly again so it is up to us humans to rethink what we feed our Wildfowl. Feeding the wrong foodstuffs is killing them with kindness. :(

I have seen a Muscovy duck at a local farm in Essex with this condition. Mascovey's are a lot more domesticated ducks and are not really considered wild at all. Canadian Geese on the other hand are wild. So angel wing affects all wildfowl.

I have posted pictures of a Canadian goose who is a resident goose in Bedford. I took this picture last September and never seen him since. So you can see from the picture how awful his wings look. I feel if a bird gets this condition they are more prone not to be able to defend themselves from other animals such as foxes, or dogs.

It is not fair on the bird at all and is cruel IMHO. The pictures say it all.

[Jandy]

That is very sad, Kathy. Can the condition not be treated at all?

PS. I notice that CJ does proper duck and swan food, but, alas, I suppose that people will never stop chucking bread into the water for them.

[Hazelnuts]

That is very sad, Kathy. Can the condition not be treated at all?

PS. I notice that CJ does proper duck and swan food, but, alas, I suppose that people will never stop chucking bread into the water for them.

hi Jandy

It is very sad indeed Jandy. I have asked the experts at the RSPCA, and they say there is no cure for Angel Wing at the moment.
They said they will not take action to protect the bird as it gets feed anyway, and will not starve.
I thought the issues with unleashed dogs would be the issue over the food that they eat! :eek:

We bought Swan food a while ago, and take a bag out when we visit the wildfowl to feed them. Have not bought duck food yet, but will do that too.

Yes, my advise is to feed them the food that is good for them, and gives them the nutrients that they should have. Feeding them human foodstuffs is not a good thing at all

There are signposts in Bedford Park, and the river area, stating that bread is bad for them, but people take no notice of them at all, and carry on doing their bread and carb thing.

Just needs a lot more advertising and press coverage to re-educate people to feed them the right diet. These birds are being treated like people that is the whole problem and it should be stopped! :(

[Hazelnuts]

Goldfinches x4
Greenfinches x4
Chaffinches x10
Stock Dove x1
Collared dove x2
Blue Tits x4
Great Tits x4
Coal Tit x2
Woodpigeon x10
Blackbirds x10
Robin x2
Sparrows x4
Dunnock x 2
Starlings x6
Magpie x1
Long Tailed Tits x4

A very healthy list too, and the birds jsut keep on coming as they do.

[Hazelnuts]

Hi there

Have to say with hand on heart - I am out more and more these day. I have become involved with an avid group of bird watchers. Myself and my OH are learning so much as the moment and our knowledge is getting better and better by the day. :)

So yes, the garden birds are there but nothing beats a day out birding and finding the species through their song or otherwise. It is a fantastic experience. :)

Just to get involved with likeminded people away from the internet goes without saying. At least you will see the people face to face, and see them for who they are. That is the best way forward for any bird lover anyday. :):)

Yessssss, as I jump up and down, just the best experience !!!!

[Hazelnuts]

Hi there

We decided to go for another walk around Bedford today and see what was going on at our local parkand riverside. Lots of trees are in blossom at the moment, and it makes the place look a lot more spring/summer like.

The weather was beautiful today so there was nothing to complain about in that department. Just as we set off a blue butterfly flew past. By the colour I am sure it was a Common Blue.

We continued through our little park near to us and made our way to Bedford Park.

As we where walking a Peacock Butterfly decided to closby to where we where walking. I tried to get close to it but it flew off as they do

The Park was a hive of activity Mute Swans, Canadian Geese, Mallards, Coots, and Moorhens where thriving. At one stage there was a flurry of activity as two Mute Swans chased each other. I would think it is the parents chasing of their last years young from their patch. All the flying, flapping of wings, and splashing about was a spectacle to many people.

The Moorhen and the Coot looked all my themselves but they must have partners somewhere. all the birds where unphased by our presence there. They are always on the search for food so it is easy to get really close to them so that is a bonus for a picture or two.

I could hear a Song Thrush singing in the tree nearby, and many tinkling tunes from a group of Goldfinches. Lots of twittering from Blue Tits and Great Tits.
The sun had brought many people out and the park was very busy.
There where many White Butterflies fluttering glistening in the sun, and never stayed still while we walked along, They where no doubt searching out their food source.

We managed to do our shopping and made our way along the side of the Great River Ouse. Lots of Canadian Geese where sleeping with their heads over their backs. A couple of vocal white Farmyard Geese waddled up to us and went about their business. A male and female Mallard ducks floowed us along the route. We threw in some Swan food and the Mute Swans loved it. We could see there where a few of last years cygnets still in the group.

The cobs where showing their leadship by fluffing up their feathers so there was a pecking order going on between the Male Swans. Some chasing around was done here and there. Nothing to unpleasant though. I could see that a couple of Mute Swans are ringed and I took a note of the ring numbers for necessary monitor work being on the species.

Then we saw a Female Mallard with 6 tiny ducklings. They where just the sweetest little things. The Female duck was determined to keep them together and gently pushed them toward her to keep all 6 together. She looked proud of her clutch of ducklings.

We decied to get the bus home, and that was our 3 hour walk about, with shopping complete. At our front door another Common Blue butterfly flies past us. We wondered if it was the same one from earlier in the day.

So another day doing our shopping along with some Wildlife watching for us.

Picture 1 - Female Mallard having a doze
Picture 2 - Male and Female Mallard enjoying the sun.
Picture 3 - Female Mallard with 6 chicks
Picture 4 - Mute Swan
Picture 5 - Mute Swan

[Hazelnuts]

more pictures.......

Picture 6 - Canadian Geese enjoying the sun
Picture 7 - Moorhen
Picture 8 - Mute Swans