Wheatear

Finally there is a window of calm weather, it's good to get out with the camera. Everything has changed with the rain. Suddenly it's summer. 

A pair of Wheatears jump around on the anthills looking for insects in Bushy Park. The male looks like little highwayman in his black mask. The female is much lighter in colour. I have never seen them here before. They must be heading back to their summer feeding grounds in the North after a winter spent in Africa.

Wisteria

Wisteria flowers are coming out. Once they decide to start growing they change almost hourly. 

It's like watching a slow-motion floral firework display.

The joy of being outside again

After three days of being indoors at the London Book Fair I was 

desperate to get out and away from the press of too many people. 

The sky was black with shower clouds, but as the sun came out briefly the birds sang and the water droplets caught the light on the hawthorn bushes. Nothing could be more restorative. 

Jacdaws after nesting material

The deer put up with having the fur pulled from their backs - up to a point. I was surprised 

by the number of jackdaws who had worked out that this was a easy source of insulation.

The deer all look rather tatty as they're losing their winter coats.

Owl pellet

Not the most attractive object to post up but it is interesting. I never thought I'd find an owl pellet. A lot of it it is luck, but learning where to look also helps. I've found two now, both on the ground near the trunk of a tree. This pellet is unusual because it's got the beak of a ring-necked parakeet in it. I spotted the bright green feathers when I picked it up, but only noticed the beak later. I don't think of an owl as something which would attack another bird, or scavenge. Every day you learn something new. 

Bit of a beakfull

I found a pair of jackdaws in Bushy Park having a field day with a pile of rabbit fur.

Perfect for nesting material, or comedy disguises.

In Praise of Yellowhammers

Quite one of my most favourite birds. Anything that's bright yellow and cheery deserves a moment of celebration. I take issue with one online source that described it as common, for I had never come across one until about a year ago. Maybe I used to walk around with my eyes closed. Question of the day: are all birds singing at the moment?