Waxeyes, blackbirds, mynas, starlings, and of course the ubiquitous sparrows, all take feed I put out.
There are also thrushes, chaffinches, goldfinches, doves, rainbow lorikeets, Tui, Ruru (morepork owls) and kingfishers which often visit the garden at different times; with herons, cormorants, mallards, Pukeko and, I'm fairly sure, the occasional scaup down at the river.
I've never actually made a list before. That seems a lovely variety!
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| Wax-eyes eating jam. |
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| Is that a starling that has chased away the wax-eyes? |
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| Sparrows like porridge. They believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even if it's eaten at 4 in the afternoon. |
I've never thought of putting out porridge for my sparrows. Mind you I don't very often make porridge these days. Of course the variety of birds I have in my garden in Eagleton is quite different but very varied nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteThey have only had porridge once. We usually eat it but this bowl of leftover pog somehow got lost in the fridge.
DeleteYes, I have seen the astonishing list you have in your side-bar...
DeleteSadly and strangely in our back garden we are seeing far fewer birds than when we first came here. You are lucky that your garden is still well-attended by our avian friends.
ReplyDeleteYP - that's a pity. Are they being frightened away by Bo and Peep, inanimate tho they are?
DeleteWe used to live near a creek and a thicket, and the birds entertained us with their variety - goldfinches, cardinals, Eastern bluebirds, cowbirds, robins, thrashers, rock doves, rufous-sided towhees, chickadees, and a particularly brilliant turquoise-colored species name eludes me at the moment. Since we moved a few years ago, we have seen only mockingbirds, blue jays, crows, barn swallows, and the like. Oh, and the occasional vulture or wild turkey on the roadsides. And the Canada geese flying over. Mustn't forget them.
ReplyDeleteRobert - how lovely and colourful the birds at your previous residence were! Most New Zealand birds are relatively drab... well, let's call it 'subtle'.
DeleteBut you've reminded me of our seasonal visitors which I omitted: Canada Geese (overhead, never stop), paradise shelduck, grey warblers, shining cuckoo, and long-tailed cuckoo. And! How could I have forgotten the sweet fantail - piwakawaka! Thanks for jogging my memory.
I finally thought of the name of the brilliant turquoise-colored bird: indigo bunting (which was not indigo at all, but turquoise).
DeleteThey are beautiful! I once saw one near Santa Fe. The weather was grey, the shrub was leafless, and the little bird was the clearest, brightest shade of blue I could imagine. Sheer delight!
DeleteI have a real soft spot for birds especially Lorikeets, Magpies and Kookaburras and the air around our place is often filled with bird noises ( can't exactly call it a song from a kookaburra or a lorikeet !)
ReplyDeleteHelsie - I love the Aussie birds. So bright and raucous! When we were in Melbourne last year, I didn't recognise a single one on a short walk with my uncle. I was particularly taken with some darling little greeny-blue parrots not much bigger than sparrows, that were busy in short grass on the side of the path.
DeleteHaving that little bistro table for the birds to land (and eat off) makes it much easier to get the photos!
ReplyDeleteOh yes Violet. I think they feel safe from the neighbour's cat up there. My children (adults) don't approve but I just give it a (very - disinfectant) good scrub before any humans want to use it.
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