will winter come to us yet?

It could be said that December was rather autumn. There was no temperature lower than -3C. What awaits us in the New Year? So far, the forecasts do not predict either cold or snow. When it is sunny outside, it is pleasant without snow and the mood is joyful. Unfortunately, most days are cloudy, often with rain or sleet. A bit longing for a real snowy and sunny winter. However, road conditions for drivers are very good. Birds in such a mild weather are not very focused around feeders. Here are some photos from the first days of 2018.

and blue tit settled the nesting box

Yesterday I wrote about starlings in my nesting box. Today the pair of blue tits, who also chose the booth as intended. For just two weeks the tits were looking into the new box. They came in and out, they sat on the nearby twigs. Recently I saw daily bustling around the box for fear that another couple would not take over. I hope it will be a good place to raise a new generation of these very small and useful birds. There was one more free shed for the tits or similar size of other henchmen. I think there will also be birds there.

the starlings already inhabited in my nesting box

On March 2 I posted a post about installing bird nesting boxes. I wondered if and what birds will settle them. According to the central construction, the box was designed for starlings. This spring spotted we have very early, because already 26 February. Already after two weeks the pair of starlings got acquainted with the new apartment and every morning from early morning it is singing their melodies. I watched the arrival of other starlings and the defense of the new home. It will be nice to observe when the breeding season begins. At about 20m the other 2 couples searched for cracks in an old building for nesting.

patient mom

The workers during the renovation of a historic wooden villa discovered a bird's nest. He was in the 4 eggs. They could not identify the species of birds. To paint the place where there were a nest moved them close, and after completion of the work put again on the same spot. Already the next day noticed that birds do not nest abandoned and the next day were already chicks. According to reports from workers I guessed that this is the spotted flycatcher. The next day I went to the balcony, which was located nearby and I made some pictures. The birds were quite cautious and I tried not to disturb them in feeding the young.

young chick jackdaws

In June, it's summer. Most trees and shrubs already faded. In landscapes dominated by green and blue sky. Birds or have already brought up the young generation, or is in the process. On my stairwell appeared young chick jackdaws. I do not know how that finding. I carried out under a tree, but after an hour again returned. Probably he suits her coolness inside the building. I made him some pictures.

birds around us - starling

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

After a lark turn on starlings. It was starlings often arrive sooner than larks, when the morning there are still a lot of frost and even snow. It reminds of my childhood the old willow with numerous hollow tree right in front of our house. It was on it perched dozens of starlings, whistling all the time. It was only when he heats up a little males take the fight for a place on a nest in a hollow tree or a house for starlings. Very varied trills starlings tend to be especially during mating season. Later, the birds have a lot of work when feeding young in search of earthworms and insects running around the earth. Once this period has passed, it seems that starlings are disappearing, and they move on a meadow in huge herds, and of losing their wonderful so far nuptial plumage color. I do not know if you noticed that somewhere in the second half of September and even in October they arrive at their breeding ground and sing here even for a few days to say goodbye and fly south. Shooting starling is not difficult, but take a good photograph is not easy.

birds around us - nuthatch

Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

I almost forgot about the bird, which is well known to me and I see him almost every day, it is nuthatch. As far as I remember as a child of this bird I did not see and did not know him. Currently, every season I see him on the trunks of trees. The only bird that moves his head to the bottom of the trunk. We have a large number of very old trees. This bird visits the garden willingly, when mature sunflowers. In the winter, use of feeders with tits. It is a bird quite warlike and drives away others. He can also grab three sunflower seeds. I was able to repeatedly observe and photograph him.

birds around us- black redstart

The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

With black redstart I met quite late. Sure I saw her once, but I did not pay attention. Today, I see it in many places. He likes to be near the farm buildings, where he finds a place to build a wall outlet. Observe it is quite easy when you locate his residence. Not really stand out colorful plumage, but during the flight from a distance you can see the bright orange tail. In English (Redstart) and Russia (Gorichwostka) in the name of a bird, this feature exists. Here are some pictures of male and females of the bird where the male has a more enhanced color.

birds around us - the linnet

Common linnet (Linaria cannabina)

I almost forgot about this beautiful bird, whom I had the opportunity to observe quite accurately from up close. Right under my balcony 3 times watched the construction of the nest and then brood of chicks lass in the bush jasmine. The male always hanging out near sang his tune. Later, the birds have built a nest on my balcony, which hung branches of grapes. We tried not to disturb the nest of chicks. But one day arrived jay, spied and chose all of the slot. We were very sorry. Currently there are no bushes under the balcony were cut grape and linnet changed place. Here are below the pictures I've done during these observations.

birds of Siberia and not only - goldfinch

European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
I was wondering what the next bird show. I think it would be a good choice goldfinch. It is a bird all year round and does not abandon us even in the coldest winter. He leads the young often very close to our home, and besides, it is very colorful and easy to identify. What truth does not stand out in song and you can not hear it often. In the winter, flocks of goldfinches migrate in search of seeds primarily weeds and burdock is their favorite.