Nature Watch: 0.2
Chat Issue Winter 2001
Hello, Merry Christmas everyone! Being as its Christmas I shall supply some info about the cheeky robin who is a resident of most gardens. I have seen several around Caswell Clinic and they are always a joy to observe. It is difficult to tell the difference between a male and female, as both have a red breast and are about the same size. Both birds also sing, which is unusual. I love to hear their sweet, sad song and their "tip tip" calls. The robin also sings all year round .They are fiercely territorial birds and will fight to the death ,which is also unusual for birds .I watched one "divebombing" a chaffinch the other day and he did a little dance of triumph at the base of the bird-table afterwards.
One day, last week I watched a yellow wagtail attacking his reflection in an upstairs office window I went over to scare him away before he could hurt himself. These are also territorial birds and I have often seen pied and yellow wagtails vying for territory and food.
Jaymie and I watched a greater spotted woodpecker pecking holes on the dying sycamore in Ffaldau garden. We have both bought binoculars and Jan has nick-named us "Twitcher One and Twitcher Two". A few weeks ago I watched some white doves turning into blackbirds as they wheeled around and became silhouetted against the evening sky.
Trees
in winter near clinic by: WebEd
Trees near clinic in winter by: WebEd
We often see a pair of collared doves feeding at the bird-table and around the garden and fields. I have seen five altogether. They are assertive birds and because of this they are doing well. I have seen them force magpies and crows away form the bird-table. I put some peanuts on the table one day and one dove guzzled them all, his crop bulging with his booty. He then sat on top of the table and swallowed them, one by one!
Some of the local rabbits have been hunted by local lads but Jaymie has seen some on the far side of the field. We have seen two grey squirrels and two cats, who are regular visitors to the gardens. I have noticed that when the large birds feed at the table the smaller birds have little chance of feeding, although the braver ones will dive in and grab a morsel. When Jaymie and I are out the big birds normally keep away and the smaller birds see their chance to feed, knowing we are no threat, and perhaps associating us correctly with fresh food on the table. Well that’s all for now see you after Christmas!