Walter 
In some bird species, very little separates the male and female; in others, the birds look like polar opposites. The differences between male and female blackbirds beggar belief – only one of them is a black bird! The male of the species is the most instantly recognised as a blackbird due to his glossy black … Read more
The bullfinch is a beautiful bird with a striking reddish-pink breast. They are instantly recognisable, so I am very aware that I rarely see any in my garden, I can’t remember the last time I saw some at my feeders. One of the best ways to attract birds to your garden is by offering a … Read more
Have you ever wondered if magpies are attracted to shiny things? If you were to take a peek in their nests, would they be adorned with stolen jewellery and metallic objects? My interest is piqued, are magpies thieving scoundrels or, is it just myth. The results of scientific testing show that magpies are no more … Read more
There can be few better sounds than the melodic tunes of birdsong. Weeding my flower beds and sorting the shed are made much more pleasant tasks if I’m being serenaded by my garden bird friends. I’m not sure if birds sing ‘because they can’ or if there is an ulterior motive for their song. Why … Read more
Do your garden feeders seem to have less activity when the temperature drops and the nights draw in? Mine vary from day to day – sometimes I can’t keep the dishes topped up quick enough, while others I throw lots of uneaten treats away. I know that some birds migrate, but wondered are there any … Read more
Jays are shy birds that are happiest when hidden deep inside the woodland. They will make urban parkland their home, but only if it has plenty of matures growth in which they can cover. Jays are so timid that you might be forgiven for thinking that you had never spotted one. Like me, have you … Read more
Great tits are the largest of the tit family; and probably the cleverest. They are ground feeders; while their relatives the blue tits are swinging acrobatically from hanging feeders, the great tit hovers beneath to quickly hoover up all of the spillages with very little effort. Although great tits prefer an insect diet in the … Read more
I have a new-found fascination with the jay. It began when I found out that their passion for acorns is credited with the rapid spread and regrowth of oak trees after they were wiped out in the last Ice Age. Their hidden cache of food, stored for winter when acorns aren’t prevalent, is often forgotten, … Read more
Before now, blue tits had a monopoly on the relatively tricky feeder types people were distributing. The small birds could only feed on coconut shells filled with fat or on chains of monkey nuts. They were also the bird that most often stole cream from milk bottles that normally stood at the door. What to … Read more
Jays are the brightest coloured of the crow family. They are easily identified by their pink plumage, the flash of brilliant blue on their wings and their funny-looking moustache. They live in deciduous and coniferous woodland where they are more often heard before they are seen. Jays fly overhead, letting out loud screeches as they … Read more
