A couple of days ago I mentioned that jays never come near our garden. But I didn't mention that they do read blogs 😉 Really! Why else would this fine bird have decided to fly over the garden today almost as soon as I'd put my head outside?
What's more, it paused briefly in the sycamore tree and was considerate enough not to completely hide away behind the branches.
Not a bad start to a fine late summer day. The butterflies were abundant, notably the large whites which were spiralling above in pairs, and were so regular in their flight patterns that for once I was able to get a photo of them on the wing.
The starlings were active too, that is when the occasional sparrowhawk wasn't cruising overhead.
But the second big surprise of the day came just as the light was beginning to fade. I glanced out and saw a small bird flitting along the beech trees that run the length off the garden. It was keeping in the shadows, just occasionally coming far enough forward in the branches to catch a glimpse of sun. I'm fairly confident that it's a willow warbler, though identifying these small birds is not always easy. The alternative is a chiffchaff, but the flatness of the head suggests the former.
Willow WarblerChiffchaff (see comments)
And of course I can't not include a photo of the nicked-ear vixen, looking as splendid as ever. She really is a good looking fox.
Camera note: all photos taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, except the vixen. For that shot I used the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS.
cakkleberrylane
28 Sep 2008Amazing series of pictures. Each one of them is stunning in itself!
Dudley
28 Sep 2008Nice looking jay.
Great series.
gdare
28 Sep 2008Butterflies one :up: Looks like something I would use as a background picture on my monitor 😀
Flying Red Fox Blog
28 Sep 2008Lovelly shot of the Jay and Butterflies and the Nicked Ear Vixen does indeed look really beautiful. 😀
Words
28 Sep 2008Thanks Andy!
Ukwildlife
28 Sep 2008funny you should mention a chiffcahff – I think I may have just heard one, mind you its judt as likely it was a starling doing a chiffchaff-like call.
Great photos 🙂
Words
28 Sep 2008Lois, thanks. It proved a good day for going nowhere!
Words
28 Sep 2008Neil, starlings are amazing mimics. I love their whistles and 'clucking'.
Words
28 Sep 2008Darko, or simply wait for windows to crash 😆
Words
28 Sep 2008Mark, thanks. It seems we're finally getting some decent sunshine. It makes such a difference.
Vulpes vulpes
28 Sep 2008😀
Words
28 Sep 2008Vulpes :cheers:
gdare
28 Sep 2008😆
anonymous
29 Sep 2008TBR writes:
Superb photos again Words!
The starling shot is just something else!
Re your willow warbler- another super photo,
and clear enough to ID it as as Chiffchaff in my opinion, not a Willow warbler. I could be wrong, but I've never found the "flat head" a clear guide – clearer is the eye ring (more marked in chiffchaff) and shorter primary projections in the Chifchaff.
Of course, behaviour and/or call is the ultimate in positive ID (Chiffchaffs often flick their tail and Willow don't), but only you were there.
At this time of year, you're FAR more likely to see Chiffchaffs also.
On balance, I'd have to go for a Chiffchaff, but like I say, I could be wrong…
Doug
Words
29 Sep 2008Doug, I'm very happy to be corrected on the warbler/chiffchaff front. Knowing their behaviour is an essential part of this (and I'm not great with these ones). I don't recall any tail flicking, but it was in and out of the canopy so much that there was little chance of seeing it anyway. I'm happy to go with chiffchaff :cheers:
SittingFox
29 Sep 2008Another great post! :up: It really is getting up to the end of season for butterflies. The jay is very handsome and I'm glad he reads your blog 😉 Perhaps he was jealous of the attention that you occasionally give to crows :whistle:
Words
29 Sep 2008Adele, yes it seems to be a late rush on butterflies. Not many through the year (though the smaller blues were out in good number at one point). As for the jays, I think I'm going to re-write the alphabet song… 'J is for September'