In a current put up, I already lined some impressions of birding in Bonn in spring. However since that is simply the place the place I’m going birding most often (in case you’re allowed to name a stroll across the block birding!), I observed that many birds had moved from establishing territories and breeding to feeding chicks, I assumed it could be price sharing some extra observations.
Though I as soon as noticed a gaggle of Barn Swallows cross overhead just a few weeks earlier, these birds had been clearly on passage solely as there was no signal of this species since. Finally nevertheless, a big group was looking bugs over the pond within the close by park, exhibiting off their shimmering metal-blue backs. A number of Widespread Home-Martins joined, and a single Sand Martin, my first for the park, additionally tagged alongside.
Elsewhere in our native park, it was clear that the nesting exercise was in full swing, with many birds flying round with beaks filled with meals for his or her chicks. After they weren’t flying, it appeared like most birds had been stuffing their beaks filled with provisions to afterward deliver to the nest. Ring-necked Parakeets are one instance, busily taking aside the seeds of a maple tree in entrance of our home.
On the lawns, I loved watching Fieldfares gathering caterpillars that fell from the bushes along with earthworms and different bugs they discovered alongside the way in which. On condition that a lot power is spent foraging and at different instances evidently birds have to feed each time they’ll, it’s spectacular that these birds patiently foraged for his or her offspring with with out feeding on any of the caterpillars themselves. European Robins had been the identical, and the strain to gather meals made them much more approachable than at different instances.
Again to the water, the place Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, and Canada Goose had been all adopted by varied numbers of fluffy chicks. Whereas they had been cute, I couldn’t suppress a slight concern as goose populations within the park are already via the roof. Apparently, a Gadwall that was round for just a few days drew the favour of a Mallard chick, which determined to not observe its dad and mom however select one other species as a information. It should’ve been dissatisfied when the Gadwall determined to maneuver on.
Another birds had been fulfilling to look at as effectively at the moment, together with European Goldfinches which had been additionally extra approachable than normally, Hawfinch, Eurasian Oystercatcher (which exhibits up just a few instances annually), and a Wooden Sandpiper, additionally not the most typical species right here.
Seeing the dynamics of a hen neighborhood change over time is among the pleasures of visiting the identical website often over a number of months. Though I’d choose my native patch to be a extra thrilling pure wetland or woodland, the fast proximity to my home is a giant benefit and I doubt I’d be exterior as usually if I needed to journey for some time. This makes me wonder if I’m actually lazy or actually busy – I hope it’s the latter!