In a current publish, I already coated some impressions of birding in Bonn in spring. However since that is simply the place the place I’m going birding most often (when you’re allowed to name a stroll across the block birding!), I seen 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 bunch 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. Ultimately nonetheless, a big group was looking bugs over the pond within the close by park, displaying off their shimmering metal-blue backs. A number of Frequent 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 stuffed with meals for his or her chicks. Once they weren’t flying, it appeared like most birds had been stuffing their beaks stuffed with provisions to afterward convey 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 amassing caterpillars that fell from the bushes along with earthworms and different bugs they discovered alongside the way in which. Provided that a lot power is spent foraging and at different instances plainly birds have to feed each time they will, 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 numerous numbers of fluffy chicks. Whereas they had been lovely, I couldn’t suppress a slight concern as goose populations within the park are already by way of the roof. Apparently, a Gadwall that was round for just a few days drew the favour of a Mallard chick, which determined to not comply with its dad and mom however select one other species as a information. It should’ve been disillusioned when the Gadwall determined to maneuver on.
Another birds had been pleasing to observe as properly right now, together with European Goldfinches which had been additionally extra approachable than often, 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 group change over time is without doubt one of the pleasures of visiting the identical website recurrently over a number of months. Though I’d want 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 outdoors as typically 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!
