In a latest put up, I already coated some impressions of birding in Bonn in spring. However since that is simply the place the place I am going birding most regularly (when you’re allowed to name a stroll across the block birding!), I observed that many birds had moved from organising territories and breeding to feeding chicks, I believed it might 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 have been clearly on passage solely as there was no signal of this species since. Ultimately 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. Once they weren’t flying, it appeared like most birds have been stuffing their beaks filled with provisions to in a while 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 amassing caterpillars that fell from the timber along with earthworms and different bugs they discovered alongside the way in which. Provided that a lot vitality 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 have been the identical, and the stress 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 have been all adopted by varied numbers of fluffy chicks. Whereas they have been lovely, I couldn’t suppress a slight concern as goose populations within the park are already by means of the roof. Curiously, 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 disenchanted when the Gadwall determined to maneuver on.
Another birds have been gratifying to observe as properly presently, together with European Goldfinches which have been additionally extra approachable than often, Hawfinch, Eurasian Oystercatcher (which reveals up just a few instances annually), and a Wooden Sandpiper, additionally not the commonest species right here.
Seeing the dynamics of a fowl group change over time is without doubt one of the pleasures of visiting the identical website usually over a number of months. Though I’d favor my native patch to be a extra thrilling pure wetland or woodland, the rapid proximity to my home is a giant benefit and I doubt I’d be exterior 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!
