When I experimented by offering a nyger seed feeder to the local birds a couple of years or so ago, I was a bit surprised that it was all gobbled up by jackdaws and none of the fancy species I had hoped for got anywhere near it. So when I was offered a bag of nyger seed surplus to requirements in Moffat, I had little doubt that it would quickly go the same way.
In fact the heavy sprinklings I put down on the bird table were totally shunned for weeks and interest could only be aroused by adding other titbits amongst the glut of uneaten tiny black seeds.
Eventually a pair of dunnocks and the odd blackbird have latched on to the permanent free lunch and at least some of the pile is getting shifted. I would have expected the coal tits to love it and at least the odd goldfinch to take a look, but not even the jackdaws have shown much enthusiasm. Perhaps the birds just have other things to do at this time of year. The feeders haven't produced much either.
Finally emerging from Covid confinement, I took a trip to Edinburgh last week for cultural purposes. I did manage to slot in an hour's walk in Princes Street Gardens but there was nothing around apart from a couple of magpies and pigeons in spite of a nice, sunny day. The only other animals I saw were the stuffed ones in the National Museum.
On returning home, there was a little more on offer. On Friday, I briefly saw a small tortoiseshell from the summer house as well as a bumblebee and a female woodpecker paid a rare visit to the peanut feeder.
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| Greater-spotted Woodpecker |
On a bike ride yesterday there was another bumblebee and any number of skylarks singing, giving a strong sense of Spring. Then today, single small tortoiseshell was resting on the laurel in the front garden.
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
There seemed to be some staining on the left lower wing that looked a bit like bird lime. As the temperature was around 9C I was surprised to see it at all and hope it has managed to take cover. It's forecast to freeze tonight.
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