Tuesday 17 April 2012

Chiffchaffs................................................................... lovely summer visitors

I am waking up to the dawn chorus at the moment... it starts about an hour before my alarm goes off.
Sunday was no different.

This Blackbird seen from my kitchen window is the loudest.
He had me up at the crack of dawn on my day off.

 I decided to take the canal route to visit my local nature park.

 It was a lovely sunny morning.

The Mallards were enjoying the spring sunshine.
As I headed towards Haydn's Pool I kept hearing Chiffchaffs.

 They migrate south to winter in the Mediterranean and North Africa.... and now they are back.
They were fairly easy to spot as the trees are still quit bare...they do prefer high places.

I watched this one for ages singing his little heart out on a power line near Haydn's Pool.

 Have you ever wondered how birds can perch on power lines?

It isn't insulation that keeps birds safe when perched on high-voltage wires.
It's the nature of electricity at work... Electricity is always trying to reach the ground and if an electrical conductor (like a wire or cable) provides a path electricity will always follow it.
 Birds aren't grounded... no part of them touches the ground... so they don't act as conductors.

To see more lovely birds click on the link below to see.
World Bird Wednesday LXXIV

40 comments:

Unknown said...

Wonderful series Andrew!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

TexWisGirl said...

i know your blackbirds are probably as common to you there as ours are here, but your blackbirds are so beautiful to me! i love seeing them - they are built so much like our robin that they fascinate me. :)

The Herald said...

And I thought I was the only one that was privileged to have a Blackbird for an alarm clock!!...lol.

A great post and images Andrew...[;o)

Carletta said...

Lovely shots here today Andrew!
I love the name of the sweet little Chiffchaffs.

Anonymous said...

Lovely shots of the birds :)
Have a nice evening!

Eva

Anonymous said...

Those little Chiffchaffs are adorable! I also love the name..Chiffchaff, Chiffchaff, Shittchatt.. you try saying that name three times fast! ;) Just kiddin'

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shots and I've never seen boats like that! Very cool and unusual...at least to me!

John said...

The sound of Spring is all around us at the moment! A Blackcap has set up home in the trees behind my house, now he is a singer! ;)
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

Bob Bushell said...

I knew that other people heard the endurance of the Blackbird, precious sounds. Nice blog.

EG CameraGirl said...

How rude of the blackbird to wake you up on your day off! I've never heard of chiffchaffs before. I LOVE their name.

Dave said...

ah yoiur a mind of info Andrew... Firstly your header is superb, the vivid blue sky makes it....

Great post

And yes Venezuela was that good

Dave

Sivinden said...

Wonderful post! Bird song is lovely - even on early mornings;)

MadSnapper said...

i have wondered about the birds on the wires. interesting. I love that first duck and our black birds are really loudn and some of them sit out there and scream HA HA HA HA over and over.

LeenaH said...

Greetings still snowy East Finland!
Our lakes are covered by ice many weeks yet and snow is slowly melting.
Your photos are enjoyable to look at.

eileeninmd said...

Great birds, the chiffchaff is a cutie. BTW, everytime I click on your sight to leave a comment I get a popup about a threat.

NatureFootstep said...

I love those Chiffchaffs. They have not come to me yet :)

Magia da Inês said...

Amei... fotografias maravilhosas!
°º✿
Boa continuação da semana!
Beijinhos.
Brasil
¸.•°`♥❤ ⊱╮

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

a male duck, a female duck, the male's head is so handsome.

How do you post photos that they come out so big?

Stewart M said...

Hi there - great shot of Mr. BB - ours have stopped singing now.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Gillian Olson said...

Love the big yellow eyes on that blackbird. What a lovely walk, thanks for taking us along.

mick said...

Beautiful birds and I do like the look of all that blue sky!

Brian King said...

Love your blackbird! It's different from ours. I like the yellow. Your duck photos are beautiful!

Phil Slade said...

Yes Andrew it's good to hear the Chiffchaffs back, even if they are a bit monotonous.

cieldequimper said...

Interesting about the electricity poles. And such absolutely lovely photos. I wish I could hear bird concerts, all I hear is pigeons. The dirty kind... :-)

CameraCruise said...

Beautiful shots!
Love to hear all the birds singing.
Have a great day.
Mette

Joop Zand said...

Very nice bird pictures Andrew..... i like also very much that boat picture....lovely place.

greetings, Joop

NatureStop said...

Great captures!!Thanks for sharing.

Shantana

fjällripan said...

Beautiful photos of those birds! Interesting facts about the electricity to :)

NatureFootstep said...

Hi, if you want to try NF Waters you are welcome to join. :)

nfmemes.blogspot.com/2012/04/nf-waters-20.html

I hope this works. :)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

So many great bird shots today!

Sondra said...

That chiffchaff has come a longg way to join your walk today...Great photos Andrew!

Modesto Viegas said...

Very good post!!!

LindyLouMac said...

You got some lovely photos.

Debbie said...

we have learned to sleep through the blackbirds "song/chatter"...

the chiffchaffs are too cute!!

Pat said...

Lovely birds in this series, The Mallards are beautiful.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Beautiful bird images Andrew. I get woken up every morning here in Australia also, usually the Galahs and the Corellas, I quite like it do you? You have such pretty birds over there, ours seem a bit loud and raucous!

Susan said...

I love your photos! Awesome!

Kathie Brown said...

"Chiffchaff" I like the name. What a sweet little bird!

Sallie (FullTime-Life.com said...

Beautiful -- every bird, every picture. (Well, the death' sign is a little scary, but even it is great as a part of the series. Thanks for sharing your wonderful birds and walks.!

Ruby said...

The singing bird shot is awesome. so is the mallard, shy pose :) Cheers!