Wild Life: A(nnie's) Nature Diary

…and he is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to. 😉 With the weather being really “aprilly” this spring, no wonder he has taken his time. But now the eagerly awaited Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) has joined the flock in our garden. Whenever he is catching insects, it is a sight to behold: Sitting on his lookout, just to dash to the espied insect, catching it in mid-flight and returning to the observation post once again. After all he hasn’t got this name for nothing… 

Mrs. Blackbird is already feeding her young ones! [Photos taken by me]

This bathing bird is surely enjoying itself in the bird bath…a white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a rather uncommon visitor in our garden. Interestingly, in Germany we have got this subspecies of the wagtail whereas in England there usually only exists the pied wagtail (Motacilla yarrellii). 

As our willow tree died off, we decided not to cut it down but to remove the top and let it dissolve itself. Lots of things have been at it by now, but one of the most enjoyable is seeing the squirrel collecting nest material for her drey.

For a couple of years we have been honoured with a special guest in our garden: A pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) whom we fondly call “Rambo”. Each year it is the same racket when the male returns from his winter holidays in West Africa. Even though only the size of a sparrow, he takes on everything that dares to go near his elected nestbox. We will see how it works out for him this year. Hopefully he will find a mate soon!