The month of July for me is the quiet zone. The time of year when birding is at it's slowest.
Although migration doesn't stop during the course of the year, it certainly slows down.
It has it's benefit though. Its a great time to study juvenile birds behaviour and their plumage patterns.
I have been watching Common Tern chicks for the last few weeks from their first few days after hatching, up to them fledging.
It was interesting to see that after a week or so, some juveniles were bullied by adult terns for straying into their territory, but some stood their ground and saw off the adult. This same behaviour also occurred with tern juveniles and adult Black headed gulls.
They were also able to recognise their returning adult with food whilst it was still some considerable distance away and would start to call, whilst other tern juveniles around them were silent, they obviously knew it wasn't their parent.
The Common terns that were hatched at Moor Green Lakes this year, have now fledged and will be building up their strength, for the coming migration to Africa, where they will overwinter.
Hopefully, I will see some of them return to the area next spring.
On the subject of juveniles, I have had young Robin, Grey Wagtail and Blackbird in my garden recently.
The juvenile Blackbirds visit most days to feed on the ripening cultivated Blackberries that my wife grows. The fruit isn't ripe enough for us to eat yet, but the birds don't mind that and get through a good quantity in a day.
The juvenile Robin uses the fish pond waterfall as a good place for a bath as it's fairly shallow and is sometimes joined by a Woodpigeon.
August should see an increase in bird activity and I'm hoping that it maybe something exciting.
Although migration doesn't stop during the course of the year, it certainly slows down.
It has it's benefit though. Its a great time to study juvenile birds behaviour and their plumage patterns.
I have been watching Common Tern chicks for the last few weeks from their first few days after hatching, up to them fledging.
It was interesting to see that after a week or so, some juveniles were bullied by adult terns for straying into their territory, but some stood their ground and saw off the adult. This same behaviour also occurred with tern juveniles and adult Black headed gulls.
They were also able to recognise their returning adult with food whilst it was still some considerable distance away and would start to call, whilst other tern juveniles around them were silent, they obviously knew it wasn't their parent.
The Common terns that were hatched at Moor Green Lakes this year, have now fledged and will be building up their strength, for the coming migration to Africa, where they will overwinter.
Hopefully, I will see some of them return to the area next spring.
On the subject of juveniles, I have had young Robin, Grey Wagtail and Blackbird in my garden recently.
The juvenile Blackbirds visit most days to feed on the ripening cultivated Blackberries that my wife grows. The fruit isn't ripe enough for us to eat yet, but the birds don't mind that and get through a good quantity in a day.
The juvenile Robin uses the fish pond waterfall as a good place for a bath as it's fairly shallow and is sometimes joined by a Woodpigeon.
August should see an increase in bird activity and I'm hoping that it maybe something exciting.
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