Why do we sometimes see buzzards on the ground? What’s the best way to help garden wildlife in February? How can I help swifts? Which early spring migrants come back first? Plus everything you need to know about sparrowhawks visiting gardens!
Here are some useful links to further information…
Buzzards
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/buzzard/
Sparrowhawks
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sparrowhawk/
Spring migration
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/natures-home-magazine/birds-and-wildlife-articles/migration/
They won’t be back for a while yet, but you can find out more about swifts here:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/conservation-and-sustainability/safeguarding-species/swiftmapper/
Tips on feeding garden birds
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/
With the RSPB’s India James and Jamie Wyver.
12 Comments
Great video I’ve got a breeding pair of robins and Dunnoks
Very nice video. I love the birds of prey common buzzards, sparrowhawks, but very nice swifts, robin … Thx.
No warm weather cold all year round lol
We're hoping that the Swifts will one day use the boxes we put up last year. Up to now the Sparrows have got in first! We used to have Sparrowhawks but sadly haven't seen one in the garden for some years, but lovely to have a pair of overwintering Blackcaps,
I have a female sparrowhawk coming into my garden regularly. She quite unfazed by me and sits, on the fence staring at me. I fear for my sweet little ones though.
You might have to be patient – my first boxes took 6 years to be used, but last year I had four successful swift nests. I have a good contact for boxes they seem to like if anyone is interested. I do miss them when they go – mine came back on 6th May for the last two years
I have a female sparrowhawk visit quite regularly, and I've put up tall garden canes around the feeders to slow it's flight path down to give my little birds a chance. It's not very aesthetically pleasing, but it seems to work. I get both the positives of seeing the sparrowhawk and protecting my birds a bit more!
I've had a male merlin visiting my garden for a few years but had not seen him for several months but on bird count day a new very handsome male merlin appeared a larger bird ,younger looking and strong slate/blue grey plumage with beautiful pale amber bars on his breast. He took his meal from the host of blue tits on the feeders and went on his way A beautiful/sad moment for sure
These are nice videos 😊. Thank you x
With regards to Sparrow Hawkes taking Smaller birds. As Darwin once said And I quote…" Natural Selection " Unquote.
Apologies. That should have read Sparrow Hawks.
Sorry I think these birds need culling! Kill9ng so many other song birds. Song birds are nearly all gone, they are in danger of losing them all