Birds of the Summer

So far it has been a good summer for birds here in the southwest of the UK. The weather has been mainly mellow.

My starling flock is now into its second brood. Here are some pictures of them (a species in decline in the UK) and other birdy spectaculars from the last few months.

Once fledged the young brown starlings follow the adults around begging for food.

Young starlings with mum (or dad) in the Hawthorn tree.

Starling and Honeysuckle

On the canal the mallards have been raising their young.

Mallard chicks

Spot the odd one out

Here's how they look some weeks later - with proud mum

Grey heron at the canal

Young blackbird (at the badger drinking trough

 Back to the starlings -

a fine fledgling

One adult shows the way

Then the whole family joins in.

 And finally -

The rare marsh tit - at the canal side