23 June 2025 


Coming of age! Legitimate fledgling blue tits with fluffy, brownish down, not yet smooth feathers or blue...Three or four of them are regulars several times a day - a smile of delight every time to see them through the window at the end of the hall! But suddenly




 A young squirrel is now up there, cheeks full like a hamster! And then another!


... both stuffing themselves, 

within the ‘protecting anti squirrel’ cage!... just like children faced with a sweetie jar!


A collared dove joins in - often two, so they are maybe rearing young, as is the garden robin.

Wildlife Gardening: Birds need feeding in summer, the RSPB has confirmed it helps keep up the population, particularly those becoming more scarce. And fresh water is also a must – for drinking and bathing and preening to keep feathers good. 


- two young town corvids sunning themselves to rid feathers of mites, lice etc.


 In another wildlife garden, young mammal visitors are less greedy and destructive than young squirrels. Fox cubs cavorting in between drinking fresh water... a delight to watch, like the young blue tits!


 Best of all, down in Bradford, Chris Wardell took this wonderful photo of two wild owlets (tawnies)... about to embark on coming of age.

Photo credits: 7 Bob Drower; 8 Chris Wardell; others Nicolette Scourse

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