If you came across this bright yellow bird in a hedge you could be forgiven for thinking that someone’s budgie had escaped. You would not hear “Who’s a pretty boy then”, as this bird gets the reputation for cheeping “a little bit of bread and no chee…eese”. It is the yellowhammer and I’ve been hearing them but not seeing them clearly enough to photograph until recently. This one obliged by coming down onto the path in front of me.
Another very exotic looking bird is the Goldfinch. They make squeaky long whistle sounds, “cheweee” where the ee on the end goes up a note. They make colourful garden visitors and can be attracted by putting black niger seeds in your bird feeders.
I’ve been hearing and seeing a lot of whitethroats this spring and summer. I don’t think I’d ever noticed them before. They are a type of warbler which migrate from the Sahel, South of the Sahara in Africa and arrive in the UK in April.
Other summer migrants are willow warblers and the chiff chaffs. They look very similar apart from having different coloured legs – a chiffchaff’s are black, a willow warbler’s more pinky brown. The chiffchaff is so called because that’s the sound it repeatedly makes.
The willow warbler has a far more melodious song. They can be difficult to spot in amongst summer foliage.
I can’t resist posting this photo of a young long tailed tit – one of my favourite birds. I think it is their big round eyes, small fluffy bodies and long tails which make them look so cute.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 