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Okavanga — Starling Perching
#elderslie #feeding #perching #scotland #starling #wildbirdphotography
Published: 2019-05-30 20:27:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 166; Favourites: 35; Downloads: 3
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Description
Passing ThroughSome more wildlife, mainly birds, from the garden, grounds and surrounds at Elderslie House. First, one very early morning, we noticed two roe deer (capreolus capreolus) grazing as they crossed the meadow below our house. The photographs had to be taken into the Sun and that was tricky. That meant that the flanks of the animals facing the viewer are in the shade. In addition, there was a slight haze from a barely visible mist that caused a slight softening of the images. Nevertheless, looking closely at the shots you can see that both the male and female are changing from a winter grey coat on the hind quarters to the spring and summer russet red on the front and heads. The female may well be pregnant and the male may be a young buck trying to establish his own small harem of females. Male roe deer have small antlers that may grow during the summer months to about half as much again as you see in these shots. There are usually two or three tines. Roe deer have white rumps, clearly seenRelated content
Comments: 18
This one... looks like he means business... that beak.. he could put your eye out prompt-toe. 
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Many Thanks, Linda.
David
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Thank you very much, Brett. Lots of wildlife here.
Cheers
David
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Starlings are vicious here. I have watched them brutalize a beautiful finch ..so sad.
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They are very boisterous and noisy birds for sure, Sheri. Not everyone loves 'em!
Many Thanks
David
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Well, I picked this shot as I thought the foreshortening of the long lens made the bird look a bit odd. But, Starlings do have substantial beaks.
Many Thanks
David
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Huh, alright. I guess I've never seen a starling stationary from this up close. They always fly away 
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The Starling is in many cases a major headache to birders....They have a very soft beak and will eat all the woodpeckers suet in one
trip to the suet feeders...Starlings are boisterous, loud, and they travel in large groups
(often with blackbirds and grackles).
They race across fields, beak down and probing the grass for food;
or they sit high on wires or trees making a constant stream of rattles, whirrs, and whistles.
It is not their fault that they are so prolific now...Often regarded as a pest,
the Starling wins our grudging admiration for its adaptability,
toughness, and seeming intelligence.
Brought to North America in 1890,
it has spread to occupy most of the continent,
and is now abundant in many areas
I start getting flocks of them in February and they stay in the garden until June, or until their babies are ready
to leave the nest...
The coolest thing about the Starling is how it can mimic many sounds...
In my own garden I have starlings that make noises like Eagles, Cats, Dogs and a Siren
that announces the time of day every Saturday at noon...It is pretty cool to hear, especially
when you could swear it is Wednesday at 6 pm and the starling is announcing it is Noon Saturday.....LOL
M
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Wow - that is a mine of information about starlings, M. I didn't know about the mimicry, but I shall now listen out for it. The flock here is about 20-30 birds at the moment and only a small group comes down to the feeders. Good to know that they will be gone soon. I was intrigued to see that the juveniles are very good fliers at at an early age but keep this demand for food up when you think they could easily feed themselves.
Many thanks for the wonderful comments.
David
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