We have had snow here for a few days now and although the temperatures are not that far below freezing, the conditions are wintry enough to bring the fieldfares back in huge numbers. Well over 100 have been feeding under our two large apple trees every day, together with thirty or so blackbirds, making the garden at the back of the house look a little bit like a Hitchcock film. Fieldfares are very argumentative birds too, so there are continual scuffles, scraps and outright fights as one bird tries to take possession of a pile of apples, while frightening off his rival. Amongst all this aggravation the chaffinches weave their inoffensive way, keeping out of the line of fire and picking at the exposed apple pips as well as the left over apple skins. In all its a fascinating scene to observe, from the warmth of the house, preferably with a cup of coffee in hand!
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About wildlifegardening
Jenny Steel was a Plant Ecologist at Oxford University before becoming a writer. She has more than 20 years experience of writing about and teaching ecology, natural history and wildlife gardening. She is also a photographer, journalist and former plant nursery owner, and a lecturer and tutor in adult education. She has appeared on a variety of radio and television programmes including Gardener’s World with Alan Titchmarsh, and she presented a series of items on the BBC 2 gardening show, How Does Your Garden Grow. She has worked with and written for a variety of organisations including the Royal Horticultural Society, Natural England, Atropos, Ernest Charles, the Adult Residential Colleges Association (ARCA), Haiths, Usborne Books, Complete Gardens, Oxfordshire County Council, the charity Growing Native and several of the Wildlife Trusts. She is also the Garden Bird Guru for the wild bird food company JustAddBirds of which she was a co-founder. The Emmy Award winning film company Panache Productions are currently making a film about her wildlife garden in South Shropshire. She has written 10 books on wildlife gardening. Her website can be found at www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk and her bird food company at www.JustAddBirds.co.uk
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Lovely description and picture.