The rural flatlands of Norfolk are habitat heaven for the birds – fields and forests, rivers and wetlands provide the perfect breeding ground for an eclectic collection of feathered flocks. The springtime chorus in our small garden can sound almost symphonic when the competing bands of tweeters all strike up together. We have front row seats. But what are these calling birds?
Liam downloaded a handy app called Merlin to his smarty phone. The app identifies bird song just by listening. And what did it hear? An amazing avian gathering – blackbirds, blackcaps, chaffinches, chiffchaffs, collared doves, dunnocks, wrens, wood pigeons and tits great and blue. Of these, the wrens were the most melodious and the wood pigeons were the most prolific. We see wood pigeons all the time. They spend their days shagging and shitting without a care, right before our eyes. I’m forever wiping down the garden furniture with a wet cloth.
We’ve also heard the occasional cuckoo, cuckooing as they do, in the trees of the old churchyard next door. And sometimes when Liam can’t sleep, he’s soothed by the twit-twoo of a lone tawny owl.
And then yesterday we spotted a pair of love-struck partridges waddling across the grass searching for a pear tree to canoodle in. Except, of course, partridges feed and breed on the ground. But let’s not spoil an evergreen Christmas carol with small details like the truth.
Perking the Pansies 
We love watching the birds. Of course ours are a tropical lot. Yesterday I saw a large heron down on the dock perusing a snack. I’ve read that the European song birds are rapidly disappearing. I imagine it’s a problem everywhere. 😔
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I guess it is though you wouldn’t think it from our morning chorus! We get herons too, swooping over our local river, Love ’em!
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What a fabulous post!! All those birds (sorry, I am a bird fanatic as you might know. I will be in the UK very soon and will spend a couple of days in Suffolk, where I hope to spot some wetland birds!!)
Oh yes! Merlin is a great app for birds. I am looking forward to hearing the wren’s song (so loud for such a tiny bird) and the blackbird and the thrush… Even, perhaps, a nightingale or a cuckoo. Ah! nostalgia!
I could go on, but I will stop here. Enjoy your birds (and bees, perhaps!)
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Yes, we get the bees too so you could say I know all about the birds and the bees 😀 Enjoy Suffolk!
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Thank you! We will…
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I am not a birder, but I really enjoy watching birds. Just don’t ask me what they are!
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I hear you 😉
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