Friday 23 December 2011

ABC Wednesday W is for . . .


‘Warm Welcome’

Rosa ‘Warm Welcome’ is a semi-evergreen climbing rose that flowers profusely in summer and autumn. The clusters of flowers are sweetly scented and a vibrant orange-red, a welcome splash of brightness on our often less than sunny summer days.

White starling
Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are on the RSPB Red list. This means that they are globally threatened. They are abundant in Berkshire and frequent our bird feeders with noisy enthusiasm. A few years ago I spotted a pure white starling. Not quite believing my eyes I took some hasty photographs and though I watched and waited for several days I never saw it again.
Woodpecker – of the three UK woodpeckers, two can be seen in gardens. The Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is the commoner visitor to our garden. It is a striking bird and vies with the starlings for a place at the table. It eats insects and fruit.
The Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) is the largest of the woodpeckers that breed in Britain. It eats insects and has a particular liking for ants. It is popularly called the Yaffle because of its laughing call. It is on the RSPB Amber list, meaning that its status is causing concern.
The bird at the front is a juvenile. The white neck patches will develop later.
The Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is Britain’s largest pigeon. It is the major agricultural pest and a favourite species for sport shooting. However, I am not a farmer and am always pleased to see these heavyweights in the garden. Their repetitive soft cooing call is a reassuring sound that all is well in the bird kingdom.
The Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is the UK’s commonest breeding bird. Like other small birds it suffers a decline in numbers in cold weather. It is often to be seen creeping mouse-like round plant pots, seeking the insects and spiders that form its diet.

To see other Ws please click here.

14 comments:

  1. Interesting and great pictures. Amazing to see a white starling! I would not have thought they were a threatened species as they are always so abundant seeming..

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  2. Very nice new header picture.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  3. We have different woodpeckers here, but yours are very interesting The woodpigeon is a beautiful blue.

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  4. Wow, Jab, that rose is gorgeous. And the birds are so pretty. I always feel transported into nature when I visit your blog, and it's very calming.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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  5. I enjoyed this, especially the WOODPECKER, Janice; and I want to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas!

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  6. The rose is so pretty, I can almost smell its sweet scent. The white starling is quite amazing. I'm glad you were able to get some shots before it disappeared.

    Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
    Judy

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  7. Amazing to find out the wren (so cute!) is a Troglodyte, which sounds so dreadful.
    Farmers and gardeners around here don't like starlings OR pigeons. I like them both. I don't think I've ever seen a wren.
    The most common woodpecker we see here is the Northern Flicker.
    Wishing you and yours all the very best for Christmas and the coming year, with a special hug for Frodo.
    Luv, K

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  8. BEAUTIFUL photographs and great W's. Blessings, Jabblog. Love visiting your blog.

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  9. Thanks for the -- beautifully illusrated -- Warm Welcome. Merry Christmas from the other side of the great pond...

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  10. Wonderful series of shots. What a great backyard you have.

    Merry Christmas.

    Darryl and Ruth :)

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  11. Wow! So much colour. My favourite flowers and birds are the ones that are vibrant and multi coloured. I should look up the psychology of why they make me so happy.

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  12. it always saddeds me to discover a species on the endangered species list

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  13. Gorgeous photos! I had no idea that there were white starlings! Wow! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!

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  14. A lovely walk around the garden

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