For the past couple of years I have tried to photograph as many of the different birds that bring young to our feeders and what a range it is! I started in 2023 when I first saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker family arrive which I thought was an amazing opportunity but when a Rook and Carrion Crows turned up, I was blown away. The Corvids seem to come around while they are still learning, then disappear back out into the wild, which is great and gives me the chance to see these fabulous birds up close ……….. so clever, so aware!
So here we are in 2025. Did you think the 21st century was way in the future too? You’d think we’d have actually advanced by now?
So, the birds, more precisely, the youngsters.
I’m pretty sure the first I saw were the Starlings, stumbling and crashing into anything and everything, screeching and shouting, eating anything and everything in front of them. Not everyone likes them but, I think they’re clever, funny and can be beautiful birds, I love the transition stages as they moult into their adult feathers so you may see more shots as that happens. Our local Starling flock appears to be growing annually, not sure if that’s good or not? 🙂 My first photo was on May 25th but, we were away for the fortnight before that so I may have missed a bit 🙂
(Don’t forget, you can tap or click my images to see them full size within an album in Flickr)
They are possibly the nosiest, messiest birds that visit, arriving in ever growing flocks, eating everything they can but, they are great parents and the young soon learn to fend for themselves. Our flock is now visiting less and less, bearing in mind, we live in the country, there’s no shortage of food out there.
I have a stout branch pushed into the grass just outside my window and the birds drop onto it while they’re sorting out their menu choices, also means I get real close with them, as long as I don’t move too quickly.
No complaints but, the only real issue with them being this close is focussing, trying to fit the bird into the frame and keep the eye as my focal point. Beak wide seems to be the default state for these youngsters.
My next sightings were Goldfinches, the adults have been around for a few days, feeding up and disappearing and on May 26th two youngsters appeared on the grass.
I’m not a fan of “on the grass” photos but that’s often all I get, better than on a feeder I guess.
We are lucky to have two species of Sparrow here, House and Tree and last year we got both sets of young around the same time; this year we only seem to have the Tree Sparrows, so far. I have seen the House Sparrows coming in more often recently…. so, May 28th these gorgeous wee beasties showed up.
There are many, many more images of all of these so I’ll create a page or two for just those, maybe by species?
The next to show up on June 2nd was our piece of resistance 🙂 the Great Spotted Woodpecker. We have had young coming in for past three years and I think the local population is exploding, they are everywhere but, I think the original adults dominate in our garden. I have no idea in truth but there can be major shenanigans if two un-related adults turn up, even the wrong youngster!
Tucked away within the branches of the Ash tree outside, I only got a few glimpses before it was gone again. The young have that deep red cap which either then fades to nothing in females or appears on the nape of the neck on the males. I’ve noticed the adults start to collect peanuts and suet and hide it in the bark of the tree just before the young appear, training I guess. Clever eh?
I also noticed more Siskins on the feeders, they’re difficult to spot as young unless they arrive early in their life, they all look a bit like the female adults but, as they mature the males start to colour up more.
June 12th saw a couple of youngsters appearing, you can just see the black cap starting to form on this young male, the females don’t have that but keep the body patterns a little more.
As I said earlier, I may have missed a few, I don’t sit at the window all the time!!! 😉 That said, I caught this one on June 12th, they’re sneaky and drop in earlier, before we’re up and about ….. usually
A young Carrion Crow, sneaking around, grabbing a few snacks 🙂
As I’ve been sitting here, trying, listening to music and scanning outside, there’s been a ruckus between rival woodpecker adults, the first Blue Tit youngster I’ve seen and a host of Starlings coming and going in the pouring rain. The jackdaws having been coming in for a while now but I haven’t noticed any obvious young yet so, I shall update you with any new arrivals later on, meanwhile, here’s a glimpse of a couple of newbies I spotted in town on the burn.
Not exactly garden visitors but they do fly over from time to time, when they’re grown up of course. These are young Black-headed Gulls, I believe, based on the racket an adult was making at us as we walked by 🙂
So, have a grand weekend if you can.
Nature and wildlife are a key to our happiness and peace. Head outside, go sit near trees and running water, watch, listen and absorb, you will feel much better. 🙂
If you’d like to view all or more of these please head over to my Flickr album – The Young Ones 2025
Scozmo's Photery 
So beautiful, whether on the ground, in the air, clinging to branches, to appreciate nature is a wonderful gift so many don’t even notice, hear or see. I love watching and listening to the sounds of nature in all its glory and admiring the open views, so peaceful and good for the Soul.
I guess you have a camera set up on timer by the window to catch such perfect shots, so close, especially as the birdies are visiting before you have woken? 😂 Some so inquisitive as if to say “Whatya looking at”, “Yeh, you up yet, where’s my breakfast” lol 😂 Comical and well captured. I’ve caught many of our feathered friends through my windows on my phone. Don’t see as much variety as you even though I live in the countryside, bit too near to town I think. Not isolated. I’ve even had a Robin actually come into my home and sat on a picture frame! Now that was an experience I felt so blessed to see. Holding my breath, I caught him on my phone, just sat there watching me, watching him. Or her, I never can tell! 🤭
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Well ….. I do have a wildlife cam set up but rarely share anything from it, there’s a lot of variety around here, I’ve yet to see / photograph most of it but, all the shots I share, I have taken myself! I do have a camera on a tripod right next to me and it stays there all night so, on those mornings where I’m stumbling around half asleep, I’ll wander through here for a quick check.
There’s a wild cat that comes round to stare in the windows until we feed it!!! Wonderful.
As for Robins, I don’t think there is a difference between them?
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I thought maybe you had a camera set up at nights, but can see the majority of your photography is taken by you, and it’s beautiful and well captured. A very keen eye and speedy reactions too. Love the photos of all the birds and I for one, love starlings too. I love all God’s creatures, big and small.
A wild cat too, you obviously feeding it well lol
As for the Robin’s, the difference is the male is brighter coloured than the female and can be identified by their eye-ring, vivid beak colour, black coloured head, whereas the female feathers appear washed out and faded in comparison to the male’s darker, richer colour’s.
Isn’t knowledge wonderful?……,…🤭🤣 Thanks Siri lol 😂 and
a-z-animals,.com (I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge) and very intrigued, interested in all creatures, great and small, the natural world and landscape history.
Look forward to seeing more shots of various species, views and early morning visitor’s and awe inspiring landscapes.
Thanks for reading and liking some of my posts too. Means a lot. x
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Aha! You’re in America / Canada! Our Robins all look the same 🙂
I’m looking out the window, it is absolutely pouring down and there’s a Pheasant (Cedric) crouched under the tree, sheltering bless him. The cat is sitting under the garden table, sheltering and waiting for yet more food!
I enjoyed those posts I read, I’ll read more so, my pleasure 🙂 x
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Thank you Brian. I’m actually in UK, West Yorkshire. I agree, our little beauties, Robins, do look the same 😂 Siri must live in USA lol 😂
Hope “Cedric” keeps dry 🤭 and the rain stops soon so you can get out to feed the pussy cat. We have a bit of sunshine and showers now. Thunderstorms later 🥴
Enjoyed our chats today, hope you enjoy rest of my posts of a very troubled life. Not all easy reading. Carole
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Good morning Carole, a wee bit drier this morning g up here 🙂 I had to look up West Yorks last night, not because I don’t know where it is but more to see what is encompassed by it. P.S. Catty was outside waiting for breakfast this morning!
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Good morning Brian, how are you? Happy Dad’s Day. Glad to hear a bit drier up there today. Hope the rain stopped?. It’s very windy, cloudy and quite cool here at the moment. Weathers so unpredictable.
Looking up West Yorks lol 🤭 I do not particularly like the towns, villages of West Yorkshire, and especially being near to Bradford, 😧 Do not like towns and cities, well not to live in, I prefer the open countryside or the coast. I am looking to move away from here asap. Where? No idea 🫣 but im not far from the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Cumbria and The Lakes, thats what I prefer. The wide open countryside. Used to live in North Yorkshire, on the edge of the York North Moors National Park, loved it, until circumstances altered the direction of my life and I ended up here 🥴
I too looked up Alyth 😂🤭 to get a “sense of place” and it looks absolutely beautiful. I assume when you mention the Den you are talking about the Den of Alyth, the wooded gorge? The tranquil place where you saw the dragonflies? Your photos give so much more meaning now I know and can sense and “feel” the area. Beautiful. So different from Wales.
My mum or ancestors, heralded from Scotland, Glen Coe. Apparently we had a Scottish Laird in the family but where all the money went is an unsolved mystery and is anyones guess lol 😂 x
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The rain stopped at some point last night, it’s been threatening all day but really warm and a good breeze.
I used to live in N. Yorkshire, just outside Richmond and loved it, Yorkshire is a fabulous county, in places 😉 I know what you mean about the towns though, I’ve worked around Sheffield, Rotherham, Leeds etc.
Alyth is a lovely wee town, growing of course as southies move North 😉 as long as they don’t want to change everything it’s all good.
So……. you’re highlander really? Have you watched that movie? Highlander? Wonderful but confusing at first, very moving too.
Who needs money? As long as you have enough to live and maybe a wee treat now and again, right? 🙂 x
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Its been threatening to rain here all day too, gone very still, the lull before the storm as they say, very sticky, so warm.
Small world isnt it? I used to live in Leavening, near Malton, then Ampleforth, had wonderful open countryside views of the Hambleton Hills one way and the North York Moors the other. Absolutely loved it, glorious for walking our 2 doggies. Worked in York with Ex hubby till we parted. I have been to Richmond so many times. Been to Durham, Middleton in Teesdale, Stockton, Stanhope, Cockermouth. Used to go to Leeds a lot (with my soulmate who has sadly passed) his bro still lives there. Dont go much now. Cant do with busy towns and cities especially driving in them, give me the countryside lanes any day. So much more to see and appreciate in a relaxed way and not staring at someone else’s bumper with eyes in the back of our heads 👀🫣
Alyth does sound and look lovely on Google lol. Southies taking over? Uh umm, I am a Southie myself lol 🤣😂 but hated it, lived in Yorkshire most of my life. Happiness to me is seeing London in my rear view mirror lol
Guess im a highlander by blood, Mum being a Henderson, all her family from Scotland, but we were born and raised down South!Dad was a Londoner. No Ive not see film Highlander. Seen it advertised though. Might have to now.
I agree, who needs money. The best things in life are free and all to see, experience as long as we have enough to pay our way, do the things we want to do, and stop and smell the roses, and with beautiful, uninterrupted views, who needs anything else
I totally agree, money only breeds avarice for all things and inanimate objects and false power and an arrogance beyond words. It changes people. People with money do not see let alone appreciate the natural universe that we are truly blessed to be a part of. 🙏 x
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Good morning and a much nicer morning, so far 🙂 it’s slowly changing but, hopefully a bit drier.
I loved N. Yorkshire, lived in Middleham for a wee while, worked over on Teesside, fair drive each day but enjoyed it, eventually moved to Skeeby!
A parting of the ways saw me head darn saff for a few years for work, hated that so, gave it all up and moved back to my folks near Inverness. Ended up as a contractor (IT) all over the country on various projects and mostly loved that. The last job was with Cyfoethnaturiolcymru 😉 and I worked remotely up here for them until I realised there’s more to life and retired.
Been loving life ever since, there’s a definite change of rhythm, lifecycle, wants and needs after that but this location just made it happen!
I can walk all around this patch and see so much including …………. silence, tranquility & peace. The road at the bottom of the lane is currently a dead end so, very little traffic, very few people … nice.
Alyth is a cracking wee town, sadly, growing, like everywhere I have lived, growth has its limitations. New houses (not small or inexpensive) are going to be built just above the Den, I can only see that as a sad change because it will change the area, not least by volume of traffic!
OK no more ranting 🙂
I’m a teuchter originally, fit like min? Lossiemouth but I’ve now lived and worked all over the UK and for the most. part, enjoyed it.
I despair for those who don’t see, hear or smell nature (yet) those who think that physical possessions and Likes are the most important things in life. I no longer do mainstream (anti)social media, I detest it all. (ooops more ranting)
So, Highlander is fabulous, probably ly dated but with a soundtrack by Queen???
SO, I’m considering heading g off up to the reservoir now, keeping an eye on a pair of Black-throated Divers up there, fingers crossed.
Happy Monday, hope yours is a good one (all) 🙂 x
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