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Friday 28 September 2012

Squabbly starlings and a scruffy blue tit

Starling
© Sharon Whitley

The latest in the garden bird series - this is especially for Pete Woodruff of Birds2Blog fame who I know loves these squabbly visitiors to the garden (not!!) I've been getting quite a few of these in the garden (link here).  If you've never seen these birds roosting in the Autumn and Winter evenings (and I haven't for real yet but hoping to do so soon!!) just take a look at this!  I can't wait to see this for real, just amazing and such a beautiful sight....watch right to the end, nature itself for a work of art!





and just thought I'd share a photo of a visitor to Gary's garden last month - this poor little blue tit was going through the molting process and was looking a bit worse for wear - in fact definitely the scruffiest little bird I've ever seen in my life but I'm sure he's showing off a spanking new set of feathers by now bless him!!


Thank you to those who gave advice about photographing artwork and printing cards - definitely need to look at how I'm photographing my artwork and will look into printing out my own cards too!

Off to check out all your blogs now, til next time.............

26 comments:

  1. Ahhhh....Just switching off to go to bed Sharon, then I saw you'd posted this, the painting say it all about the Starling with it beak full open.

    Great stuff....sleep well!

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    1. haha thought you'd appreciate it - I don't believe that you dislike them that much though !

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  2. wow! what a fantastic painting and what an interesting bird!

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  3. Love the starling! And the scruffy little bird made me laugh, poor fellow!

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    1. thanks Judy - I laugh every time I look at that photo - my little punk blue tit!

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  4. You are getting a lovely series of birds together here Sharon and I really like this one... the expression is fantastic!

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    1. thanks Judith - this was my second attempt at a starling - the first was really bad!!!

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  5. Poor blue tit - I photographed a robin going through his molting process in my garden a couple of months back but he was much more presentable than this little chap!!

    http://pencilpix.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/2407-feeling-sorry-for-himself.html

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    1. thanks for the link sue - they certainly do look a bit worse for wear when they go through the molt don't they!

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  6. Another gem, keep them coming.

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  7. They certainly are squabbly! I saw a smaller murmuration yesterday, driving home from work - fascinating to watch. :)

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    1. thanks Kathryn, I'm looking forward to seeing the spectacle for real, it must really be fascinating it's like they're dancing, just gorgeous

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  8. The video was amazing!! Nature is the greatest artist of all. Thank you for sharing Sharon.
    Your painting is fabulous, I love it this winning little fellow :)
    I'm glad to know that you are about to print your cards!!!
    Hugs and smiles.

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    1. thank you Konstantina you always say such lovely things, yes nature is the greatest artist of all

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  9. Sharon.Lovely painting as always..starlings when studied are fascinating and handsome birds.You are in for a real treat soon when the big flocks assemble.Marton Mere at Blackpool is a great place to watch as also is Leighton Moss.Keep up the god work.

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    1. thanks Brian, Gary's going to take me as soon as they start happening regularly - may bump into there again!

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  10. Great painting of an annoying bird :) I've seen some of the migration patterns in the air around here but not like this video. Hope you continue to get pretty visitors to paint at your feeders.

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  11. I so enjoyed my visit to your blog. Your bird and dog portraits are second to none! Thanks for your visit to my blog and your kind words. I so appreciate positive feedback. It is funny that you posted the video of the murmuration. Seeing that in person is on my bucket list.

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    1. thank you barbara - it's lovely to see you here, what a lovely comment, I hope you get to see your murmuration soon, I'm hoping to in the next few weeks...

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  12. Now that is a scruffy little blue tit! What a lovely blog - I'm so glad you visited mine so that I can now enjoy yours. I heard the tawny owl in our garden just as I was dropping off to sleep last night, but I have managed to spot him yet.

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    1. Hi Chris thanks for visiting, how wonderful to have a tawny owl in the garden! I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

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  13. The Starling video is so so amazing. Thank you for posting it. From Findlay

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it Findlay - I hope you get to see it for real some time

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