Notes from the country with Vicky Turrell

It is official, it can help with your health and wellbeing! Connecting with nature has made it easier for many of us to cope with the pandemic. We have noticed new wildlife that we have never been aware of before. We have seen and heard more birds and have caught sight of more butterflies and bees. We have used and appreciated open spaces more than ever. And now the RSPB is doing a survey to find out how much nature has helped us. Watching wildlife, in my prolonged isolation, has certainly given me a focus. The smaller songbirds are quieter now and some have finished nesting, while others will go for a second brood. Our larger birds, though, are still making their presence felt. The big pink breasted woodpigeons are still constantly cooing, while the magpies have been cackling loudly. Most of all, I have heard the mistle thrush. The mistle thrush’s Latin name is Turdus viscivorus , which doesn’t sound very nice and Its behaviour seems to match. It is bigger and more aggressive th...

Did you know that February 2 nd is the birds’ wedding day? When I first came to Shropshire the postman told me this. I am inclined to believe him because only a few days ago, I saw a house sparrow with a feather in its beak heading for our eves. House sparrows are everywhere here in Shropshire and if you have a bird table, you will see them crowding round the food, they often force out the timid little birds and even the smart blackbird. House sparrows love seeds and today they are on our bird table making a great deal of noise and creating lots of mess. They seem to be just ordinary common birds, with not much to be said in their favour. Last year, my husband was given a nest box with a camera fitted and he put it up on a tree trunk straight away. In our excitement, we didn’t check the size of the hole (which had several adjustments) and we were disappointed that it was large enough for a pair of familiar house sparrows, who immediately claimed it. You could connect the cam...