Reed Bunting visits the garden

For about five weeks we’ve been visited by a male Reed Bunting, and sometimes the female. He comes most days and feeds on the ground. Before this year I’d never seen one in the garden. The male is sparrow sized and very distinctive with a breeding plumage of a black head and a broad white collar.

They must have come from the canal and river area which is about 15 minutes walk away. We certainly haven’t got any reeds in our garden! As often happens some bird species move into gardens during the winter if they are having some problems in their natural habitat. Broadly speaking the intensification of agriculture has resulted in fewer weed seeds on which the Reed Bunting feeds. According to the RSPB website – in the UK “This farmland and wetland bird suffered a serious population decline making it a Red List species”. I gather that the population has now stabilised quite well.

I’m afraid the Digger’s picture isn’t very good as it was taken from inside the conservatory and was rather rushed in case they flew away (the birds not the Digger). The female is almost hidden, on the left of the flat stone. Click for a larger picture.