One of the perks of visiting Germany in the winter, is seeing all the birds that show up at and around the bird feeder.
Eurasian Blue Tit – Blaumeise
In honor of the Great Backyard Bird Count Weekend, which starts today, here comes a post with a collection of birds in my parents’ yard this December. If you want to know about what’s happening this weekend, check out this article I wrote for Happier Place: What Is the Great Backyard Bird Count? And How Can You Join the Fun?
Since I’ve gotten more devoted to photographing birds, it’s been great to discover and re-discover the birds of my homeland during my visits over the last two summers. But nothing compares quite to winter when my mother hangs bird feeders outside the kitchen window.
My mom, like many people, doesn’t believe in putting bird food out in the summer, when the native birds are supposed to feed off the aphids and native seeds and be part of the circle of life. But in winter some of those birds apparently need an extra helping of fat and protein, so it’s time for the seeds and peanuts to come out.
Buntspecht – Great Spotted Woodpecker at a birdfeeder net with peanuts – and wet feathers in the light drizzle of a mild Northern German winter day
This winter, I had the pleasure of spending a week with my parents (for my dad’s 80th birthday). I got to watch a lot of birds through the kitchen window. And I also got to take a few photos.
Unfortunately, the German birds were pretty skittish and pretty clever – so as soon as my super slow-moving shadow approached, they’d fly off. And even when I stood still for as long as I could in the winter cold without moving… the birds would wait until I had gone back inside before they all returned.
Do you see the Blue Tit hiding in the red-leafed shrub?
Here are a few more photos I captured this winter during a few days in Germany…
Gruenfink – European Greenfinch in the snow next to an apple my mom put under the birdfeeder – for those birds that prefer fruit and having meals at ground levelMale Pheasant is one of the birds that can only eat from the ground – and is super skittish. As soon as it sensed me it would shriek and flutter off (barely can be called flying). This photo I got through the kitchen window. I never succeeded while outside. I’ll try again during future visits.
Feldsperling – Feldspatz – Eurasian Tree Sparrow – German Sparrow Maennlicher Hausspatz – Haussperling – Male Eurasian House Sparrow Probably male and female house sparrows (Spatzen) – although my cousin thinks the one on the bottom right could be a female chaffinch (Buchfink)A closer look at what is either a female house sparrow (Spatz) or a female chaffinch (Buchfink)Buchfink – Chaffinch Buchfink – Chaffinch in the warm evening light
Great Tit – Kohlmeise Classic image from my home: Great Tit in front of red brick wall, typical for Northern German houses (Kohlmeise vor Backsteinwand)Eurasian Blue Tit – BlaumeiseEurasian Blue Tit – BlaumeiseBuntspecht – Great Spotted Woodpecker
Two Eurasian Blue Titmice – Blaumeisen – at tube birdfeeder that Scott’s Grandma gave to my Mami when she visited Florida in 2019European Red Robin (Rotkehlchen) blending in between wooden bird feeder and red brick wall. Eurasian Blue Tit – BlaumeiseNatural Birdfeeder: Female Eurasian Black Bird (weibliche Amsel, Schwarzdrossel) eating from appleFemale Eurasian Black Bird (weibliche Amsel, Schwarzdrossel) in apple treeSparrow smoking a stickEuropean tit (great or blue) in flight, intended motion blurEurasian Blue Tit – Blaumeise
Thank you to my Mami for feeding the birds and providing me and us with a chance to visit with these birds for a bit.
