Hi
Today I spotted a pair of birds in search of food outside my window. I managed to grab a few pics before my camera battery died (typical!) I only managed to catch one of the pair. It was bigger than a black bird but smaller than a pigeon if that helps! It was spotted in Leeds UK
Thanks
Hi remono
Welcome to the Forum. The birds you have seen are Jays. They are normally woodland birds but do make forays into gardens from time to time.
I like the cheeky one on the hanging basket.
Best wishes
TJ
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Hi Remondo, its a Jay, a vocal and colourful member of the crow family. Boots
strive for better
Thats the most colourful of the crow famley. Its a Jay
Well done on gettin the photos
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Hi Remondo,
Welcome to the forums.You are lucky to have Jays In your garden I have only seen them In books.
Littleowl
thanks for the answers, I was in discussion about it with a friend and I said it was a Jay but they instantly dismissed it! Are these common to the UK?
Hi Remondo
Yes, it is a Jay - lovely colourful bird
I think they are common but they are very shy and it is not always easy to see them about.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
remondo said: thanks for the answers, I was in discussion about it with a friend and I said it was a Jay but they instantly dismissed it! Are these common to the UK?
I see, well this one didn't have any problem sitting on a wall about 1.5 metres away and looking straight at me with my window open for a while!
Ys indeed Jays. If you put some hazelnuts or peanuts out they may return. You are so lucky to have them
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
remondo said: I see, well this one didn't have any problem sitting on a wall about 1.5 metres away and looking straight at me with my window open for a while!
As Blackbird has said they are normally pretty shy birds. With the very harsh winter we have had many birds have been forced to forage in gardens and even into urban areas. It's possible that they have become a lot bolder as a consequence.
I hope you can attract them back. They are such colourful birds. Don't leave anything shiny around - they'll probably nick it. LOL
We regularly get one ot two jays in the garden at the moment - they don't seem at all shy, but they are very wary when there's any disturbance. Last year we saw a few juveniles on the lawn, and on one occasion the parents were there too (six jays in all). When I entered this figure in the BTO's Garden BirdWatch, it came up with a red alert, to check that I was quite sure of this!!!
I saved a bucketful of acorns last autumn (a neighbour's tree overhangs our garden, and it was a bumper year) - the jays have now discovered where I scatter these on the ground, and carry them off.
Here's a photo caught by the table cam last year: