August's Birds in Ashtead

10th August 2009

robin

Robins are singing again in gardens and on the Common after their annual moult last month. It’s the sweetest birdsong of all and particularly poignant in the months ahead when most other songbirds are silent. The lightness and freshness of the robin’s liquid warbling, never more welcome than on a cold autumnal morning, reflects its friendly, confiding disposition towards man, especially when fed morsels of food. Mealworms are a favourite and I’m told they’ll do handstands for Hobnobs, though I’ve never put it to the test …   But they’re as tough as old boots when threatened and will fight to the death to defend their territory or their young. A very British bird, you might say.

17th August 2099

Stuart, 13, who lives in Ashtead, has emailed to tell me about a sparrowhawk which had just caught a starling outside their back kitchen door. As the accompanying picture shows, he had the presence of mind to photograph the event. He writes: ‘You can see the bird mantling. This means spreading out its wings over the dead prey. It does this to claim ownership of the prey and warn off other birds. Mantling is very rare.’ Many thanks, Stuart.

A sparrowhawk mantling Getting tucked in