One of the things that makes birding a truly special pastime/passion/hobby/lifestyle is the fact that it enriches everyday life. A walk in the woods or even in a city become so much richer when you are aware of the birds around you and know something about the life stories.
A walk yesterday through forest and then above the treeline was enriched by a host of birds in breeding mood with parents collecting food, protecting young and giving warning calls when we walked into their territories.
A male Bluethroat clearly had a female on a nest right by the path and sat and called on both the way up and way down and a female Hazel Grouse had three half-grown youngsters that she was trying to keep control.
The young were surprisingly good fliers and mum was communicating to them with a strange bubbling call which seemed to cause the youngsters to freeze unless we came too close.
Simon Rix
Simon Rix is an English Birder who has lived in Oslo, Norway since 2001. Birding has been his passion since primary school and after an education as an economist and career within oil and gas and then drinks industry he turned his attention full time to birds as middle age approached. He is particularly interested in patch birding and migration and is an active guide, blogger and photographer. He is a member of the Norwegian Rarities Committee (NSKF).
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