UKRAINE
Wintering Chronics: Wildlife
Birds, cats, and…?
Winter is rightly considered the season where nature sleeps. But not all. Only at this time is it possible to see some birds that get closer to cities from distant places or move to us from colder regions to escape from strong frosts. In addition, all wildlife is better visible without leaves on trees.
It’s easy to catch owls. Once, I found a birch where they winter, so I visit them every year. With the caveat that they sit very high (and sleep in the daytime), there is no hope for good photos. It’s enough to make sure that they are OK. This year, I counted up more than 15.
Once upon a time, I saw a Facebook post about them, and the street name was mentioned. So, I searched all the yards of this street until I found them. They live on one tree between ordinary 9-storey houses. I’m sure there are many more owls in the city, but I’ll never see them with my attentiveness.
Magpies are more typical city dwellers during the whole year. I took a photo of this one because of its graceful pose.
But I had never met a hawfinch before.
It’s not much bigger than a sparrow but looks solid, thanks to the powerful beak. It is called “kostohryz” in Ukrainian (literally “bone gnawer”) because it likes to feast on the seeds of berries (and not gnaw the bones of its enemies, as one might think).
But the hit of winter is bullfinches, of course. Two years ago, I found their spot in a park near my home but didn’t see anybody there for a long time. In general, it’s better to search for them by ears but not eyes. They speak constantly! Listen to their mechanical “pic-pic” on YouTube, and you’ll quickly recognize them outdoors by their voices.
However, hearing them doesn’t mean taking photos because they hide in thickets or on tree tops. This is a girl; she is less bright:
So it was good luck to find a sea buckthorn near where I heard them. Another characteristic is that they constantly devour.
Here is how they endeavor:
One more girl. For some reason, catching them in the frame is always harder.
The berries meant that I could meet other birds there. A fieldfare is a year-round resident of our cities:
A blue tit was an incredible whirlwind, as usual.
And a great tit for the company for the blue one.
Finally, I met bullfinches in their old spot in the park one sunny morning. And there was even a whole gang of them.
I crept up slowly and quietly so that I could get quite close. I was refraining from an incredible desire to crash my camera that didn’t want to focus with perfect lighting and a little distance to them.
A typical portrait of a bullfinch: a dirty beak and a glance like “Me? What? I didn’t do it.”
I also met Mister Goldfinch one day.
And even a flock of goldfinches later, but I couldn’t take any good photos from a long distance. In general, my camera is weak for birdwatching. Previously, I didn’t want a more powerful camera because I was too lazy to learn about objectives and settings. Now, I’m mentally prepared but unwilling to risk such an expensive investment in times of uncertainty and disasters.
A flock of greenfinches was also near. Their photos aren’t good enough, but let them be: I never previously caught them in the frame.
As usual for birds, boys are bright, and girls are grey:
I should mention ravens. The city becomes a shelter for them every winter, especially during the two winters of the war: there were thousands. I love birds, but they annoyed me in such a number.
The main disappointment of the season was waxwings. I stubbornly searched for them in remote places and met only once in a crowded, noisy spot near the office. Of course, I was without my camera. So I have only this photo on my smartphone, where even their forelocks weren’t visible, and a screenshot from Merlin to prove who they were.
Another feature of winter is the possibility to see not only birds or animals but also their traces.
A hare ran through the city outskirts.
Here, a squirrel accompanied somebody.
Actually, here it is:
I can’t avoid cats when speaking about living creatures, even though they aren’t wildlife. Especially now that I finally have my model.
(that tries to look in and get out everywhere)
But I have to give attention to other random citizens.
A sign says, “Beware! Angry dog, angry owners, angry children, angry all.”
Cats are undemanding citizens, but VIP persons must be transported by special vehicles.
I also met Zhdun. I didn’t find how to translate his name into English; it’s someone awaiting the grass to grow under its feet — one of my totems.
Meanwhile, spring was awaking without waiting for March. And she didn’t care what kind of fuck was going around.
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