Jays

Jays love acorns and this often leads to some quite close observation of this relatively shy, colourful member of the crow family.

I have seen and heard a jay in the oak tree that over hangs our garden on and off for the last couple of weeks.

Today however there a great commotion as three jays chased each other back and forth from the tree to the garage roof.

No need to fight over the acorns as there are more than enough to go around - even for the wood pigeons that also visit the tree.

Eventually there was only one left.

Jays frequently bury acorns and dig them up later.I have noticed small holes in our front lawn and had previously blamed squirrels, but this may have been caused by jays retrieving their stash of acorns.

Jays have a rather bad reputation as like other members of the crow family they will also feed on the nestlings of other birds

Long-tailed tits and Jays

A dull showery day was brightened momentarily by a small flock of long tailed tits. I estimated about 6, but they are very quick and erratic in the way the fly around. I was alerted to their presence by their calls as they foraged in the garden. The pictures are not very good because of the dark sky and the rain on the windows.

The jays are still very noisily feeding on the acorns

Acorn feast

The oak trees that overlooks our garden is full of fluttering at the pigeons and a couple of jays have an acorn feast. I'm not sure what type of oak tree it is (when the acorns first grow the leaves are more like a holly tree!).

Every time I walk out the back door about a dozen wood pigeons shoot off in every direction followed by the jays. I am quite happy they are making a feast of the acorns as dozen start to grow in our garden each year, on the rockery, in window boxes, the grass and almost everywhere else.

More jays appear to be moving into towns where they are doing quite well. Unfortunately, like carrion crows and magpies, jays also take birds eggs and young birds.