A large flock of bramblings (bjørkefink) in the garden this afternoon, at least 120! This is double the highest winter flock ever recorded in Malvik, but small compared to a flock of 350 seen in February in the north of the county! Large numbers of brambling have overwintered in Norway this winter!
Daily Archives: March 20, 2018
First day of spring sign!
The first day of spring, snow showers and, right on the dot, I heard my first yellowhammer singing this morning whilst I was in the outhouse….managed to capture one short “Little bit of bread” phrase.
“1896, Edward Marston, By meadow and stream: pleasant memories of pleasant places
It is delightful to hear the yellowhammer’s song — his only song : “A little bit of bread and no cheese.”
1937, Lovely places I remember (in The Rotarian, volume 50, number 2, February 1937)
“A little bit of bread and no cheese!” cry the yellowhammers petulantly. But no one takes any notice of them.”
In Norwegian they sing:
En-to-tre-fire-fem-seks-syv) with weight on syv.
(meaning 1-2-3-4-5-6-7…..