The Bird Watching Thread
Discussion
I haven't seen a similar thread, so I thought I'd start one for the birders amongst us.
What have you seen, and where did you see them?
I'll make a strong start:-
2 bittern at RSPB Otmoor, near Oxford, at around dusk. Also a significant number of starlings - a bit too early for murmurations yet, but looking good for colder weather in a few weeks time.
What have you seen, and where did you see them?
I'll make a strong start:-
2 bittern at RSPB Otmoor, near Oxford, at around dusk. Also a significant number of starlings - a bit too early for murmurations yet, but looking good for colder weather in a few weeks time.
I lived for over 30 years on a house on the edge of Epping. The garden backed onto an open field, the other side of which was a little wood. We had all the usual garden birds, but also field birds and woodland birds visiting. I kept a list and counted over forty species seen either in it or from my garden.
But I moved to Chelmsford, and I am struggling to get up to eight or nine species now. Even the blackbirds deserted me this summer, despite an array or feeders and a bird bath.
Still, I am persuading myself that quality counts above quantity. Last week my seven year old granddaughter and myself stood in hysterics watching a whole family of sparrows having bath time together. It's great just showing kids that there is enough wild life to watch in your own garden, and you don't need Attenborough to bring it to you. She made a vivarium and collects wood lice to keep in it!
But I moved to Chelmsford, and I am struggling to get up to eight or nine species now. Even the blackbirds deserted me this summer, despite an array or feeders and a bird bath.
Still, I am persuading myself that quality counts above quantity. Last week my seven year old granddaughter and myself stood in hysterics watching a whole family of sparrows having bath time together. It's great just showing kids that there is enough wild life to watch in your own garden, and you don't need Attenborough to bring it to you. She made a vivarium and collects wood lice to keep in it!
Well done on the bitterns!.
been seeing a few goldcrests (no firecrests yet...) as well but only 1 redwing in the parks. Seen the usual few peregrine falcons in the area (city of london), quite a few intruders being chased off by the local pair it seems but (hopefully) that will pick up in jan/feb which is proper display season!
been seeing a few goldcrests (no firecrests yet...) as well but only 1 redwing in the parks. Seen the usual few peregrine falcons in the area (city of london), quite a few intruders being chased off by the local pair it seems but (hopefully) that will pick up in jan/feb which is proper display season!
last count we had hit 63 species either in, or flying over, our garden. That's over a period of 18 years in a largish (1/2acre) garden on the edge of a Bedfordshire village. We back onto woodlands and have open fields in front so a mix of garden, woodland and field species. Several bird feeders and bird baths all kept full all year helps significantly.
Good thread.
I moved to birmingham last year from Wolves. So far, I've seen a pair of bullfinches, green and LS Woodpeckers. long tailed and willow tits and a firecrest. My partner couldn't believe I knew these varieties and was surprised at all the different visitors. She can just about say what sparrows and blackbirds are.
Then last autumn whilst walking back home, about 100yds away, we were talking and I heard a screech. I stopped and the missus asked what's up? I looked up and told her there's peregrines up on that tower. She said nonsense, we don't get them. Then sure enough, a peregrine came in on it's approach. It must have called it's arrival and the partner called back.
I saw them both Sunday chasing each other around over the house.
Luckily, I live on the SW tip of Birmingham and quite close to Worcs countryside.
I moved to birmingham last year from Wolves. So far, I've seen a pair of bullfinches, green and LS Woodpeckers. long tailed and willow tits and a firecrest. My partner couldn't believe I knew these varieties and was surprised at all the different visitors. She can just about say what sparrows and blackbirds are.
Then last autumn whilst walking back home, about 100yds away, we were talking and I heard a screech. I stopped and the missus asked what's up? I looked up and told her there's peregrines up on that tower. She said nonsense, we don't get them. Then sure enough, a peregrine came in on it's approach. It must have called it's arrival and the partner called back.
I saw them both Sunday chasing each other around over the house.
Luckily, I live on the SW tip of Birmingham and quite close to Worcs countryside.
Mort7 said:
I haven't seen a similar thread, so I thought I'd start one for the birders amongst us.
What have you seen, and where did you see them?
I'll make a strong start:-
2 bittern at RSPB Otmoor, near Oxford, at around dusk. Also a significant number of starlings - a bit too early for murmurations yet, but looking good for colder weather in a few weeks time.
We have a murmuration of starlings circling our small estate each day going down into laurels about 4.p.m.What have you seen, and where did you see them?
I'll make a strong start:-
2 bittern at RSPB Otmoor, near Oxford, at around dusk. Also a significant number of starlings - a bit too early for murmurations yet, but looking good for colder weather in a few weeks time.
Mort7 said:
Wow! Thanks for that. The nearest to those that we get over here are Rose-Ringed Parakeets, which are gradually working their way up the Thames from London, where they escaped during the latter part of the last century. We see them quite regularly when we're walking by the river.
Here's a few more of the locals...
This little chap got disoriented in a recent high temp and bushfire and flew in to my window, so I picked him up gave him a drink and somewhere safe to perch until he was fit enough to fly off.
Stef
Mort7 said:
Are they all that tame?
In general they seem to be yes, we also have some beautiful Eastern Rosella's here but they are a little more skittish, oh, and lot's of Galah's too.On the flip side, not everything around us is friendly, spotted this twice now in two days near our pool, it's a Red Belly Black Snake, not massively venomous but you probably wouldn't want to be bitten by it...
We also have some 2.5m-3m Diamond Pythons too, absolutely stunning snakes and pretty placid, just a bit of a shocker when you walk around the corner of the house and are faced by over 8ft of snake!
We also have a variety of frogs and lizards from tiny thumb nail size dwarf tree frogs to water monitors etc...
These are known to chase you at a pretty fast rate of knots
...and for something completely random, ferrel kittens!
I'm expecting an uptick in the number of birds an animals as we are very, very close to the bushfires you guys have no doubt heard about? The one on our doorstep is bigger than the county of Hampshire (where I used to live).
Stef
Spotted these Tawny Frogmouth's in one of our trees earlier, they look like Owl's but aren't.
They mimic tree branches to avoid detection but if you stand and watch for a few minutes they eventually move!
Absolutely stunning birds, quite rare to spot one and one of my favourite Australian natives.
Stef
They mimic tree branches to avoid detection but if you stand and watch for a few minutes they eventually move!
Absolutely stunning birds, quite rare to spot one and one of my favourite Australian natives.
Stef
A wren came into our house this morning and flew into one of the windows whilst trying to get out.
I thought the poor little chap was dead - I held him for a couple of minutes and was then delighted when he came around and finally flew from my palm and out of the now open window.
Such a privilege to be able to observe one so closely, what a stunning little thing to behold - perfectly formed, tiny and simply beautiful. I was so pleased to see him (or her) fly off.
No phone to hand so no pics to post up unfortunately.
My favourite British garden bird,.. the humble wren.
I thought the poor little chap was dead - I held him for a couple of minutes and was then delighted when he came around and finally flew from my palm and out of the now open window.
Such a privilege to be able to observe one so closely, what a stunning little thing to behold - perfectly formed, tiny and simply beautiful. I was so pleased to see him (or her) fly off.
No phone to hand so no pics to post up unfortunately.
My favourite British garden bird,.. the humble wren.
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