The Bird Watching Thread

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Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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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.

PositronicRay

26,952 posts

182 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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Nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows, tits, doves, pigeons, magpies in the garden, kingfishers
ducks, swans, grebes and coots on the cut, pheasants in the woods, Buzzards and red kites circling overhead.

Roofless Toothless

5,608 posts

131 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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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!

isaldiri

18,401 posts

167 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
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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!

monoloco

289 posts

191 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
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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.

StefanVXR8

3,603 posts

197 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Had a visit from these last week, Australian King Parrots (yep, I live in Oz).



Stef

Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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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.

Fastchas

2,639 posts

120 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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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.

SPR2

3,182 posts

195 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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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.

Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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The murmuration at Otmoor was very good on Friday. Well worth a visit if you're local, but parking is at a premium.

StefanVXR8

3,603 posts

197 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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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

DoctorX

7,240 posts

166 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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^Fantastic clap

Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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Are they all that tame?

StefanVXR8

3,603 posts

197 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
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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 smile



...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

Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
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Certainly very different. Not sure I'd want the local wildlife chasing us!

StefanVXR8

3,603 posts

197 months

Friday 27th December 2019
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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

Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Friday 27th December 2019
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Fascinating. Thanks.

PositronicRay

26,952 posts

182 months

Friday 27th December 2019
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No photos too fast, sparrowhawk attacking tits this afternoon.

Lotobear

6,229 posts

127 months

Saturday 28th December 2019
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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.

Mort7

Original Poster:

1,487 posts

107 months

Friday 3rd January 2020
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2 male shelducks, Little Marlow Gravel Pit, this PM.