The Bird Watching Thread
Discussion
PositronicRay said:
Red kite spotted on Tuesday dominating a tree, surprisingly close up.
I’m starting to see Red Kites here in Woking in the last few weeks. Obviously they’re common in Oxfordshire and nearby counties, but this year is the first time I’ve seen them here. I love watching them thermalling; they can easily gain 500 feet without beating a wing.Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
I’m starting to see Red Kites here in Woking in the last few weeks. Obviously they’re common in Oxfordshire and nearby counties, but this year is the first time I’ve seen them here. I love watching them thermalling; they can easily gain 500 feet without beating a wing.
Keep an eye out for buzzards as well if you enjoy seeing the red kites, they do a lot of thermalling and the weather has been perfect for that. Also if you are near Woking town centre you might even see one of the local pair of peregrine falcons have a go at any nearby buzzards/red kites as it's nesting time for them and they can be quite aggressive in defending their territory.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
PositronicRay said:
Red kite spotted on Tuesday dominating a tree, surprisingly close up.
I’m starting to see Red Kites here in Woking in the last few weeks. Obviously they’re common in Oxfordshire and nearby counties, but this year is the first time I’ve seen them here. I love watching them thermalling; they can easily gain 500 feet without beating a wing.
PositronicRay said:
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.
Red Kite.... got to be around Oxford area? We only ever see them on a trip to Wembley ducks, swans, grebes and coots on the cut, pheasants in the woods, Buzzards and red kites circling overhead.
Lotobear said:
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 have quite often stopped and picked birds up off the roads (quiet roads) well I’ve stopped on a busy road also. A lot of the time they are only stunned. Very pleasing when they recover & fly off before other cars run over them. 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.
:Mariosbt said:
PositronicRay said:
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.
Red Kite.... got to be around Oxford area? We only ever see them on a trip to Wembley ducks, swans, grebes and coots on the cut, pheasants in the woods, Buzzards and red kites circling overhead.
I thought they'd be commuting up the M40, but reliably informed they're coming across from Wales.
Used to buzzards, I watch the smaller birds mobbing them, but red kites are a 1st for me locally.
I have serious issues with Magpies. In my opinion they need culling. They will take any eggs they can get to, as well as kill any fledglings. They are a bigger threat than cats as far as I can see. Crows are probably as bad, you just don’t get as many. Is it lllegal to kill magpies? It was my intention to join the RSPB this year but I’ve been told that they don’t regard any of the crow family as being a problem. I was talking to a friend last year who’s wife did voluntary work for the RSPB. They had long tailed tits nesting in their garden and were delighted... until the magpies got in and devastated it. Even he was talking about getting an air rifle.. can’t blame him. Thoughts please. 
It's called nature. If you're going to play God with magpies, then you can hardly criticise gamekeepers who poison (for example) hen harriers, can you. Thin end of the wedge, and all that.
Magpies are protected when nesting or roosting. If you shoot one in your garden you may be acting outside the law. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlif...
Magpies take chicks, etc to feed themselves, or their young. No different to you eating meat.
You could try feeding the magpies, then they might be less inclined to prey on other species. I actually like magpies and crows, mainly because they are so inventive and clever. Each to their own though.
Magpies are protected when nesting or roosting. If you shoot one in your garden you may be acting outside the law. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlif...
Magpies take chicks, etc to feed themselves, or their young. No different to you eating meat.
You could try feeding the magpies, then they might be less inclined to prey on other species. I actually like magpies and crows, mainly because they are so inventive and clever. Each to their own though.
Mort7 said:
It's called nature. If you're going to play God with magpies, then you can hardly criticise gamekeepers who poison (for example) hen harriers, can you. Thin end of the wedge, and all that.
Magpies are protected when nesting or roosting. If you shoot one in your garden you may be acting outside the law. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlif...
Magpies take chicks, etc to feed themselves, or their young. No different to you eating meat.
You could try feeding the magpies, then they might be less inclined to prey on other species. I actually like magpies and crows, mainly because they are so inventive and clever. Each to their own though.
A bit different , I don’t recall seeing 10 Hen Harriers in 1 tree ffs. Magpies are evil b@st@rds. What do they eat out side nesting season?Magpies are protected when nesting or roosting. If you shoot one in your garden you may be acting outside the law. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlif...
Magpies take chicks, etc to feed themselves, or their young. No different to you eating meat.
You could try feeding the magpies, then they might be less inclined to prey on other species. I actually like magpies and crows, mainly because they are so inventive and clever. Each to their own though.
Mariosbt said:
Mort7 said:
It's called nature. If you're going to play God with magpies, then you can hardly criticise gamekeepers who poison (for example) hen harriers, can you. Thin end of the wedge, and all that.
Magpies are protected when nesting or roosting. If you shoot one in your garden you may be acting outside the law. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlif...
Magpies take chicks, etc to feed themselves, or their young. No different to you eating meat.
You could try feeding the magpies, then they might be less inclined to prey on other species. I actually like magpies and crows, mainly because they are so inventive and clever. Each to their own though.
A bit different , I don’t recall seeing 10 Hen Harriers in 1 tree ffs. Magpies are evil b@st@rds. What do they eat out side nesting season?Magpies are protected when nesting or roosting. If you shoot one in your garden you may be acting outside the law. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlif...
Magpies take chicks, etc to feed themselves, or their young. No different to you eating meat.
You could try feeding the magpies, then they might be less inclined to prey on other species. I actually like magpies and crows, mainly because they are so inventive and clever. Each to their own though.
Magpies eat the same stuff year round. The difference is that at the moment they have chicks to feed.
Mort7 said:
You asked for thoughts, I gave you mine - and pointed you towards the legalities in an effort to be helpful. You clearly have an opinion and seem to just looking for an argument. You should have said - then I would have ignored you.
Magpies eat the same stuff year round. The difference is that at the moment they have chicks to feed.
Not looking for an argument at all, a lot of killers & criminals in the human world are inventive & clever.... maybe we should just allow them to run a mock. Magpies eat the same stuff year round. The difference is that at the moment they have chicks to feed.
Huge difference, and a weak argument. Magpies, as well as being Corvids, are natural predators. The birds they predate upon lay far more eggs and have more broods than others to compensate for a higher mortality rate.
Not liking Magpies is fine-I don't like cabbage. But thinking Magpies are in some way a threat to a natural balance, or not liking them because you don't like how they live is really quite silly.
Not liking Magpies is fine-I don't like cabbage. But thinking Magpies are in some way a threat to a natural balance, or not liking them because you don't like how they live is really quite silly.
wijit said:
Huge difference, and a weak argument. Magpies, as well as being Corvids, are natural predators. The birds they predate upon lay far more eggs and have more broods than others to compensate for a higher mortality rate.
Not liking Magpies is fine-I don't like cabbage. But thinking Magpies are in some way a threat to a natural balance, or not liking them because you don't like how they live is really quite silly.
Magpies will lay 5 eggs, a 5 chicks survive.. collared dove 2 eggs magpies take both. You do the maths dogooder.Not liking Magpies is fine-I don't like cabbage. But thinking Magpies are in some way a threat to a natural balance, or not liking them because you don't like how they live is really quite silly.
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