Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1016763 times)

slowfen · « **Reply #5100 on:** 24 March, 2018, 05:16:52 pm »

Colins Barnpecker

rafletcher · « **Reply #5101 on:** 30 March, 2018, 05:35:31 pm »

A Greater Spotted Woodpecker on our peanut feeder, a Green Woodpecker on next door lawn, and most extraordinary of all, a Red Legged Partridge - walking around on our patio within 3m of the back door, under the bird feeders we have there. Maybe picking up spilt mealworms, or the remains of sunflower hearts. Never seen one in the garden before, indeed never seen one within half a mile of the house before, the closest being a family group about that far away foraging in a large field. Only other game birds we see are Pheasant, and a couple of females were under the feeders in the cold snap.

cycleman · « **Reply #5102 on:** 30 March, 2018, 07:55:39 pm »

Bullfinchs nesting under the eaves at the Dinton pastures cafe yesterday. I have not seen bullfinchs for years

rafletcher · « **Reply #5103 on:** 31 March, 2018, 07:12:24 pm »

Hates. 10 of them, some as close as 3m. And one, behind me on the road, 2m away. Beautiful.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #5104 on:** 31 March, 2018, 08:29:22 pm »

Greater spotted woodpecker.

When I was in the park this morning I was looking into the "pikey pool" for the two specimens of esox lucius that dwell there. Suddenly there was a splashy commotion to my left and one of the pike had somehow almost gone over the small waterfall into the next pool. Next thing there was an almighty swirl as it propelled itself to a different part of the pool.

ElyDave · « **Reply #5105 on:** 03 April, 2018, 10:14:02 pm »

This little chappie, and then joined by its mate as well, picking off the bits of fleece that were stuck on the twigs, presumably for nesting materials.

They were quite accepting of me in my office about 1.5-2m away through the window

rafletcher · « **Reply #5106 on:** 04 April, 2018, 10:25:07 am »

Unusual for us - in fact the first time we’ve positively identified one - a blackcap on the feeders.

rafletcher · « **Reply #5107 on:** 07 April, 2018, 10:12:17 pm »

Even more unusually, a great crested newt feet from our back door. Cool!

Well I hope that's what it was - poor pics below....

IMG_0144 by Richard Fletcher, on Flickr

IMG_0143 by Richard Fletcher, on Flickr

Basil · « **Reply #5108 on:** 07 April, 2018, 10:56:41 pm »

You could only see its feet? If you'd have gone out of the backdoor, you may have been able to see more of it.

T42 · « **Reply #5109 on:** 08 April, 2018, 09:10:03 am »

It was warm enough for lizards to be out today, only I didn't see any. Nor yet their feet.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #5110 on:** 08 April, 2018, 10:09:27 am »

Loads of red kites yesterday - but we were in the Chilterns. I heard a blackcap and said to Her Welshness "That's a blackcap!" and, dead on cue, it appeared. I think I heard a nuthatch at one point, but didn't see it. Likewise numerous goldcrests.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #5111 on:** 09 April, 2018, 09:17:38 am »

Took the dog on a long walk round the outside of Castle Howard yesterday. Loads of skylarks singing like mad. In some reeds a grey heron was been told in no uncertain terms to bugger off by a pair of Canadian geese. The most surprising thing I saw was an oyster catcher wading in a waterlogged field, I did't realize they they came so far inland.

Kim · « **Reply #5112 on:** 09 April, 2018, 03:36:18 pm »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 09 April, 2018, 09:17:38 am

The most surprising thing I saw was an oyster catcher wading in a waterlogged field, I did't realize they they came so far inland.

It's only a matter of time before those show up in Canon Hill Park as well, isn't it?

menthel · « **Reply #5113 on:** 23 April, 2018, 10:33:02 am »

A greater spotted woodpecker drumming on a dead lelandii trunk over the back of the house.

David Martin · « **Reply #5114 on:** 24 April, 2018, 09:59:44 pm »

The less well known Hebridean Haggis Haggis harrisii (unlike the better known Highland or Common Haggis Haggis haggis)

(click to show/hide)

Wowbagger · « **Reply #5115 on:** 24 April, 2018, 11:54:48 pm »

No fewer than 7 jays all in the same ash tree
goldcrest
blackcaps
mallards with a brood of at least 9 ducklings

David Martin · « **Reply #5116 on:** 25 April, 2018, 04:44:29 pm »

Things seen on holiday in the Hebrides:
1 eagle, type unknown but heading south at height.
2 red deer, both stags, in the front garden
Red breasted merganser
Fulmars, shags, bullfinches
1 dead otter

rafletcher · « **Reply #5117 on:** 26 April, 2018, 04:34:08 pm »

The first of (hopefully) 5 robin chicks to hatch. Tomorrow being wet I’ll check my camera is charged up and hopefully get some pics. Hope the cat doesn’t find the nest.

And sadly a squashed hedgehog, and a dead stoat.

Crumbling Nick · « **Reply #5118 on:** 27 April, 2018, 12:40:55 am »

In the midst of all the usual spring pleasures.
A medium sized grey bird, roughly woodpigeon or collared dove colour, though somewhat smaller, with pointy wings (falcon?). It flew on; I can only use jinking to describe how it flew, though not through, or even near to trees. It's a rather rough description.
I saw a kestrel a couple of hours later. Gorgeous chesnut colours & a fair bit bigger.

So what was the grey bird?

mattc · « **Reply #5119 on:** 27 April, 2018, 06:26:32 pm »

Tagged starlings in the garden. A fairly typical-sized flock invaded our garden (as they do), and I gradually realised that about 1/4 had tags on their ankles.

I can't recall ever seeing tagged birds in "real life". N mentioned that she's only seem them on ducks.

SteveC · « **Reply #5120 on:** 27 April, 2018, 06:31:10 pm »

Quote from: Crumbling Nick on 27 April, 2018, 12:40:55 am

In the midst of all the usual spring pleasures.
A medium sized grey bird, roughly woodpigeon or collared dove colour, though somewhat smaller, with pointy wings (falcon?). It flew on; I can only use jinking to describe how it flew, though not through, or even near to trees. It's a rather rough description.
I saw a kestrel a couple of hours later. Gorgeous chesnut colours & a fair bit bigger.

So what was the grey bird?

Hobby?

SteveC · « **Reply #5121 on:** 27 April, 2018, 06:35:56 pm »

Quote from: mattc on 27 April, 2018, 06:26:32 pm

Tagged starlings in the garden. A fairly typical-sized flock invaded our garden (as they do), and I gradually realised that about 1/4 had tags on their ankles.

I can't recall ever seeing tagged birds in "real life". N mentioned that she's only seem them on ducks.

It does happen quite a lot and with a fair number of species. Were they metalling rings or coloured ones?
Bird ringing is done to track things like migrations, how long birds live and so on. If you find a dead bird with a ring I think there are places to send the ring to.
The coloured ones are done to enable specific individuals to be identified easily without disturbing them.

Basil · « **Reply #5122 on:** 27 April, 2018, 11:55:00 pm »

Quote from: mattc on 27 April, 2018, 06:26:32 pm

Tagged starlings in the garden. A fairly typical-sized flock invaded our garden (as they do), and I gradually realised that about 1/4 had tags on their ankles.

I can't recall ever seeing tagged birds in "real life". N mentioned that she's only seem them on ducks.

Me neither. The only tagged bird I've ever seen was a lost or exhausted pigeon that took up residence in our Bournville garden for two days.

Pingu · « **Reply #5123 on:** 28 April, 2018, 09:01:29 am »

I saw a ringed pied wagtail a couple of weeks ago:

Pied wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) by The Pingus, on Flickr

I've also seen a ringed herring gull and waxwings. Last winter we saw some people ringing waxwings in the centre of FurryBootToon.

Crumbling Nick · « **Reply #5124 on:** 29 April, 2018, 10:15:17 pm »

Quote from: SteveC on 27 April, 2018, 06:31:10 pm

Quote from: Crumbling Nick on 27 April, 2018, 12:40:55 am
In the midst of all the usual spring pleasures.
A medium sized grey bird, roughly woodpigeon or collared dove colour, though somewhat smaller, with pointy wings (falcon?). It flew on; I can only use jinking to describe how it flew, though not through, or even near to trees. It's a rather rough description.
I saw a kestrel a couple of hours later. Gorgeous chesnut colours & a fair bit bigger.

So what was the grey bird?
Hobby?

Thanks for the link. I'd started to guess that it was male & either a Merlin or Hobby. The RSPB pictures showed the underside of a Hobby. As soon as I saw that, I realised I'd only seen the upper parts

. A bit of extra searching on other sites showed pictures of both species with distinctly different head plumage. I didn't notice the head. The flight pattern is (by now) presumably hunting, but I didn't notice prey. Also I didn't notice the patterns on the tail feathers. Not a lot to go on...

Has anyone else seen either of these species in or near Warwickshire? I don't think either is that common, but are Hobbies commoner?